The Snape Whisperer

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 163544

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Cesar
Milan. He is a dog trainer who specializes in rehabilitating
problem animals, especially aggressive, dangerous dogs.
In reading his book, _Cesar's Way_  I couldn't
help relating his theories to the way Dumbledore dealt
with Snape and Harry.

Milan says it is no good to discipline an aggressive animal if
the underlying cause of the aggression is anger or fear.
If the anger or fear is not addressed  you may frighten
the animal into submission but you will never be able to
trust it. 

I think this theory is an elegant explanation of why 
Dumbledore sometimes appeared to be taking a hands
off approach with Snape and others.

Milan also explains his use of a controversial technique
called 'flooding'. This consists of desensitizing an animal
to an undesirable emotion, such as a phobia, by allowing
it to become overwhelmed. While this is regarded as too
cruel by some, Milan feels that it is far more effective
than trying to comfort the animal when it is frightened,
which in his view often leads to reinforcing the very  
behavior one is trying to discourage.

I have to wonder if Dumbledore had a similar rationale
for leaving Harry to be overwhelmed by his feelings after
Cedric's death. Harry has received so little comfort in his
life that to have it given to him after Cedric's death might
have set up an undesirable association. As it was, Harry
went through a miserable six weeks at the Dursleys, but 
he does seem to have become somewhat desensitized 
to survivor guilt, enough so that he could deal with the
loss of Sirius without plummeting into the severe
depression  he experienced after losing Cedric. 

Pippin