Am I a psychologist? We used to think being a psychologist meant helping individuals overcome their personal struggles — promoting psychological well-being, fulfilling a profession’s social responsibility to ensure the mental health of the people. But the genocide and deliberate famine in Gaza, and the passivity of some, have compelled us to reassess this perspective. These human catastrophes truly push our responsibility beyond individual therapy sessions and educational workshops. Remaining silent in the face of such widespread suffering raises profound ethical and professional questions about our role in this global village. Let us revisit some of what we have learned... When we studied Maslow's humanistic theory, we knew well that without meeting basic needs like water, food, and shelter, learning and growth are impossible. But we never thought that two million people would be exposed to deliberate famine and genocide in front of the world, and no effective action would be taken. When we studied existential psychology and heard about freedom of will, the search for meaning, and the right to choose, we never thought that the right to life, the right to food, and the right to housing would be deliberately taken from millions of people, and we would still be teaching "meaning-making" to clients in clinics and centers. When we studied Adler's theory, we learned that a sense of belonging and social interest are the foundation of mental health. But how can children and families who have been rejected by the world achieve such a feeling and find mental health? When we studied Kohlberg's theory of moral development, we liked its third level – universal principles of justice and human dignity – and wanted to be among the limited few who reach the final stage. But we never thought that if politicians and global landlords, along with their media, want us to remain at the first level, moving up would be like rock climbing. I wish the higher stages had not been presented in any theory, as it would not have led to so much conflict and a sense of failure. When we faithfully studied Bandura's social learning theory, we knew that a child who observes violence, genocide, oppression, and global silence will be ready to reproduce it. But we never thought that a small area called Gaza and two million people would become a natural laboratory for this theory, and this time not to confirm the hypotheses of a theorist, but to realize racism and the ambition of the most criminal history of mankind. We learned empathy as a basic counseling skill and a necessity in therapy – rather, as the essence of being human – but now, we don't want to hear and see the sound and image of a nation's wound because it bothers us. When we studied diagnostic classification systems with all their expansions and contractions over the years, we never thought that a chapter describing the disorders of historical criminals was needed, and that their treatment was more important and effective than treating ordinary people. When we studied cognitive behavioral therapy, no one told us that genocide and starvation are dysfunctional behaviors, and what consequences entitlement schemas would have if they belonged to a racist criminal? And what would our role as therapists be? With all these shortcomings, conflicts, and horrific surprises, we have now decided to act on our professional responsibility and ethics and break our silence in any way possible. Now is the moment when the science of psychology must be the voice of conscience. And it must challenge doubts and confront fear, and not forget that In a world full of shouts, our silence also has a voice – the voice of approval and reinforcement. Now is the time to stand; With a clear voice and image, alongside truth and humanity. #Gaza #Responsibility #Humanity #Psychologist #Maslow #Kohlberg #Adler #Existential_Psychology #Mission #Palestine #Food #Hunger #Basic_Needs #Humanitarian_Disaster #United_Nations #Maram #DSM #CBT ✍ Dim lantern ۲۸ July ۲۰۲۵