Existenzanalyse 1/2017
Ausgabe 1/2017
BASIC ANTHROPOLOGIC-PHILOSOPHICAL PREMISES OF LOGOTHERAPY AND EXISTENTIAL ANALYSIS – A COMPARISON
Claudia Reitinger
This article investigates in which sense and to what extent Existential Analysis became distant from Logotherapy, seen from a
philosophical point of view. As a conclusion it can be said that Logotherapy and Existential Analysis are two different
theories due to their divergent main assumptions and altered central concepts. Logotherapy supports a strong metaphysical
theory, which is based on a transcendental unitarian principle, from which the anthropology of Frankl can be accessed. The objectivity of meaning and value and the concept of finality are only understandable due to this assumption. Längle, on the contrary, waives this metaphysical assumption. His starting point is the feeling of values and the subjective experience. Meaning arises when the person lives in
accordance with what is felt as valuable and engages itself in the outer world.
Keywords: anthropology, philosophy, meaning, person, freedom, finality
MARTIN BUBER’S PHILOSOPHY OF DIALOGUE AND EXISTENTIAL ANALYSIS1
Simon Zangerle
This paper establishes insights into Martin Buber’s philosophical anthropology. A reconstruction and interpretation of the principles of dialogue and monolog is focused in particular. In Buber’s thinking, the dialogical relationship has an existence fomenting significance. As a dialogical based method, this leads to consequences for Existential Analysis. In dialogical relationship, the other arrives at a presence in which the person is updated. In monolog the other is objectified and reified.
Keywords: Buber, dialogue, person, existence, encounter
I AM WORTHY OF YOU STAYING WITH ME.
The influence of fulfilled existence and attachment on jealousy in romantic relationships
René Gruber
This questionnaire survey with 572 participants (age range from 16 to 72 years) examines the role of a
fulfilled existence (as defined by existential analysis) as a protective factor in the experience of jealousy and jealous behavior. The relevance of the individual attachment style and the attachment style of the partner, as well as the relevance of relationship factors were also analyzed.
Results show that an improvement in existential fulfillment leads to a reduction in feeling offended in most of the jealousy
provoking situations, to greater confidence in the partner, and to less jealousy. Existential fulfillment can therefore be seen as a protective factor regarding jealous experience
and behavior.
Concerning attachment it was found that people whose attachment style is based on a positive model of the self are less likely to be offended by potential jealousy triggers and that they are less jealous than
people with a negative model of self. Thus a positive model of the self is associated with a reduction
in the intensity of perceived jealousy.
Possible implications for the psychotherapy of jealousy are discussed.
Keywords: jealousy, Existential Analysis, existential fulfillment, attachment
THE ACTUALIZATION OF THE PERSON. EXISTENTIAL ANALYTICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PERSONIZATION OF EXISTENCE
Alfried Längle
In Existential Analysis and Person Centered Psychotherapy the key to existence is seen in the activation of the person. A procedure addressing and seeking to mobilize the resources of the person is therefore essential in every psychotherapy. – The dynamic basic activities of the person can generally be seen as essential in every psychotherapy
(seeing – integrating – encountering), and subsequently the prerequisites for the development of the self are
described (attention – empathy – taking position). In interaction with the self, the person can become effective in
presence and in existence. Deep down however, the person resonates in a spiritual depth with being and life –subsequently becoming an inner counterpart due to the self. An activation of the person can solely follow, when originating from the characteristics of the
person and the interplay with the self. This is how the human being can attain, via personhood, the essence of life:
come into contact with being, in which the personal meaning of existence unfolds.
Keywords: person, resources, existence, actualization, spirituality
PERSON-CENTERED COMMENTS
Peter F. Schmid
On the notion of the person on the occasion of Alfried Längle’s article “Person-centered:
On the personization of existence – an external view”
Referring to Längle’s paper in the issue 20(1) some differences between the notions of ‚person‘ in the PCA and
in Personal Existential Analysis are highlighted and the problem of such debates from a viewpoint of the philosophy of science is touched.
Keywords: Person, relationship person to person, dialogue, I/me, ethics.
HUMANISTIC-EXISTENTIAL PERSPECTIVES OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER
Existential Analysis, Psychodrama and Person-centered Psychotherapy in dialogue
Thomas Herzog
The present contribution intends to bring the psychotherapeutic concepts of different humanistic-existential approaches into dialogue with each other. Coming from the concrete manifestation of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), its specific understanding as well as the therapeutic procedure from the perspective of
Existential Analysis, Psychodrama and Person-centered Psychotherapy is outlined and discussed in an overall view. Purpose is to render visible intrinsic similarities and differences of the three approaches in order
to achieve reciprocal benefits and make them accessible to further discourse.
