"Among Strout's characters is a middle-aged minister, Margaret, who seems accomplished in every way. She receives respect from her congregation and handles her responsibilities professionally. However, she has a flaw. She is-or so people who know her well think- narcissistic. She focuses overly on her own career; she talks too much about herself. Worse, she doesn't listen well. Instead of hearing people's concerns and responding sympathetically, she manages them. Feeling this inattention most acutely is her husband, Bob."
"All of us can plead guilty to being inattentive, at least at times. We become preoccupied with personal issues. We want to talk about these problems-and about our successes. When we've made difficult decisions, we want validation from listeners. What we don't want is criticism. Again, none of this is blameworthy. What is to be criticized is a propensity to use others simply as "backboards" or "dump sites.""
A middle-aged minister, Margaret, appears professionally accomplished and respected by her congregation but displays narcissistic tendencies, focusing on her career and talking excessively about herself. She fails to listen, prefers to manage others' concerns, and causes her husband Bob to feel neglected. People often become preoccupied with personal issues, seeking validation and avoiding criticism. Using others as "backboards" or "dump sites" reflects a problematic propensity that can transform significant relationships into asymmetrical exchanges. Some asymmetry is appropriate in professional roles, but chronic imbalances among friends and family turn people into functional listeners rather than mutual companions.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]