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Aids, Anger and Revenge
Author(s) -
Maharajh Hari,
SarkarCrooks Patricia
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1752-0118
pISSN - 0265-9883
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0118.1991.tb01155.x
Subject(s) - humiliation , anger , grief , psychology , wish , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , sentence , perception , sadness , psychiatry , psychotherapist , clinical psychology , social psychology , medicine , family medicine , linguistics , philosophy , neuroscience , sociology , anthropology
SUMMARY The disclosure of a positive Human Immunodeficiency Viral (HIV) test to infected patients has prompted a cry for revenge directed towards themselves and society. AIDS revenge is a behavioural manifestation of a grief reaction variably influenced by the individual's perception of his illness and society's response to it. Many perceive an infection with the AIDS virus as a shameful death sentence, exposure of homosexual involvement and humiliation to the victim and his family. We wish to present three short cases. There appears to be a need for structured psychological treatment methods. The consultation‐liaison psychiatrist or psychologist must be involved in treatment since they can identify serious problems before they present as medical emergencies.