Everyone’s a Victim 2
Patricia Dalton, a clinical psychologist who practices in Washington, has some trenchant comments in today’s Washington Post:
Whether or not he is found guilty, Lay sounds like the spokesman for our culture of victimhood. It is a culture that reflects a studiously nonjudgmental attitude toward one’s own behavior, while ignoring its effects on others. And it is based on a belief system like this: I am more important than most people; I am good; therefore, I am incapable of doing bad things.
This seems to relate to the topic of last week’s Speaking of Faith:
Which, as far as I am concerned, ties back to the fallacy that self-esteem is everything.
Somewhere, things have gotten turned on their heads. Self-esteem does not lead to good behavior. Good behavior leads to self-esteem.
March 5, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Hear ye, hear ye! Although I don’t quite see what the fuss is about the Lay quote. But Dalton’s message is still valid.
March 5, 2006 at 10:09 pm
I think she used the Lay quote as a high-profile example, nothing more.
The more telling examples come from her experiences with kids.