Psychotherapy als improvisation

Or: Why it’s worth to be on the lookout for strawberries amidst fear

Markus Angermayr

Anxiety is an essential part of life. As a basic human emotion, it not only draws attention to potential dangers, but also brings us into close contact with our existential thrownness into the world. There is no doubt that anxiety must be treated where it inhibits everyday life in the form of psychopathological disorders. How-
ever, if the psychotherapist and client dare to take the step beyond symptom treatment, other deeper dimensions of anxiety become apparent. Their transformation makes it possible to find a “foothold in the abyss”. In this way, the spiritual potential of anxiety becomes visible and three ideal-typical ground-of-being experiences, as described in the text, become possible.

For this to succeed, the necessary distance from the experience of anxiety must first be created – the “in between” must be established as a way of relating to the world. This text delves into the lives of Søren Kierkegaard, Leonhard Cohen and Keith Jarrett. In the form of poetic improvisations, the American pianist Jarrett provides suggestions on how a presence-led acceptance of one’s own life in all its imperfection and with all its anxieties can succeed. These “improvisations of the self” resemble an existential-poetic art of living that makes it possible to deal with the fragility of existence.

Keywords: Angst, presence, ground-of-being experience, improvisation, space of possibilities

Without Fear No Awake Being-Human

But only in combination with trust and love

Emmanuel J. Bauer

The term fear (Angst) is often understood negatively as a pathological or existentially constricting condition. From a philosophical point of view however, fear appears as a basic trait of the “awakened human being” and as a “via regia” to existence. It animates human being to take his freedom and responsibility seriously, to realize his own, unrepresentable mission in this world, in short, to unfold his personhood. Fear reveals what is really important to us and guides us to pay attention to what is commanded by conscience. It thus illuminates what is worthy of our protection and what is morally desirable. The existential meaning of fear opens up more profoundly if we consider its origin in worry (Socrates, Heidegger, Foucault), include the aspect of “attentiveness”, “vigilance” and “presence” (Buber) and place the necessary existential counterweight of trust or the constructive power of love alongside fear. This makes a living presence possible, which enables the human being to personal self-development and dialogical self-transcendence.

Keywords: existential philosophy, fear (anxiety), nothingness, emotional security, trust, love

Insecurity – Awkwardness – Anxiousness

Precursors of fear and their existential root

Alfried Längle

Pronounced anxiety arises from a perceived threat or danger and mobilizes protective reactions. It is a psychological reaction to a lack of security. This is not the case with the preliminary stages of fear, namely with anxiety, trepidation, insecurity, etc. Although these pre-clinical manifestations can have a considerable influence on experience and action, they do not block it and therefore often remain in the semi-darkness of inattention for a long time. They are to be seen as a preliminary form of basic anxiety and stem from a weak fundamental trust. From an existential perspective, the place where they arise is located in the deficits of the three prerequisites for being able to be: inadequate protection, space and support (1st fundamental motivation). Numerous examples are given to describe the images of these neglected disorders of discouragement and despondency, of feeling exposed and having catastrophic thinking (lack of protection), of pressure and anxiety (lack of space), as well as insecurity and mistrust (lack of support). The ways in which they arise and some forms of interventions are presented.

Keywords: fear, anxiety, protection, space, support, ontopathology

Anticipatory anxiety and its meaning for the realization of existence

Erika Luginbühl-Schwab

According to existential-analytical understanding, human beings strive to come to existence. By this we understand a life that is shaped authentically and meaningfully within the given conditions, with a consciousness of responsibility both for ourselves and for our environment. In case of deficits in the four fundamental conditions of existential life, anxiety, in particular also anticipatory anxiety, can arise, which makes existential life more difficult or renders it impossible. However, as anticipatory anxiety also reveals deficits in the fundamental conditions, Existential Analysis is not solely concerned with reducing anxiety symptoms, but also with understanding the origin and meaning of anxiety in an existential context, from which specific psychotherapeutic methods can be derived.

