Existentialism 1 of 5.pdf

8/10/2019 Existentialism 1 of 5.pdf

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Existentialism


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More of a way of thinking, or an attitude about psychotthan a particular style of practicing psychotherapy.

Not an independent nor a separate school of therapy, nclearly defined model with specific techniques.

It is more of a philosophical approach

What is Existential therapy?


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Existential psychotherapy is an attitude toward human[that] has no manual. It asks deep questions about the nhuman being and the nature of anxiety , despair, grief,loneliness, isolation, and anomie. It also deals centrally wquestions of meaning, creativity, and love. (Yallom & J

2011)


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Existential approach rejects the deterministic view of hunature by traditional schools of psychology.

Psychoanalysis as primarily determined by unconscious firrational drives, and past events

Behaviorists see the individual as primarily determined b

cultural conditioning. Although there are times when we cant control externa

existential therapists believe we retain the freedom to chhow we respond to such events.

Existentialism vs Psychoanalysis vs Radical behav


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Basically, existential therapy is grounded on the assumpwe are free and therefore responsible for our choices anactions.

We are authors of our lives, and we design the pathwayfollow.

Basic premise: we are not victims of circumstance becalarge extent, we are what we choose to be.


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It was not founded by a particular person or group.

World War II- struggled with existential feelings of isolatioalienation, and meaningless.

Movement arose in 19th century

Soren Kierkegard & Friedrich Nietzsche

Origins of Existentialism


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Soren Kierkegard (1813-1855)

concerned with angst- Danish and German word whose meanbetween the English words dread and anxiety.

He believed that anxiety is the school in which we are educateself.

necessary to our becoming human

Key figures


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Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

located the values within the individuals will to power

herd mentality=mediocrities

bermensch are representative of people who exhibit Freedomthey define the nature of their own existence.

Key figures


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Martin Heidegger (1889-1976)

Phenomenological existentialism, as presented by Heidegger, pview of human history that does not focus on past events but mindividuals to look forward to authentic experiences that arecome.

Key figures


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Martin Buber (1878-1865)

Betweeness- there is never just an I, but always an, other.

Presence- 3 functions

1. It enables true I/ Thou relationships.

2. It allows for meaning to exist in a situation

3. It enables an individual to be responsible in the here and now.

His best-known philosophical work was the short bookI and Thou, published in 1Buber, the fundamental fact of human existence, too readily overlooked by scierationalism and abstract philosophical thought, is "man with man", a dialogue thplace in the so-called "sphere of between" ("das Zwischenmenschliche")

Key figures
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_and_Thouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_and_Thou


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1. Ludwig Binswanger(1881-1966)

Existential analysis (dasein analyze) emphasize the subjective and spirituaof human existence.

2.Medard Boss(1903-1991)

Dasein or being-in-the-world- reflect on life events and attribute meaningevents

Key figures


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Jean-Paul Sartre in 1945 lectured titled Is Existentialism aHumanism

Essence can be seen as its necessary property or charato be what it is. (aristotle)

As an atheist Sartre did not believe humans were desig

Bad faith- I cant do this now because of my past.

Basic premise: every moment, by our actions, we are chwho we are being.

Existence precedes Essence


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Viktor Frankl- 1905-1997

Influenced by Freud, student by Adler

Logotherapy- therapy through meaning

life has meaning, under all circumstances; the central mfor living is the will to meaning; we have freedom to find

meaning in all that we think; and we must integrate bodand spirit to be fully alive.

Freud- will to pleasure, Adler-will to power, Frankl- will to

Key figures in Contemporary Existential Psychothe


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Rollo May (1909-1994)

It takes courage to be, and our choices determine the kind of

become. There is a constant struggle within us.

To grow toward maturity and independence is a painprocess.



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Irvin Yalom- 1931-

Yalom believed the vast majority of experienced threrapists, regtheir theoretical orientation, employ many of the core existentia

Kierkegard- creative anxiety, despair, fear and dread, guilt

Nietzsche- death, suicide, and will

Heidegger- authentic being, caring, death, guilt, and individua

responsibility Sartre- meaninglessness, responsibility, and choice

Bubre- interpersonal relationships, I/Thou perspective in therapy



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What is it that concerns all existentialists together?

Existentialists are all concerned with the problem of livinghuman being

So what is?


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Why am I here?

What does it mean to be human?

How should I live my life?

The Human Condition


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Existentialism is tough to define.

They differ substantially in addressing human condition

However, common is they reject systems which proposedefinitive answers to questions of meaning and purpose

However,


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Systems largely remove massive burden one would have

were they try to create meaning and purpose for themsunique and personal matter (ex. Christianity)

They do not adequately take into account what it is likehuman.

Nietszche, human all too human Existentialists see a benefit to facing-up to our mortality.

Moreover,

Existentialism 1 of 5.pdf

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