Person ch 4 concepts
1. Notes: Existential approaches are more of philosophical stances about therapy rather than formal systems of psychotherapy.
Not much personality theory, techniques are usually drawn from other sources. Unique perspective on psychopathology: Lying
is the foundation of pathology. That is, avoiding existential anxiety by telling ourselves lies about reality--thus avoiding the truth
about our existence. Lying leads to closing off part of our world--ignoring and negating facts that are contradictory to our lie. Lying
leads to neurotic anxiety, acting on neurotic anxiety leads to pathology (e.g., a compulsion to check on our family). In pathological
behaviors, the self is no longer a subject, but an object without a choice--in pathology, we experience ourselves as objects w/o will.
Also, focusing too much on one area of being as the expense of the other areas of being causes pathology. Focusing to much on
being-for-others and neglecting being-in-the-world or being-for-oneself results in a pathological personality.
2. See outline.
3. Know geographical locale of major existential theorists.
4. Important Concepts:
- phenomonology: focusing on immediate experience--the perception of experience, the meansing of experience; observation with a
minimum of a priori biases. In existential tx, understanding the patient's experience in their own words rather than in terms of the
therapist's abstract theory.
- hyphenated words (why?): existentialists use hyphenated words to describe concepts because their concepts are wholistic in
nature. Being is not only a verb, but a innate part of where and what one is "being" in or for.
- being-in-the-world: an existential decription of existence--being and world are an inseperable unity created by the individual.
- umwelt: "being-in-nature"; the aspect of existence that concerns our biological and physcial asepcts of our existence.
- mitwelt: "being-with-others"; the aspect of existence that is our dealing and being with others--the social world.
- eigenwelt: "being-for-oneself"; the aspect of existence that is our interacting with our own existence--"the way we reflect on,
evaluate, and experience ourselves."
- authentic existence: is the ultimate goal for existential tx--it is the ability to be open to all parts of existence equally; it is meeting
the world with all of its quandries and questions head-on w/o running away or hiding or lying.
- existential anxiety: the anxiety that comes with existence; a state of perpetual realization of our own finity; many run away from
this anxiety or lie to themselves in order to ignore/escape it. However, for an authentic individual, it is a perpetual state of
existence--to experience anxiety means you are being honest about your own place in the world.
- choice: the fundamental responsibility for all persons. We can choose either to face reality as it is or to run away or ignore it. And
we are ultimately responsible for our own choices.
- meaning: Is not innately found in life. Meaning is created by the self. We assign meaning to our lives. Therefore, it is an exitential
fear that what we have worked for, all that we have declared as meaningful will one day be found meaningless.
- isolation and aloneness: Another source of existential anxiety; We are fundamentally alone in the universe. Isolation is an artifact
of the fact that no matter how close I get with another person, we are still separate people with 2 completely separate spheres of
existence. Also, what we choose to be meaningful in our lives may cause others to not want to know us--therefore, aloneness is a
persistent threat and worry.
5. Understand why "lying is the foundation of psychopathology" and what neurotic anxiety is: see #1.
6. Honesty is the cure: Since lying is the source of pathology, honesty is the cure. That is, when we lie to protect ourselves from
existence, we develop maladaptive methods of living. If one is honest, then one experiences existence as it really is: uncertain and
anxiety-filled. If one is honest, one can make an honest attempt at dealing with existence as opposed to impotently avoiding it. If
we keep avoiding non-being, we will never come into existence. Through being honest, the aspects of our lives that have been
closed off now are open and we are free to choose rather than being "forced" into actions by our lies.
7. Therapy:
- Phenomological method & Rogers as well: Therapists, by using the phenomological method are allowing patients to express their
experience in their own terms, and it is the therapist's job to relate to the client's experience in the client's terms, not their own.
This is quite similar to client-directed therapy, where the it is the therapist's job to understand the patient from the patient's
perspective and not impose her own categories onto the patient.
- Consciousness raising and choosing: These concepts are central to existential tx. Through consciousness raising, therapists help
the patient become more aware of their own existence and the realities surrounding it. Patients are continually confronted with the
burden of choice throughout therapy. It is the client's responsibility to create new alternatives for existence. Therapists must avoid
choosing for the client in order to perpetuate the client's experience as a subject rather than an object.
- Kairos: critical choice periods in the client's life. These are opportunities for deciding whether to risk changing a fundamental
aspect of existence.
8. Approach to human problems:
Intrapersonal Issues
- Anxiety: since anxiety is a part of every person's existence--in fact it is something that we are. The focus of therapy is to expose
how existential anxieties have been defended by lies clients tell themselves. Anxiety is a natural outcome of becoming away of
nonbeing--it is not avoided in therapy, but confronted head-on.
- Esteem: Is not a consequence of how other other people value us. self-esteem is experienced at the being-for-oneself level of
existence. It is the result of self-evaluation. An authentic person must place evaluation of self above the evaluations by others.
"Self-esteem is the hard-earned natureal response that patients can make only to themselves after struggling to be authentic."
- Responsibility: All people are personally responsible for who they become. If one chooses against authenticity, he is responsible
for his own choices, and often experiences existential guilt.
Interpersonal Issues:
- Intimacy: Real intimate relationships invovle the caring and sharing of what is most central in the lives of two authentic people.
Inauthentic people are only capable of the I-it or it-it relationship, where people are seen as objects rather than people. The I-Thou
relationship is the authentic relating of two people where both experience the other as unique subjects--honestly perceiving
eachother and theirselves. Note that sexuality is not a primary concern w/ intimacy; it is assumed that two people who are
authentic with one another will be sexual if they so choose.
