1/ Why does Kris feel the need to reassure himself that ‘what is indispensable to life’ cannot also be harmful to it?

Psychological data and human values: “Full humanness can be defined not only in terms of the degree to which the definition of the concept ‘human’ is fullfilled, i.e., the species norm. It also has a descriptive, cataloguing, measurable, psychological definition. We now have from a few research beginnings and from contless clinical experiences some notion of the characteristics both of the fully evolved human being and of the well-growing human being. These characteristics are not only neutrally describable; they are also subjectively rewarding, pleasurable and reinforcing. Among the objectively describable and measurable characteristics of the human specimen are –
1. Clearer, more efficient perception of reality.
2. More openness to experience
3. Increased integration, wholeness and unity of the person.
4. Increased spontaneity, expressiveness; full functioning; aliveness.
5. A real self; a firm identity; autonomy, uniqueness.
6. Increased objectivity, detachement, transcendence of self.
7. Recovery of creativeness.
8. Ability to fuse concreteness and abstractness.
9. Democratic character structure.
10. Ability to love, etc.”
Maslow, Abraham H. (1968). Towards a Psychology of Being. 2nd edition. (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold) p. 156

By presenting a ‘dismal’ and ‘suspect’ perspective of Life, Kris is defining his anguish. His observation regards the experience of Love, and its implications regarding abandon and loneliness. The human qualities of fragility are not only physical, they are also psychological. We cannot point a finger on the source of suffering when we experience sentimental ‘pain’, yet it is a unique quality that man can experience.