Transference: Why we are Hating Democratic Candidate X

[JCMach1]

It might be a little wonky to suggest that what GDP is experiencing is Freudian, but hear me out.

We have been traumatized and directed our anger at one person for the past 8 years: Bush. Now that many of us have chosen a candidate, many of us are transferring our anger to the opposite Dem possibility.

Who should we be hating? That's simple: Bush and his new surrogate McCain.

Don't fall into the Nader trap of not seeing the difference between those two and either Hillary, or Obama.

While I don't think this post will change anything here in GDP, at least maybe a few people can begin to understand where there emotions are coming from.

Transference is a phenomenon in psychology characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings for one person to another. One definition of transference is "the inappropriate repetition in the present of a relationship that was important in a person's childhood."<1> Another definition is "the redirection of feelings and desires and especially of those unconsciously retained from childhood toward a new object."<2> Still another definition is "a reproduction of emotions relating to repressed experiences, esp. of childhood, and the substitution of another person . . . for the original object of the repressed impulses."<3> Transference was first described by Sigmund Freud, who acknowledged its importance for psychoanalysis for better understanding of the patient's feelings.

It is common for people to transfer feelings from their parents to their partners (emotional incest) or to children (cross-generational entanglements). For instance, one could mistrust somebody who resembles an ex-spouse in manners, voice, or external appearance; or be overly compliant to someone who resembles a childhood friend.

Transference is a key concept of systemic coaching and an important modality in the context of human relationships. Martyn Carruthers wrote that transference emerges, along with countertransference and transference loops, in the context of many interpersonal situations. He developed ways to dissolve transferences between partners, family members and teams.

In The Psychology of the Transference, Carl Jung states that within the transference dyad both participants typically experience a variety of opposites, that in love and in psychological growth, the key to success is the ability to endure the tension of the opposites without abandoning the process, and that this tension allows one to grow and to transform... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transference

[Bongo Prophet]

1. Thoughtful post, and we need more of those.

I am too tierd and headachy toeven tpye aresponz.
Battleworn and weary, trying to keep above the toxic level.

More posts like yours are oases in this desert.

[sandnsea]

2. Long, Long List of Shady Clinton Donors

There are valid reasons to object to Hillary Clinton as a candidate and this is just one area.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4473288

[JCMach1]

5. Focus though... do you really think she is as bad/worse than McCain?

Do you really?

[murielm99]

3. Thank you.

I can only hope that most people read this and do not shit on it with overly partisan comments.

[Demeter]

4. I Think the Supine Congresses of the Past 8 Years Have Something to Do With It

When the betrayal from the ones who are supposed to be on your side goes on unpunished and unstoppable. It's abusive and victimizing.

[TexasObserver]

6. Why? Because that's the battle in front of us.

It's great to talk about party unity, but this is the primary season. It's always contentious. I've been in caucuses where fist fights broke out, where rump conventions were held, where the two sides hated each other. That's the primary season.

[robbedvoter]

7. Thank you. I have been wondering at the virulence of some attacks here.

I myself got personally quite angry at some of Obama's stands on voters a few times.
But let me put that in perspective - important as it is to respect voters, it doesn't compare with torturing, stealing elections and starting wars.
Frustrated as I may get with Obama - amd more so with his supporters - I DO NOT HATE ANY OF THEM.
I do hate Bush - and whichever mental patient gets to spout the crazy GOP slogans in GE

[PatSeg]

8. The anger of the last seven years

has become a chronic condition in our society and has taken on a life of its own. Throughout history oppressed people who overcome their oppressors then turn on one another which I've found both fascinating and baffling. The anger which propels change tends to become a bad habit that people have a hard time overcoming and often ends up dividing the people who originally sought for unity of purpose.

Perhaps it is inevitable that once we focus on certain differences, we will continue to find more that separates us than unites us. If we allow the anger to rule us, rather than the initial purpose, we descend into chaos. Conscious people can stop and view the anger objectively and use it to affect real change. Others become mindless slaves to an emotion that they no longer control.

[JCMach1]

9. Exactly, Hillary and Obama need to come together now

AND get their surrogates in line! Although how much they have over Bill and Michelle seems doubtful... but they will have to come together... the alternative is unthinkable.

[PatSeg]

10. I agree and I hope

they will come together, but I have serious doubts it will happen any time soon.

[Wombatzu]

11. because Hillary was pro-war until she had to run for the nomination...

go away Clintons and don't come back.

[Eurobabe]

12. I attribute alot of it to paid disruptors

There are alot of new names that contribute to the vitriol. Most of them are on my ignore list. :hi:

The ENEMY IS McCAIN, people, ignore this at your own peril.

[PatSeg]

14. I like Skinner's proposal

about limiting the number of threads per person in GDP in a 24 hour period. Hopefully that would allow more thoughtful discussions, such as this one that got buried very quickly.

[Eurobabe]

16. Oh I voted on that thread too...

:hi:

[PatSeg]

18. I am really hungry

for some intelligent and informed debate. That is what drew me to this particular thread.

[Eurobabe]

20. If you are hungry there are 2 threads about Calif. Pizza Kitchen and

some other chain rest. & racism. :rofl: Can't remember, I hid them immediately. Is this what GDP has become? :eyes:

[PatSeg]

21. Not THAT hungry!!!

I saw one of those threads, but just passed on by. I'm getting good at recognizing the BS threads!

[lwcon]

13. A lot of honest criticism on DU is dismissed as "hate"

I've seen a good deal of actual hate and plain meanness here. But I've also seen a lot of people crying "hate" at any criticism of their beloved's campaign.

___

The Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy, now at my new home: Correntewire.com

[PatSeg]

15. That is so true

I have given up expressing any doubts or criticism about either candidate as it rarely allows for open and honest debate.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

17. Hillary reminds me a lot of my mom, so

I don't know if I want to vote for her or sleep with her.

Or would voting for her be like sleeping with my mom????

By God, it's a campaign slogan!

All of the above is purely in jest. Oh wait, Freud believed all jokes are either sexual or hostile.

Well, at least this is cathartic, and I have no intention of posting it. I mean, if I "accidentally" posted this that would obviously reveal some sort of deep-seated, subconscious masochistic urge to castrate my

[PatSeg]

19. Accidents happen!!!

:rofl: