Compassionate Counterfeit: Histrionic

Maslow used the term Gemeinschaftsgefühl to describe a character encompassing social interest, compassion, and humanity. I interpret the term and recast the character as compassionate. This term focuses on the commitment to work collaboratively to achieve shared outcomes.

The counterfeit of compassionate is histrionic. As a histrionic character, you have a superficial concern for others that wanes with time. You are initially perceived as caring, but you soon appear melodramatic.

Your interpersonal interactions, over time, are revealed as performances. You often give away your drama soon after interactions. You often reveal to supposed friends who are left to wonder if your interactions with them are as lacking as your interactions with others. In the group, you push an agenda that seems centered in concern for a population. But, your concern is not consistent in addressing all areas of concern. You refuse to commit yourself personally to ensuring the wellbeing of the population (or the group for that matter). This reveals that you only seek to use the “concern” to forward your own agenda at the expense of the population and the group.

To be truly compassionate, you represent a character of collaboration toward the greater good. Your commitment is demonstrated in your engagement in the discussion of shared outcomes as well as some measure of personal sacrifice. You commit to being an active agent in solutions. You maintain this commitment by continuing the conversation, nurturing the collaboration.