Philosophy of Caring and Caring Behavior

by Crizenda Ucab Dagpin

The practice of caring has always been present in humans – at home, with friends,
at work, or even in the general sense of being in a community. We thrive in knowing that
we are not alone and that there will always be someone – even just one – who cares.
When it comes to healthcare, we almost always view it as an “extension of
medicine” which means that health professionals only focus on administering treatments
to cure illness. Oftentimes, we see it as a detached act of service which simply concerns
doing only what we are told and nothing more. Nonetheless, healthcare is so much more
than what it is beyond the surface. Caring, whilst sometimes overlooked, is a vital
ingredient and a unifying force that governs the health profession. Given that, this paper
aims to look at the dynamic essence of caring philosophy and caring behavior in relation
to practice. To further frame the concepts, this paper is based on the paradigms set by
Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring.
According to Jean Watson, caring is the moral ideal of nursing whereby the end is
protection, enhancement, and preservation of human dignity. It involves values, a will and
a commitment to care, knowledge, caring actions, and consequences. Moreover, her
Theory of Human Care contains three major areas:
1) Nursing with the context of human science and art;
2) Mutuality of person/self of both nurse and patient with mind-body-soul gestalt,
within a context of intersubjectivity; and
3) The moral ideal of the human care relationship.

Watson’s perspective on caring is heavily anchored on human and moral science.

The concepts are existential and humanitarian in nature as her belief was slightly
influenced by Eastern Thoughts and Philosophy like Lao Tzu, Buddha, and Confucius.
For her, the philosophy of caring emanates from oneself. We need to be able to treat
ourselves with dignity and gentleness first before extending it to others. If that is
accomplished, we can successfully cultivate sensitivity and build a helping-trust
relationship.

Nursing with the context of human science and art. One of the fundamentals
of nursing is human care. Here, we not only treat the philosophy of caring as an abstract
concept but more so as a science that requires scientific problem-solving method for
decision making and as an art that understands patients from all walks of life. As
healthcare workers, making decisions can be sometimes challenging but if done in a
scientific method, it becomes easier because we observe, learn the facts, formulate
hypothesis before finally coming to a conclusion.
 Mutuality of person/self of both nurse and patient with mind-body-soul
gestalt, within a context of intersubjectivity. When there is agreement, there is always
the presence of mutuality. Coming in terms with the patient is one philosophy of human
care and when we are able to do this, when the patient feels trust, safety, and confidence,
care is extended.

The moral ideal of the human care relationship. Human care is not simply a
service, but it is a responsibility viewed as a moral obligation. Therefore, it requires
commitment, intention, and patience. In poetic terms, it’s like giving a part of yourself to
others (patients) so that they may at least, in one way or another, feel that somebody is
there, may it be simply a professional care or a slight act of personal care.

What would happen then if there is an absence of human care? A classic example
I can relate to this is recorded cases of individuals deprived of human care and interaction.
Majority of them are children who have been raised in the wild and others are children
who have been intentionally isolated by their parents or abductor. They are commonly
referred to as feral children and one of the most famous feral children is Victor of Aveyron.
He was found in the woods somewhere in southern France, and he was believed to have
been 12 years old at the time of his discovery. He was abandoned by his parents, and he
did not have any sort of human interaction nor was he cared for as any other child should
have been. He behaved like a wild animal, and he could not speak. Though he was taken
in for custody (in some private homes and institution), he still never learned to speak and
his cognitive and social development is overly lagged. He never truly experienced how it
felt to be human even on his death at the age of 40.
Another case was Genie Wiley who was locked in her room for 13 years deprived
of sunlight, social interaction, and human care. Her parents only gave her food while they
tied her on a chair. Genie’s cognitive and developmental growth was badly damaged, she
was still unable to speak, and she behaved differently from that of a normal child when
she taken in by medical professionals and a team of linguists for study and scientific
research.
The examples are horrible and no one would have ever imagined that people can
do these things to others. Clearly, the absence of human care led these children to
becoming bestial; thus, proving how human care is vital and irreplaceable as it is a form
of assistance for the gratification of human needs. However, the philosophy of human
care becomes futile unless it contributes to our philosophy of action. During this time, the
world is much more in need of people who are willing to go beyond the basic
requirements. As healthcare workers, our goal should be not only for ourselves but for
also for those who needs our care. Who knows, we might be the only light in the darkest
part of their lives.