An model which finds commonality between the emotional support of friends and therapists (though not in a way that really contradicts any of the OP):
A General Theory of Love by Lewis, Amini, and Lannon has the interesting model that the reason people share their problems with others is because we use other people for emotional regulation. They say that some answer like this is necessary because it’s weird that we divulge things that make us look weak to others (as opposed to speech motivated by making ourselves look good) [1].
I read the book a while ago, but I do remember a motivating example of a small child who falls over and hurts themselves. They look to their caregiver to help interpret the significance of their pain. If the caregiver is not overly perturbed, the child then learns that their pain was not that big a deal. According to the authors of the book, adults sharing their woes are doing a similar thing. If I tell you about how times are tough at work and you maintain a visage that all will be okay in the end, I will find that reassuring.
They then further strongly assert that this how all successful psychotherapy works. They claim no matter the school of psychotherapy, what the successful psychotherapist is doing is being present with the patient while the patient experiences their emotions (the therapists not getting lost themselves in these emotions) and helping the patient shift their S1 reaction/emotionally regulate.
[1] I think there is something to be explained here, but we can come up with other hypotheses too. Like revealing my weaknesses/struggles to you might be valuable because it gives me reassurance that you’d still be my friend even if you found them out of my own accord. Perhaps also knowing all of each other’s weaknesses results in some kind of mutually assured destruction so that you stay friends and don’t go off badmouthing each other. Or something.
An model which finds commonality between the emotional support of friends and therapists (though not in a way that really contradicts any of the OP):
A General Theory of Love by Lewis, Amini, and Lannon has the interesting model that the reason people share their problems with others is because we use other people for emotional regulation. They say that some answer like this is necessary because it’s weird that we divulge things that make us look weak to others (as opposed to speech motivated by making ourselves look good) [1].
I read the book a while ago, but I do remember a motivating example of a small child who falls over and hurts themselves. They look to their caregiver to help interpret the significance of their pain. If the caregiver is not overly perturbed, the child then learns that their pain was not that big a deal. According to the authors of the book, adults sharing their woes are doing a similar thing. If I tell you about how times are tough at work and you maintain a visage that all will be okay in the end, I will find that reassuring.
They then further strongly assert that this how all successful psychotherapy works. They claim no matter the school of psychotherapy, what the successful psychotherapist is doing is being present with the patient while the patient experiences their emotions (the therapists not getting lost themselves in these emotions) and helping the patient shift their S1 reaction/emotionally regulate.
[1] I think there is something to be explained here, but we can come up with other hypotheses too. Like revealing my weaknesses/struggles to you might be valuable because it gives me reassurance that you’d still be my friend even if you found them out of my own accord. Perhaps also knowing all of each other’s weaknesses results in some kind of mutually assured destruction so that you stay friends and don’t go off badmouthing each other. Or something.