When Tina Turner sang, "Who needs
a heart when a heart can be broken," we all knew what she
meant. In a world filled with pain, nature provides a defence
against suffering called dissociation.
Experiences that are too horrible
to be integrated into our understanding of the world are split
off from conscious awareness. Dissociation provides a mental
escape when there is no physical escape.
Dissociation separates contradictory
experiences to avoid internal conflict, making it possible to
love our own children and support wars that kill other
people's children; to want freedom and support wars that
deny others their freedom. To feel outrage at being robbed and
support wars that rob the people of other lands.
Severe dissociation numbs compassion
and empathy, making it possible for people to do cruel and monstrous
things that they would never do in a non-dissociated state.
Dissociation in the face of
terrible injustice
is: a psychological defense against
feeling powerless.
clipped from: www.counterpunch.org