4 / 8
4
A
lthough there are no credible statistics that verify the existence of racial variants in compassion
fatigue, some works suggest that African-Americans are potentially more susceptible to
compassion fatigue, therefore, this article is written preemptively. One of the first scientifically
referenced articles on compassion fatigue was published in 1907 in The Psychology of Dementia Praecox,
written by Carl G. Jung, and it discusses the challenges of countertransference. J. Eric Gentry, Ph.D.’s
article, “Compassion Fatigue, a Crucible of Transformation,” states that as this syndrome progresses, the
desire for intimate and collegial connections begins to diminish as care-givers become more prone to isola-
tion. They also experience an overwhelming fear of being perceived as feeble or incompetent by their peers.
A SPIRITUAL LOOK
at
Compassion Fatigue
among African-Americans
Yvonne Denise Camper, M.A.