Week 3 - Existential Flashcards
Psychology’s Focus (,maslow)
The science of Psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side. It has revealed to us much about men’s shortcomings, his illness, his sins, but little about his potentialities, his virtues, his achievable aspirations, his full psychological height. It is as if Psychology has voluntarily restricted itself to only half its rightful jurisdiction, and that, the darker, meaner half.” (Maslow, 1954, p.354).
Humanistic Theories
Take a positive and optimistic view of humanity.
There is a focus on what the best is that humans can be, and on strengths rather than weaknesses.
All stress the importance of choice, personal responsibility and values.
Humanistic Theories
Humanistic psychology is evident as a basis for the new movement referred to as “Positive Psychology”, which also focuses on strengths, optimal functioning, resilience, and attainment and maintenance of Happiness.
Existential Therapies
EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPY is a DYNAMIC approach to therapy which focuses on concerns that are rooted in the individual’s existence.
Dynamic model in terms of forces being in conflict with one another
Dynamic Conflict
FREUD: DRIVE → ANXIETY → DEFENSE MECHANISM
EXISTENTIAL:
AWARENESS OF ULTIMATE CONCERN → ANXIETY → DEFENSE MECHANISM
Who’s theories?
DEEPER approach to conceptualisation which emphasizes the assumptions underlying all systems of psychotherapy - thus a philosophy.
EG: SATRE (bad faith), NIETZSHE (resilience), MAY (love), YALOM (givens of life)
FRANKL. (Quote from “Man’s Search for Meaning”).
KEY CONCEPTS
Normal (angst) vs. Neurotic Anxiety (excessive, repressed, stuck) – requires courage to change
Uncertainty / Ambiguity
Authentic vs. Inauthentic
Deep vs. Superficial
Self-awareness
Human capacity to transcend the immediate situation
KEY CONCEPTS 2
Self-awareness:
Decide to change something, avoid it, or accept I; and take responsibility for decisions. If not choose / take responsibility → stuck + external blame.
Deal with the “givens of life”.
Human capacity to transcend the immediate situation – push to be our best.
KEY CONCEPTS 3 - keyz
Self-awareness:
Decide to change something, avoid it, or accept I; and take responsibility for decisions. If not choose / take responsibility → stuck + external blame.
Deal with the “givens of life”.
Human capacity to transcend the immediate situation – push to be our best.
THE GIVENS OF LIFE (Yalom):
Forces in Conflict – inescapable truths: Life and Death: Death Anxiety Freedom and Responsibility Isolation and intimacy Meaningfulness and Meaninglessness
THE GIVENS OF LIFE 2
- Freedom and Responsibility:
Can’t be free if don’t take responsibility for own life.
“Bad Faith” – blaming others, wanting to remain the victim.
Make decisions, take responsibility.
Example re flight.
The givens of life 3
We are ultimately alone, but want to merge.
Interpersonal isolation: gulf between oneself & others
Intrapersonal Isolation: isolated from parts of ourselves.
Fusion: being in love, belonging to a group etc – defends against fear of aloneness.
The givens of life 4
Meaninglessness vs Meaningfulness
Life ultimately has no meaning, but humans need meaning, so how do we give our lives meaning?
The only way to get meaning is through
Engagement.
Most effective: giving to others. Selfish life feels meaningless
Exercise
In Pairs discuss:
Which of the 4 givens do you find most challenging / are most avoidant of.
How do you tend to defend against the anxiety this provokes.
Examples of when you were courageous in the face of one or more of the givens in life.
THERAPEUTIC GOALS
Accept Freedom and accompanying Responsibility.
Recognise how not living fully and authentically, and make choices to do so. “Carpe Dium” – Seize the Day.
Increase self-awareness, mindfulness.
Desist “victim” role, take back own life.
CLIENT REQUIREMENTS
Commitment to dealing with problems of living, rather than just waiting for solutions to symptoms.
Searching for Meaning – want something more; to live fully.
Prepared to take Responsibility for their lives.
Curious; open-minded
PROCESS OF THERAPY
Focus areas: ANXIETY, DEFENSES, AWARENESS, COPING
Focused in the PRESENT
Therapeutic Relationship is central
Respectful
Autonomy encouraged
Engagement very important; being fully present
Authenticity, Courage (MODELLING)
Process of Therapy: Steps
Help the client become aware of the choices they are making and how this effects their life
Encourage the client to face the givens of existence that they may be avoiding
Help clients become aware of the negative effects of their defensive thoughts / behaviours
Process of Therapy: Steps 2
Help them find adaptive ways of facing anxiety fuelled by the givens
Encourage clients to take responsibility for their lives and to make active choices regarding their situations; to be brave.
AREAS OF APPLICATION
Assuming Responsibility e.g. relationships, Mid-life crises, jobs.
Crises or Turning Points or Developmental Points.
Anxiety / Depressions re Life situation.
Grief and Loss (for Self or Others)
Identity Issues
Dissatisfaction, Stuck
Lack of Priorities or Direction
Addictions (filling the void)
Interventions / Techniques
Challenging / Questioning
Using the emotions generated by facing issues to become more insightful and to reduce anxiety through exposure
Conversational
Using the alliance to model authenticity and the positives of being real
Encouraging “re-writing your life”, “living fully”
Interventions / Techniques 2
Themes of existential anxiety and guilt
Meaning focus
Values
Pay attention to how client self-deceives
Paradoxes, e.g. life is richer because we know it will end
Dreams
Qualities of effective Therapists
Personal Maturity: open-minded, tolerate ambiguity, have explored their own anxiety regarding givens, curious.
Empathic and Authentic
Optimistic but realistic
Excellent microskills + alliance building
Apply this to Zac
36 year old male Married to Sue (34) 2 children (Matt = 5; Gabbie = 3.5) Successful CEO Parents both alive, separated Healthy, sporty, fit
Zac again
- Presented: having an affair with Libby, PA in his office. Feeling torn between wife and mistress – the latter is putting pressure on him to leave his wife.
Zac again 2
Feeling very stressed, some mood swings. Avoidant of getting in touch with emotions.
Cognitions: believes others expect too much from him and are not supportive / considerate enough, that he always has to carry the brunt of things.
Behaviour: stays very busy, reactive & short towards others.
LIMITATIONS AND CRITICISMS
Degree of Abstraction
Type of Client – possible restrictions
Cultural Issue: based on belief of internal Locus of Control
Possibility for Choice – how restricted is this? (Frankl)