Keywords: Existential Analysis, dialogue between psychotherapeutic orientations, humanistic psychotherapy,
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Person-centered
Psychotherapy, Psychodrama
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOALS IN EXISTENTIAL ANALYSIS AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY: THE PATIENT, HIS SYMPTOM AND HIS THERAPIST.
Ingo Zirks
In this article, development and anthropological foundations of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Existential Analysis are outlined focusing their therapy goals. While Cognitive Behavior Therapy seems more oriented
towards finding solutions, Existential Analysis rather seeks to understand motivational reasons of the patient. Cognitive
Behavior Therapy was influenced by natural sciences and therefore developed a fair set of therapeutic techniques and strategies, which play an important role in therapeutic process. Deriving from an existential and phenomenological tradition in philosophy, the therapist in Existential Analysis seeks to enable a nurturing personal
encounter to disclose the potential of the „person“, which is seen to be crucial for the therapeutic process.
Keywords: Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Existential Analysis, anthropology, therapeutic goals
POSSIBILITIES FOR APPLICATION OF EXISTENTIAL ANALYSIS IN THE REHABILITATION OF PATIENTS WITH DEPENDENCE ON PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
Irina Efimova, Irina Andreeva-Chadaeva
Possibilities of inclusion of Existential Analysis in the rehabilitation of narcodependent patients for in-patient and out-patient treatment are presented. Furthermore, resources of Existential Analysis are described which are necessary for
the psychologist accompanying patient with dependence on psychoactive substances.
KEYWORDS: dependence on psychoactive substances, fundamental motivations, will, fundamental value, self-value.
THE EXISTENTIAL ANALYTICAL CONSTELLATION BOARD
Esther Purgina
Application of new work material illustrated by means of a case study
Inspired by the systemic family board, an existential analytical constellation board has been developed. This article explains the theoretic embedment into the concept of Personal Existential Analysis (PEA) and into the concept of the four fundamental motivations. The application of this new work material in psychotherapeutic treatment is illustrated by means of a case study.
Keywords: Existential Analysis, existential analytical constellation board, systemic thinking
EFFECTS OF RHYTHM AND SOUND ON THE PERSONAL STRUCTURES OF EXISTENCE
Ulrike Ziering
An empirical study on the subjective experience of structured music improvisations
Actively playing drum rhythms and sounds enables us to perceive support and space, to experience resonance and security,
and to feel our vitality. In an empirical study with clients suffering from serious mental disorders, the subjective
effects of a rhythm and sound improvisation were compared. It showed that musical group improvisations,
especially rhythm improvisations, are suitable for strengthening basic trust and fundamental value. The effect seems to be to a great extent independent from psychological underlying diseases and the current mood.
Keywords: rhythm, sound, music improvisation, music
experience, fundamental motivations
THE MEANING OF “PERCEIVING” AND “BEING PERCEIVED” IN THE THERAPY OF DEPRESSION1
Andrea Herzog
In a music-therapeutic and existential-analytic group of a psychiatric department for depressive patients, the aspects
of perception (1.FM) and of being-perceived became more important in therapeutic work than initially thought. Many depressive patients are unacquainted to a self-perceptive view, which therefore firstly needs to be learned with the aid of basic exercises of self-perception in order to become sensitive to their feelings (2.FM). The diagnosis specific composition of this group in combination with music- and psychotherapy helps the patients to get away from their social withdrawal and enforces their resonance ability
and their communication about depressive behaviour and viable changes.
Keywords: perception, being-perceived, depression, music therapy, exercises in mindfulness
1Basis of this contribution is the thesis of method-specific training in Existential Analysis of the author carrying the same title.
STRUCTURE RELATED PSYCHOTHERAPY AND EXISTENTIAL ANALYSIS
Christina Binder
This paper deals with structure related psychotherapy of Gerd Rudolf and Existential Analysis. Structure related psychotherapy is illustrated in some of it’s main features. Parallels and differences of both methods of psychotherapy are outlined in terms of the understanding of disease.
Keywords: structure related psychotherapy, Existential Analysis, structure, person, fundamental motivation
GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY AS AN ADVENTURE
Existential analytical experiences in clinical setting
Maria E. Rathner
The present article developed from my thesis and examines stationary short-term group psychotherapy from an existential analytical perspective. It describes how work on the basis of Existential Analysis connected with
supervision, self-experience and literature studies in groups is made possible.
Based on setting, illness and group dynamics, work focuses on the first fundamental motivation. A supporting and healing atmosphere is the basis for themes of the first, second and third fundamental motivation. The weighting arises from the group composition and dynamics. Relationship building and attention between group members
thereby prove to be the primary effect factors. At the same time, a healing group process enables the experience of meaning without explicitly working out themes of the
fourth fundamental motivation.
Keywords: existential analytical short-term group psychotherapy, group dynamics, fundamental motivations