Summary Of How Does Analysis Cure By Heinz Kohut
Heinz Kohut discusses his definition of empathy in Chapter 9 of How Does Analysis Cure. On page 174, Kohut starts off by stating that empathy is the operation that defines the field of psychoanalysis. He believes that "no psychology of complex mental states in conceivable without the employment of empathy" (Kohut, 1984). In this chapter, Kohut gives a clear definition of his usage of the word empathy, a definition that involves three parts that exist beyond common usage. Kohut first provides readers with a simple definition of empathy, one that is closely related to the common usage of the term. He states that it is defined as "vicarious introspection, or more simply, as one person's attempt to experience the inner life of another while simultaneously
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The first component of empathy that Kohut discusses which goes beyond the common usage of the term is the idea that empathy can lead to correct or incorrect results. Common usage of the term empathy often is accompanied by the idea that empathy is perfect, that it will always lead to the desired and correct result. However, Kohut goes beyond this by stating that empathy can not only lead to the correct result but also the incorrect result depending on the individual using the operation of empathy and on the individual on the receiving end of the operation. The second component of empathy that goes beyond common usage is that empathy can be used in the service of compassionate, inimical, or dispassionate-neutral purposes. Common usage often involves the idea of empathy being used for compassionate purposes. By maintaining this second component, Kohut goes beyond common usage by stating that empathy is not only necessary for compassionate acts, but also for many harmful feelings and neutral acts. Finally, the third component goes beyond common usage by showing that empathy is not always comprised of intuition and is not quick without awareness, as is often assumed in the everyday use of the term. Empathy can be employed in a slow and intuitive manner, with an awareness of the process that it is being used
The first component of empathy that Kohut discusses which goes beyond the common usage of the term is the idea that empathy can lead to correct or incorrect results. Common usage of the term empathy often is accompanied by the idea that empathy is perfect, that it will always lead to the desired and correct result. However, Kohut goes beyond this by stating that empathy can not only lead to the correct result but also the incorrect result depending on the individual using the operation of empathy and on the individual on the receiving end of the operation. The second component of empathy that goes beyond common usage is that empathy can be used in the service of compassionate, inimical, or dispassionate-neutral purposes. Common usage often involves the idea of empathy being used for compassionate purposes. By maintaining this second component, Kohut goes beyond common usage by stating that empathy is not only necessary for compassionate acts, but also for many harmful feelings and neutral acts. Finally, the third component goes beyond common usage by showing that empathy is not always comprised of intuition and is not quick without awareness, as is often assumed in the everyday use of the term. Empathy can be employed in a slow and intuitive manner, with an awareness of the process that it is being used