The art and angst of the mentoring relationship

Acad Psychiatry. 1997 Jun;21(2):61-71. doi: 10.1007/BF03341901.

Abstract

The authors review the ancient mentoring relationship in Homer's Odyssey and the mentoring discourse of Socrates. These relationships illustrate the art of inspiring a searching quality in the subject and the angst of the struggle that accompanies perplexity and unknowing. The developmental stages of the mentor and resident in psychiatric training are reviewed. A spectrum of teaching interventions are discussed as they might be perceived by the student. Finally, Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" is used as a metaphor for the art of enlightenment and angst of learning and teaching in the mentoring relationship. (Academic Psychiatry 1997; 21:61-71).