Tisseron, Serge
Mastery versus Empathy
- 2011.
65
In order for empathy to develop correctly, satisfaction of the desire for omnipotence and its subsequent frustration must have developed correctly. But the capacity for empathy is continually threatened throughout life by the desire to dominate which everyone has within himself or herself. And this desire is never manifested as forcefully as when it is being encouraged by the authority. This is the case in totalitarian societies which stigmatize one sector of the population, but it is also the case today in the business world, where employees are encouraged to relinquish all sense of empathy for themselves. That is the surest way of ensuring that they will accept degrading working conditions, and, if need be, mistreat or get rid of their competitors or colleagues without a qualm.