- Communication: is an inherent problem in existence. Although ppl communicate, it is impossible to percieve the thought, details,
or experience actually being related through the imperfect medium of language. Our own perspective will always, often in subtle
ways, misrepresent what others say and do. One's job, as one living authentically, is to continually try to be more sensitive to the
fact that our interpretations of others' communications are inherently limited, and we must attempt to do the "least damage" to
them as possible.
-Hostility: Hostility usually is dealt with in two pathological ways. The first is to deny it; to deny that we get angry. We close off
aggression (a threat of nonbeing) and lie to ourselves, thus often avoiding intense relationships and conflict that might create
agner. The second is to lie and say we cannot control our hostility. Often, this stems from an attempt to deny our finititude and play
"God" by agressing toward others (literally deciding who will live and die). Often this is to protect oneself from the threat of
rejection or other threats of nonbeing.
- Control: attempting to control others is a violent act. Since freedom is so central to existence, any attempt to control denies a
person's existence. In tx, the therapist denies the patient's attempts at controlling by refusing to be controlled (no matter what
threats are given).
9. Transcendence over adjustment: Existential theory is not just about becoming acclimated to the threat of non-being, it is
about accepting that nonbeing is contained within existence. One's main task, then, is to transcend the reaction of fear and anxiety
which often an excuse for denying nonbeing. One must accept and live with, in a constant dydactic relationship, one's finite power,
and one's infinite responsibility. "The only way a life based on adjustment might be healthy is if the society a person is adjusting to
is basically honest." Most of society is based on lies and inauthenticity...one must become conscious of such forces and rise above
them; we must become our own person.
10. Meaning: Like Adler, one creates meaning in his or her life. "The meaning of our existence emerges out of what we choose to
stand for." Oneself is ultimately responsible for creating meaning in life, and one must be aware of the results of refusing to stand
for anything--often overwhelming guilt.
11. Therapeutic relationship and practicalities:
- The therapeutic relationship: the relationship is both part of the process of change and the content for therapy. The therapist
must practice letting be, meaning, recognizing the authentic existence of the other person. It is perceived of as an I-thou
relationship, where the therapist is authentic with the client at all times; if the client can eventually be authentic as well, then the
therapy has been successful. Through the therapeutic relationship, the client's inauthentic and pathological way of relating to the
world is seen. Important: lies and transferences will be confronted and interpreted. And, the therapist must be congruent and
genuine--even more so than the client.
- Becoming an existential therapist: There are no formal criteria, simply a philosophy of life and an ability to subjectively experience
the client. Many times training might include personal psychotherapy, life experiences, reading, and internships.
- View on medication: Medication is viewed as detrimental to experiencing life as is. Existentialists prefer that patients experience
authentic experience without the dulling effects of psychotropic meds--no matter how painful those experiences may be.
12. Existential-humanistic tx: A briefer alternative to classical existential therapy. Focuses more on potential, awareness, peak
experiences, self-realization, I-Thou, and encounter (especially in American circles). James Bugental is a prime example of an
American Existential-humanistic psychotherapist. Is more concerned with finding the realization of human posibilities as opposed to
finding the components of human existence (analysis). His goal is to "increase the true livingness". This approach is more Rogerian
in nature--including more physical contact and more "warmth" than existential analysis.
13. Logotherapy: Created by Frankl as a direct result of his experiences in a Nazi prison camp. Literally meaning "meaning
therapy", Frankl's theory is centered around the concept of meaning in life. A will-to-meaning is the basis essence of life. The
search for meaning is the cornerstone of psychological well-being and the antidote to suicide. Meaning is not an abstraction; life
asks us what meaning we give to our existence. We must be responsible for each moment of every day. Paradoxical intention: is a
therapeutic technique created by Frankl in order to reverse a neurotic pattern. He encourages his clients to become self-detached
and humorous and intend to do the very thing they are dreading. Clients find that they do not act the way they thought they would
act in the situation they fear.
14. Reality therapy: Know created by Wm. Glasser. See basics in outline. Summation: there are no excuses for pathology. We
are responsible for our sickness or our health. Use of choice, plans, contracts, and homework.
15. Research: lack of outcome studies on existential approaches--often b/c existentialists deny the effectiveness or
appropriateness of the scientific method. Existence cannot be adequately judged by studies, thus they do not do justice or can even
come close to portraying what takes place in existential therapy.
16. Criticisms:
- Behavioral: no outcome research, no system of therapy, stepping backward into mentalisms, feelings, etc.
- Psychoanalytic: borrow from psychoanalysis w/o giving due credit, does injustice to patients in serious conflict, responsible for
breakdown of society.
- Humanistic: stiff upper lip is not the only way to deal with human experience
- Cultural: dead white men, no direction, no solutions, should focus more on the world, the circumstances in which ppl live, rather
than telling all they will be ok in any circumstance if only you believe you will be.
- Integration: richly appreciates human condition, yet, resistance to research not good, is truth all relative? Cannot science provide
us with some common ground from which to find some truth of existence and truth of pathology and how to treat it?
17. Incorporation of existentialism: Think Irving Yalom: "Existentialism is a 'strange yet oddly familiar' orientation to
psychotherapy and life." Existential orientation frequently underlies clinicial practice w/o due credit. Most of influence in indirect.
Promote the power of self-directed change.