--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Researchers who emphasize the tragic…" description: "\"“Researchers who emphasize the tragic consequences of these events, however, see the effort to focus on the recovery as denial of the tragedy or its pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/edwin-h-friedman-25568_hong-kong_researchers-who-emphasize-the-tragic-con_3040583.jpg" --- # Researchers who emphasize the tragic consequences of these… ![“Researchers who emphasize the tragic consequences of these events, however, see the effort to focus on the recovery as denial of the tragedy or its pain. The focus on pathology has become such a natural part of the thinking of social science researchers that the idea that such a focus is itself…” quote by Edwin H. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/edwin-h-friedman-25568_hong-kong_researchers-who-emphasize-the-tragic-con_3040583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/edwin-h-friedman-25568_hong-kong_researchers-who-emphasize-the-tragic-con_3040583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/edwin-h-friedman-25568_hong-kong_researchers-who-emphasize-the-tragic-con_3040583.jpg) > ““Researchers who emphasize the tragic consequences of these events, however, see the effort to focus on the recovery as denial of the tragedy or its pain. The focus on pathology has become such a natural part of the thinking of social science researchers that the idea that such a focus is itself pathological is totally out of their ken. After the Kobe earthquake, twelve Japanese women tried to offer counseling help to the homeless housed in schools and other institutions, only to be rejected by most, who said in effect, “Get me some sake and sushi and I’ll feel fine.” A psychotherapist from the more sophisticated metropolis of Tokyo said, “You have to understand that talking about your feelings is not culturally accepted here.” But if that is true, then we have to accept the opposite as also being true, namely, that talking about our feelings is also a cultural phenomenon rather than the only path to recovery. The people of Kobe were unbelievably imaginative in the way they responded to the tragedy, such as finding a ship in Hong Kong that had cranes on the ship, since all dock cranes had been destroyed; working out three-sides-of-a-square railroad pathways to get around the destruction; and creating commuter routes that combined taking trains and walking. The notion that talking out one’s grief rather than working it out through creative behaviors is denial with long-lasting consequences is exactly the kind of learned superstition that infects the thinking processes of the social science construction of reality.”” [Edwin H. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-h-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that over‑emphasizing emotional talk can ignore practical, creative coping, and that labeling this as pathological is itself a bias. **In simple terms:** Focusing only on feelings may block practical solutions. Key Takeaway Balance emotional expression with creative action. Themes disaster response culture psychology creativity recovery Mood reflective critical insightful Type analytical philosophical observational When to use this quote - community rebuilding - mental health counseling - urban planning - post‑trauma support Key Concepts social construction learned superstition cultural norms Questions to Reflect On - How can we integrate emotional and practical coping? - When does cultural denial become harmful? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on feelings can hinder resilience; cultural resistance may limit therapeutic approaches. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Denial Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial-tragedy-5009148/) [Emphasize Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emphasize-tragic-5009150/) [Feelings Cultural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-cultural-5009151/) [Hong kong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hong-kong/) [Recovery Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery-denial-3963736/) [Researchers Emphasize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/researchers-emphasize-5009149/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-research/) [Social science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-science/) ## Related quotes > [Oftentimes in a society when people of a certain type, whether individual or a group, are subconsciously portrayed by the media as abnormal, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/oftentimes-in-a-society-when-people-of-a-certain-type-whether/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [There are only two states of being in the world of codependency - recovery and denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kaminer/there-are-only-two-states-of-being-in-the-world-of-codependency/) [Wendy Kaminer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kaminer/) > [Many of our students want to do what they have done and that has made them successful thus far in their lives: play by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/many-of-our-students-want-to-do-what-they-have-done-and-that-has-made/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [My body shape has transformed as sports science research has developed. 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After the Kobe earthquake, twelve Japanese women tried to offer counseling help to the homeless housed in schools and other institutions, only to be rejected by most, who said in effect, “Get me some sake and sushi and I’ll feel fine.” A psychotherapist from the more sophisticated metropolis of Tokyo said, “You have to understand that talking about your feelings is not culturally accepted here.” But if that is true, then we have to accept the opposite as also being true, namely, that talking about our feelings is also a cultural phenomenon rather than the only path to recovery. The people of Kobe were unbelievably imaginative in the way they responded to the tragedy, such as finding a ship in Hong Kong that had cranes on the ship, since all dock cranes had been destroyed; working out three-sides-of-a-square railroad pathways to get around the destruction; and creating commuter routes that combined taking trains and walking. 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