It is natural for a person on lower power/experience to fall for someone older. This happens with patients and therapists a lot. That is why it is the more mature person's responsibility to gentle let the younger person know that it is natural - but not appropriate and would be an abuse of the older person's authority and power if he or she were to allow it to happen.
It is natural for a person on lower power/experience to fall for someone older. This happens with patients and therapists a lot.
I think this has more to do with the nature of the relationship between therapist and patient--the patient is obviously opening up a lot of private information and so is entrusting a lot of hirself in hir doctor. Same with the professor/student relationship. There is an inherent power imbalance, and so most people would have an ethical problem with such a relationship becoming romantic.
But if it's just a random 41-year-old and a random 19-year-old, I don't think the situations are comparable because there is no inherent imbalance. Just MHO.
I do agree that it is possible for the power to not be imbalanced - but it is much more likely. It's a big red flag. and if any friend of mine were contemplating dating someone outside the half + 7 range - on either end of the equation - I'd council extreme caution.
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-17 04:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-17 05:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-17 05:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-17 07:26 pm (UTC)I think this has more to do with the nature of the relationship between therapist and patient--the patient is obviously opening up a lot of private information and so is entrusting a lot of hirself in hir doctor. Same with the professor/student relationship. There is an inherent power imbalance, and so most people would have an ethical problem with such a relationship becoming romantic.
But if it's just a random 41-year-old and a random 19-year-old, I don't think the situations are comparable because there is no inherent imbalance. Just MHO.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-17 08:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-18 08:33 pm (UTC)