The Snape Whisperer

[kibakianakaya]

No: HPFGUIDX 163573

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> 
wrote:
>SNIP
> > 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
>
Lilygale here:
Flooding is an accepted technique that many clinicians use to help 
people deal with phobias.  As with the animal application (with 
which I am not familiar), therapists expose patients to phobic 
stimuli.  But phobias by definition are irrational fears.  And the 
therapy occurs under controlled conditions.

Harry's reaction to Cedric's death and his (Harry's) torture and 
near-death experience in the graveyard resulted, IMO, in post-
traumatic stress disorder, not phobia.  Harry was suffering from 
common symptoms/emotional reactions of PTSD: survivors' guilt, 
grief, helplessness and attendent depression.  Deliberately leaving 
him with those feelings for a prolonged period of time without help 
makes no sense whatsoever as a therapeutic technique.  I really 
can't believe that Dumbledore would think that leaving Harry with 
his feelings was helpful in any way.  If he did, he's a lousy 
psychologist, and that doesn't really fit with my picture of 
Dumbledore.  He knows psychology well enough to be a master 
manipulator.  And he would not deliberately increase Harry's pain.

Lilygale, who spent many years as a clinical psychologist but has 
been out of touch with the field for a while