Deportes

November 7, 2011
 
Give to death
Pathological Altruism involves clinging to the problems of other
 

By Liz Sandra Santiago / lsrivera@elnuevodia.com
Give without expecting anything in return is in conduct admire and emulate. But what happens when the search to please and help others the person sacrifices his being?
The Spanish Royal Academy defines altruism as "diligence in seeking thegood of others even at the expense of their own." The psychologist Carlos Sosa says that altruism is positive because it leads people to help others and different sectors of the community who need it. The problem arises when the act of giving becomes compulsive.
"These people work very much giving of their time. But things at one end will always cause problems. We must maintain a balance becausewhen you go to the extreme can become a serious problem because we address the immediate needs of the family, "said Sosa.
Both Sosa psychologist Coaching for Life, Luz Pimentel, concur that the reasons for developing this behavior can be very diverse. It may be to fill a vacuum, low self-esteem or to evade any trauma in parenting. Notably, although not the main reason for the pathologicalaltruism, not being able to say no to requests from other leading many to give more of them than they actually can. "One of the characteristics of emotionally codependent person he wants to be El Salvador's world and not say no," says Pimentel.
An addiction
The psychologist also noted that in pathological altruism, the person becomes addicted to engage others while neglecting their responsibilities. Theexpert explained that often people hide needs that can not cope because they have the emotional resources and result, are in denial about their problems.
"They feel they can not be accused of not doing anything for them, they are helping others," says Pimentel, adding that society reinforces this behavior.
This addiction can go undetected in the nuclei of social struggles. There are cases wherepeople "are exposed to some incredible dangers and to sacrifice his life, believing that doing so will save the world," says Sosa. Similarly, about those who take extremist actions to protest but the situation directly affects your life and your family and friends.
But Sosa said that should not be confused with pathological altruism work that some people do in society, whose purpose is thebenefit of the needy, without falling into excess.
"There are people who do extraordinary work and create strong awareness of problems," says Sosa. "These are people with a level of moral development loud and decide internalize things to fulfill a social function."

Por Liz Sandra Santiago /lsrivera@elnuevodia.com
Dar sin esperar nada a cambio es una conducta digna de admirar e imitar. Pero, ¿quéocurre cuando en la búsqueda por agradar y ayudar a otros la persona sacrifica su bienestar?
La Real Academia Española define el altruismo como la “diligencia en procurar el bien ajeno aun a costa del propio”. El psicólogo Carlos Sosa señala que el altruismo es una actitud positiva, pues lleva a las personas a ayudar a otros y a diversos sectores de la comunidad que lo necesitan. El problema surgecuando la acción de dar se convierte en algo compulsivo.
“Estas personas colaboran muchísimo dando de su tiempo. Pero las cosas en un extremo siempre van a causar dificultades. Hay que mantener un equilibrio porque cuando se va al extremo se puede convertir en un problema serio porque dejamos de atender necesidades inmediatas de la familia”, señala Sosa.
Tanto Sosa como la psicóloga de Coachingfor Life, Luz Pimentel, concurren en que las razones para desarrollar esta conducta pueden ser muy diversas. Puede ser por llenar un vacío, por baja autoestima o por evadir algún trauma causado en la crianza. Cabe destacar que aunque no es la razón principal del altruismo patológico, el no poder decir que no a las peticiones de otros lleva a muchos a dar más de ellos de lo que realmente pueden....