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Compassion Fatigue Research Paper

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Recommended: Social work theory and skills

1. Introduction Compassion fatigue experienced by doctors and nurse, the term is used to describe their emotionless and apathy to the patients. However, today, compassion fatigue appears everywhere, not only happens with healthy professionals but also with all the caregivers, and even to us and to any person. Compassion fatigue becomes more common in media. In fact, compassion fatigue has been called a form of burnout to describe ‘journalists’ secondary trauma in being routinely exposed to atrocities. Again, journalism analysts indicate that media has caused widespread compassion fatigue to the public by saturating news and information. This research presents an understanding of compassion fatigue in different circumstances and possible consequences of it in media. 2. The Definition 2.1 Compassion fatigue – A history Compassion fatigue is the inability to react sympathetically crisis or disaster or …show more content…

A study researched on social work practice (Adams, Figley & Boscarino 2007) pointed out that ‘compassion fatigue as a risk factor for social workers counseling traumatized clients and its association with psychological problems’. 5. Compassion fatigue in media Overloading information or saturating newspapers and news show in media is also one of the components that lead to compassion fatigue. By reporting too many decontextualized image as well as tragedy and suffering stories, media unintentionally made the public become cynical and hesitate to help poor people. Moeller (as cited in Macmillan) outlined a direct connection between the ‘constant flow of horrific imagery oriented by the media and audiences’ lessening ability to feel’. She believed that compassion fatigue is a syndrome resulting from formulaic media coverage and sensationalize language and imaging. 5.1 The

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