Keywords: basic anxiety, anticipatory anxiety, realization of existence, coping reactions

The various shapes of basic fear

Karin Matuszak-Luss

Basic fear develops when one loses hold in the world and/or in oneself, when groundlessness arises and one is confronted with nothingness. The phenomenon of basic fear has multifactorial causes and can show in different clinically relevant mental disorders. The structural differences and the severity of basic fear modulate the existential analytical approach to the persons affected concerning emphasis of psychotherapeutic interventions and structure of the psychotherapeutic process.

Keywords: basic fear, without support, experience of nothingness

Integration and the fear of identity loss

Ahmad Mansour

Hardly any other topic is as controversial in Germany as integration. It should have been clear for a long time that the integration of millions of people cannot be achieved through emergency measures alone and that it is about much more than language acquisition, the provision of housing and medical care. We only have a real chance of successfully integrating newcomers into our society if we finally understand what makes integration difficult and which comprehensive and lengthy task we face. A major hurdle, for example, is the fear of loss of identity caused by cultural and religious differences between the country of origin and Germany. This fear can in turn lead to immigrants clinging even more to their values, attitudes and norms of their country of origin.

Keywords: integration, migration, escape, fear, loss of identity

Existential anxiety of Ukrainians in the context of today´s turbulent challenges

Kaplunenko Yaryna

This article contains a scientific and theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of existential anxiety, considers its nature and features in modern research in the field of existentialism and neurobiology, as well as an existential analytical approach to existential anxiety. Different types of existential anxiety (fear of death, loneliness, blurred identification, and meaning of life), preconditions, and features of their manifestations, as well as their relationship with the four fundamental dimensions of existence, have been empirically studied. The article highlights psychotherapeutic interventions depending on the prevailing type of existential anxiety.

Keywords: existential anxiety, Existential Analysis, four fundamental motivations, existence, Ukraine

Polarization and fears: Which contribution can human rights make?

Walter Suntinger

Based on the central concept of the equal dignity of all people, human rights represent a system of fundamental values and rules to ensure a life in dignity for all. Their consistent implementation would have the potential to effectively counteract fears of social decline and other threats to security. However, human rights positions are increasingly being pushed back in the wake of the rise of right-wing populist movements and their instrumentalization of fear. The strengthening of economic and social rights, which have been increasingly eroded in the course of neoliberal globalization, and creative communication strategies to highlight the positive contribution of human rights to a peaceful society are just as necessary as a clear positioning against exclusionary and discriminatory practices. Finally, on the basis of a self-reflexive practice, a more active reaching out to all societal groups is needed, including to those who are skeptical about human rights.

Keywords: dignity, human rights, right-wing populism, fear

How fear drives politicians into an existential and ethical dilemma

René Märtin

Politicians strive to reconcile the expectations of the population with their own identity: They are expected to be close, wilful, changeable, and consistent at the same time. This leads to the assumption of political roles that are not always authentically aligned. Promoters of these attitudes are an interplay of basic fear and fear of expectations; authenticity falls by the wayside. This has social repercussions, especially on the acceptance of politics. The perceived contradictions meet a changing basic mood in society, which is increasingly turning towards authoritarian characters. Politicians find themselves in a conflict because the ideal of democratic leadership is a humanistic ethic in contrast to an authoritarian moral.

Keywords: fears, expectations, roles, authenticity, meaning, freedom, ethics

Fear and Politics

Fear as motive, instrument and justification in political discourse

Andreas Loretz

Fear has always been used as an instrument to secure power and mobilize support in political contention. In the post war era the liberal welfare state has tried to ensure social security and to minimize fears for its citizens. In the last decades multiple social crises have shattered many of these securities and led to an exploitation of fear and angst by populist political stakeholders. Driven by social media, angst has reached a new quality and meaning in the political discourse. This instrumentalization of fear endangers the rule of law, fosters authoritarian developments in liberal democracies, prevents structural reforms and adjustments and fuels a political discourse which is driven by emotion and irrationality.

