Contagious Respect

On this blog, respect is contagious!  Negative remarks about colleagues, programs, internship sites, and so forth do not occur.  I encourage students and professionals in psychology to pass on respect.  Pass respect on to your supervisor, faculty mentor, student cohort members, etc.  I say all this because I notice an increase of discord among psychologists against other psychologists and students in training against other students.  

 Passing on respect is demonstrated by encouraging a fellow student or professional in the same manner one would encourage a client.  I am certain that most psychologists or students in training would not consult with a client the same way they talk on a discussion forum on the internet.  Well, now-a-days, clients can pull up comments and probably would take offense to the scathing remarks made by professionals they trust.  So, remember to apply unconditional positive regard to colleagues and students as well. 

The fact is that most clients would not tolerate such treatment and would end services abrubtly upon learning of the negative behavior of the professional they are paying to help them become a better person.  If clients should be treated with respect, are we not in debt to respect those who are also dedicateing their lives to study the same subject as we do? 

Some may ask: What action can I take as an individual?  Pass it on.  Be respectful.  Encourage respect and do not participate in bickering and derogatory comments on the internet, over the phone, or in-person.  Contagious respect requires humility and viewing the bigger picture, that everyone has worth, dignity, and talents that benefit others in our global society.  So, Pass it on-contagious respect!