Ecoism is a term that has become popular in recent years, it was originally used in 2005 by Dean Davis, an American psychoanalyst Ecoism is a trait of people who are characterized by the inability to accept praise, express their preferences in relationships or seek help. .
Like any characteristic, ecoism persists no matter who people spend time with. However, ecoists are often attracted to narcissistic behavior precisely because they have someone they enjoy occupying the entire space. When narcissists become abusive, environmentalists sometimes blame themselves for their mistreatment.
- Ecoism is a characteristic.
- Not a disorder.
- But it is better understood if conceptualized as a survival strategy:?If I want to be safe and loved.
- Do I have to make sure I ask as few people as possible and give everything I can?.
According to psychologist Dr. Craig Malkin, researcher and author of Rethinking Narcissism, ecoism is an extreme fear of seeming narcissistic in one way or another. Unlike the narcissist who attracts attention and wants to feel special, environmentalists fear special attention, even when they are positive. .
Malkin and his colleagues found that environmentalists tend to agree with claims like “Am I afraid of becoming a burden?”Or “when people ask me my preferences, I often feel lost. “While these characteristics can be very similar to the pleasant behavior of ordinary people or even humility, Malkin says there’s a big difference.
Ecoism, in its most benign form, can produce traces of servileness, inhibiting too much expression of thoughts and desires; in its most extreme form, it can describe a way of life in which the individual renounces his or her own voice and can cause complete isolation from others.
Much research remains to be done on the causality of ecoism, which is unanimous among professionals is that, in eco-Islam, the type of education certainly plays a fundamental role.
Environmentalists seem to have been born with more emotional sensitivity than most. When this temperament is exposed to a parent who shames or punishes him out of necessity, that child is likely to grow up with a high degree of echoism.
If the individual is the son of a narcissistic father who imposes his will, it will be difficult for that child to listen to or know his own thoughts and desires, this same experience can lead to a narcissist who assumes the wishes of the parents to have a special child. The same behavior of the parent in question is repeated, believing that it is special or more important than the others. It is unclear at this stage whether there is something innate that drives this child to become narcissistic or ecological.
In adult life, eco-ists tend to live by mantra: “The less space you take care of, the better. “
However, it is important to note that not all the children of narcissistic parents become environmentally friendly and that not all environmentally friendly caregivers are motivated by ego. “Ecoism is a feature that exists to some extent in all of us,” Malkin says.
Ecoists are not defined by passivity; they can be very active in discovering and finding what others need; Eco-listeners can be excellent listeners, but they feel less comfortable opening up to others (the fear of becoming a burden often blocks their ability to share).
Men are less likely to seek therapy for ecoism, one of the hypotheses considered to explain this would be the shame of feeling weak or less human, in cultures where gender and status have more weight in power relations, ecoism and narcissism may be less visible and go through the “natural order of things”.
Many women believe that it is dangerous to ask for more in relationships and assert themselves, because an emotionally abusive parent has left them unsafe to speak, here the biggest problem is: adaptation to social situations and the constant pleasure of others are perceived in a positive way. Some of these people learn to survive by erasing their own needs and feelings.
There are cultures in which it is considered appropriate to suffer in silence or where the search for help is mis-sighted; ecoism can also be a way of understanding brainwashing; can provide an explanation of global policies or situations in which individuals commit harmful acts on behalf of a powerful person or organization.
The idea of keeping trends under control is complex, as many processes that influence or operate here are unaware and have often become a way to settle down in childhood.
Spending time with a therapist and analyzing what is happening creates an opportunity to identify the source of ecoism Part of what therapy offers, in this case, it is an opportunity to explore these painful feelings and memories in a safe and supportive space and finally hear someone say that the trauma suffered in childhood was not something “normal”.
Finally, if you have trouble speaking, you can incorporate elements to therapy that help you feel more confident, such as poetry or creative writing. It’s worth discussing this during a first contact or evaluation with a therapist.