Keywords: politics, fear, angst, social media, populism, manipulation

Fear inducing developments in school

Ways to deal with them on the basis of existential pedagogy

Eva Maria Waibel

This article focuses on the institutionally induced fears and concerns of teachers and, to some extent, of the school principals as well. It is divided into three chapters. The first chapter is dedicated to a study that generally identifies the main anxieties of teachers and principals. In the middle section, institutional conditions of schools that trigger fears are identified on the basis of this investigation, such as the supranational, seemingly inevitable flood of reforms, the globalized school development processes, and the increasing school bureaucratization induced by national education authorities. In all these specifications, in the input-output orientation, accompanied by the focus on standards, competencies and change processes, the human being is more and more pushed out of the field of vision. How this utilitarian conception of man and the materialistically based developments could be counteracted with the help of existential approaches forms the last part of the considerations.

Keywords: educational policy, change management educational processes, image of man, existential pedagogy

I hate you!

Aspects of the fear of not being able to be in the context of out-of-home care facilities

Thomas Happ

The article examines the role of Existential Pedagogy in child and youth welfare, with a particular focus on out-of-home care facilities such as foster homes or supervised living groups. Existential Pedagogy, which is derived from Existential Analysis, provides a framework for understanding the deeply rooted emotional and psychological needs of children and adolescents.

A central element is the examination of the first fundamental motivation, as especially in out-of-home care facilities, the basic prerequisites such as protection, space and support are lacking, which can in turn affect the child’s overall development.

The application of Existential Pedagogy in child and youth welfare can contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges and life situations of the affected children and adolescents. By integrating existential concepts into educational practice, professionals in child and youth welfare can be better prepared to find holistic and sustainable solutions for the individuals entrusted to them.

Keywords: out-of-home placement, Existential Pedagogy, fundamental motivations, coping reactions

And if thou’rt unwilling, then… praise I’ll employ

A critical reflection from an existential pedagogic perspective

Andreas Wurzrainer

This article examines the often-underestimated duality of praise and its effects. While praise is generally perceived as positive, deeper insights reveal a less optimistic perspective. The article delves into the nuanced impacts of praise, drawing on concepts from Existential Analysis and psychology to argue that praise can frequently be viewed as a form of manipulation and violence. When used thoughtlessly, praise can impair intrinsic motivation, create a power imbalance, and hence, does not contribute to authentic recognition and promotion of self-determination and personal responsibility. The article also touches upon the dynamics of reward systems in the context of praise, especially the consequences of externalizing motivation. The article concludes by discussing alternatives to traditional praise and reward strategies, emphasizing the need for a more reflective and discerning approach in educational and interpersonal contexts.

Keywords: praise, Existential Pedagogy, manipulation, self-efficacy, spoiling

Living with a cancer diagnosis – falling out of normal reality

Elisabeth Kohrt

The diagnosis of cancer is usually experienced as a border experience of existence, as existentially threatening and as a confrontation with death. It is usually experienced as a shock in life, which confronts with existential issues at the same time. How can one go on living when death comes so close to one’s own life? How can the realization of one’s being succeed facing this “being challenged” by life?

Following a detailed description of cancer diagnosis as a deep, drastic experience of existential anguish, the dimensions of suffering from cancer are outlined.

This contribution explores personal-existential opportunities coming with this shock, which make it possible to find the courage again to keep the relationship to oneself and to life through this existential challenge.

Keywords: cancer, existential threat, dying and death, suffering, personal growth

Effectivity of existential analytical training therapy – feasibility of a naturalistic pilot study by the Society of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis

Katharina Haubmann

The feasibility of naturalistic psychotherapy studies to a large extent depends on willing psychotherapists and clients. There-
fore, when planning and conducting psychotherapeutic research projects, the reservations and motivations of the participants should be taken into account in order to improve the feasibility and acceptance of the studies. In the context of the current effectiveness study, participants were asked not only about their psychological well-being, but also about their experiences with study participation and filling out questionnaires, in order to identify potential challenges and opportunities for improvement. Overall, a good acceptance of the study was observed among willing clients and psychotherapists. The results are discussed based on findings from literature.

Keywords: naturalistic psychotherapy research, training therapies, Logotherapy and Existential Analysis, study acceptance, feasibility