Common Shock: Witnessing Violence Every Day

by Kaethe Weingarten

Identifies the effects and long-term consequences of trauma on the human psyche, explaining how responses to violence can be passed on to subsequent generations while revealing how a greater awareness of the effects of violence can promote healing. Reprint.

Genres: Psychology

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2003

Reviews

[Naomi Pattirane Balshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaethe Weingarten describes in human terms how witnessing and experiencing trauma, from seemingly inconsequential small events to personal tragedies and armed conflict affect our perspective of the world and how we relate to ourselves and others. She poignantly examines how personal events in her life, from her parents testifying in the McCarthy trials to her daughter's disability and father's death have shaped her world view. She describes the stories of victims of genocide and war from Kosovo to Uganda with compassionate insight and wisdom, providing steps that can lead to transformational healing and reconciliation.

[Justin Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exposure to violence on a daily basis has caused us to be desensitized not only within ourselves but towards others. The author does a marvelous job showing how our frenetic schedules, movies, and media reports have caused us to minimize what horrors we experience through a felt sense she calls "common shock." By bringing awareness to common shock, the author invites us to become more aware of what we experience, but also calls us to attune to what others go through. Her simple framework of fostering awareness, safety, aidos (i.e. reverence and right integrity, and honor), and compassion allow us to step outside of ourself and reach out to others who are also in common shock. For the psychotherapist, this is an important read as the book urges us to see past the banality of pain and suffering, and to hold onto, or witness, what our clients share. For the layperson, this book invites us to become aware of our own common shock state, how to address it, and how to be a witness for others.

[Cindywho]

I'm not good at absorbing non-fiction. I usually need a narrative. I did go see the author talk about her book a few months ago because the subject seemed interesting and relevant. Most incidents of overt violence I've only seen on video or news stories on the radio but she also talks about dealing with the violence of illness, unkindness, etc... I did have a difficult time reading it because she describes the unforgivable violences of genocide and how people respond. The therapy of listening and small kindnesses? Sometimes it seems closer to nothing than anywhere near enough. I probably didn't absorb as much as I should, but hopefully enough to help me know what to do. (November 26, 2003)

[Elizabeth]

very good condition