Abuser Quote by Anna Salter
““In projecting onto others their own moral sense, therapists sometimes make terrible errors. Child physical abusers are automatically labeled “impulsive," despite extensive evidence that they are not necessarily impulsive but more often make thinking errors that justify the assaults. Sexual and physical offenders who profess to be remorseful after they are caught are automatically assumed to be sincere. After all, the therapist would feel terrible if he or she did such a thing. It makes perfect sense that the offender would regret abusing a child. People routinely listen to their own moral sense and assume that others share it. Thus, those who are malevolent attack others as being malevolent, as engaging in dirty tricks, as being “in it for the money,“ and those who are well meaning assume others are too, and keep arguing logically, keep producing more studies, keep expecting an academic debate, all the time assuming that the issue at hand is the truth of the matter. Confessions of a Whistle-Blower: Lessons Learned Author: Anna C. Salter. Ethics & Behavior, Volume 8, Issue 2 June 1998 p122””
About This Quote
Source Journal Article: Ethics & Behavior, 1998
Therapists project their own moral judgments onto clients, leading to mischaracterizations of offenders’ motives and sincerity.
In simple terms: Therapists misjudge offenders by projecting personal morals.
Beware of moral projection in professional judgments.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- therapy supervision
- ethical training
- research on therapist bias
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can prevent moral projection?
- How can therapists better assess client motives?
May not account for cultural differences in moral frameworks.