Page 130 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

Fr om carative Fa c t o r 5 t o C ar it as ProC e s s 5
It is through being present to and allowing constructive expression
of all feelings that we create a foundation for trust and caring. When
one is able to hold the tears or fears of another without being threat-
ened or turning away, that is an act of healing and caring.
When one is able, through his or her Caritas Consciousness, to enter
into the life space of another, connecting with the inner subjective life
world of emotions and thoughts, one is connecting with the deeper
spirit of self and other. This is the foundation for a transpersonal car-
ing moment and a healing relationship.
It is an established fact that thoughts and emotions play a central role
in people’s experiences and behavior. Knowledge of psychology, psycho-
dynamics, and psychiatry, as well as common life experiences, helps us
understand and comprehend the power and importance of emotions.
Early research in social psychology has shown that behavior and
decision making, especially in conflict-laden situations, are both ratio-
nal and quasi-rational (emotional-affective). This connection of emo-
tional components has been theoretically and empirically validated
in social science and behavioral science literature. It has long been
acknowledged that emotions constitute one of the primary motiva-
tions for humans. Thus, it can be understood that intellectual under-
standing of information and the emotional understanding of that
same information can be and usually are quite different. This dis-
junction has commonly been referred to in the social psychology lit-
erature as affective-cognitive dissonance. An individual usually seeks
consistency between disparate thoughts and emotions when such dis-
sonance occurs; consistency is sought with the intent to find meaning,
harmony, and balance in one’s life and world.
When inconsistency or dissonance continues or escalates, one
becomes more anxious, fearful, confused, stressed. Inconsistency and
emotional-cognitive dissonance can affect attitudes, understandings,
and behavior. In an interpersonal relationship, and in situations related
to health and illness, it is often the emotional aspect at the feeling level
that explains whether people are able to communicate smoothly, hear
each other, listen, establish rapport, and so on. This dynamic of under-
standing human behavior is foundational to building and sustaining a
helping-trusting-caring relationship.

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