Existential psychology - what is it, briefly

The essence of existential psychology

Existentialism in psychology appeared thanks to philosophy. The existential movement in psychological science appeared in the 19th century and has not lost its relevance today.

The existential approach in psychology is a direction, according to the philosophical foundations of which a person is a unique creation, the life of an individual is of scientific value because it is unique.

The central place in the existential direction of psychology is given to the individual. Important provisions of existential psychology are :

• The individual is an active entity. Its existence is of scientific interest.
• The life path of an individual is an original, unique process.
• The person is open to the world. He feels himself exactly in the place and time in which he lives.
• In his actions and actions, a person is driven by a simple need for self-realization. Throughout his life, he develops his abilities.
• The individual is independent in choosing values. The ability to make the right choice is formed in the process of education.

Interaction with other areas and sciences

Existential psychology is closely intertwined with other sciences:

• philosophy;
• classical psychology;
• sociology;
• psychotherapy.

The development of these sciences influences the emergence of new theories of existential psychology.

Psychological science is multifaceted and consists of many areas, among which existential psychology is distinguished. It was based on the teachings of philosophy, which are closely intertwined with psychological theories.

History, representatives

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Attention! Researchers cannot say for sure who was the founder of the new direction in the study of personality in psychology. Existentialism in psychology is associated with the ideas of B. Medard, L. Binswanger, R. May, A. Lenglet, K. Jaspers. In Russia, representatives of existential psychologists are F.I. Dostoevsky and L.N. Tolstoy.

Throughout the 19th century, existential psychology actively developed, and narrowly focused branches were formed, one of which is logotherapy. This is a type of psychotherapy, the founder of which is considered to be V. Frankl. As an existential psychologist, V. Frankl distinguished himself by the fact that he tested all the psychotherapeutic methods and techniques of this direction on himself. Classes with him helped clients find a way out of difficult life situations and find meaning in life.

Founders and followers

A famous scientist who made a huge contribution to the development of existential psychology was W. Frankl. With his teachings, he proved that it is easier to give up and stop developing. But if a person wants to be happy, he must find strength, continue to work on himself, and learn about the world around him. Other most outstanding scientists who made a great contribution to the development of this area include:

• Irwin Yalom;
• Alfred Langley;
• Rollo May;
• James Bugental;
• Alice Holzhey-Kuntz;
• Ludwig Binswanger;
• Boss Medard.

Ideas of the existential approach in psychology

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The main definitions in the existential approach are the search for meaning, freedom, choice, consciousness, responsibility, awareness of death. The borderline science for existentialism is philosophy, from where its main ideas are taken:

• The need and ability for continuous self-development and learning is determined by the free will of the individual;
• A person strives to know himself and his inner world;

Understanding your inner world

• A powerful resource for realizing the creative potential of an individual is the acceptance of the mortal nature of man;
• To live a full life, a person needs to formulate the purpose of his existence.

Main problems

Existential psychology has several problems that emerged during the development of science:

1. Meaninglessness, the meaning of human existence. In order to develop further, a person must first have a meaning for his further existence. He becomes lost after feeling loneliness, thoughts about inevitable death, and isolation from society.
2. Problems of freedom, choice, responsibility. An individual strives to get rid of the framework and prohibitions that society imposes on him, but at the same time he is frightened by the thought of their absence.
3. Problems of love, loneliness, communication. Many people understand that they come into this world alone, and they will leave here alone.
4. Problems with understanding the significance of life. Conflicts of consciousness arise due to the awareness of inevitable death.

Each of the problems is subject to in-depth study by researchers.

The concept of personality in existential psychology

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Existence is in psychology the uniqueness of a person. This approach does not limit the study of personality to the present. The present is a short moment that provides only brief information about the individual. In order for individuality to become clear, it is necessary to look into a person’s past, as well as find out his plans for the near and distant future.

Additional Information. Counseling within this approach is based on the study of the process of personal development. In other schools of psychology, character traits come to the fore in solving personal problems.

Key Concepts

S. Kierkegaard introduced one of the main concepts of existentialism - “existence”

, by which is meant
the unique existence of a person, directed towards “nothing” and aware of its “finitude”
.
In general, existential philosophers considered the social world to be “inauthentic” and “hostile.” One can talk about true existence only when a person is left alone, alone with himself, with his thoughts about the inevitability of death and the absurdity of existence. Often it is in such “borderline”
, that is, unusual, difficult situations, when a person experiences a deep shock, that life itself comes to the fore instead of everyday concerns.

In existential psychology, the most important thing is the idea of ​​the uniqueness of each human life. “We are irreplaceable, we are unique”

, reasoned the thinker H. Ortega y Gasset. In other words, this psychology is focused not on the study of individual manifestations of the psyche, but on specific life in its relationship with the outside world as a whole.

So, existential psychology examines the problems of life and death, freedom and responsibility, love and alienation, meaning and meaninglessness, man and society.

Of course, one cannot help but say about freedom, perceived by existentialists as a special “fate” of a person. A person’s personality is determined by how it builds its own existence. By making a choice and taking responsibility for it, a person becomes a person and acquires his own essence. As Jean-Paul Sartre believed, a person is free from the surrounding passive world as long as he improves himself.

Next, we need to note another important component of existential psychology - working with feelings of anxiety

.
Anxiety when making decisions, anxiety for one’s own existence is an integral attribute of a full-fledged existence. It is anxiety that leads to a revision of life orientations and comprehension of existence. In addition to anxiety, boredom can play a special role in a person’s life. “It all begins with boredom tinged with bewilderment
,” wrote A. Camus, “
boredom is the result of mechanical life, but it also sets consciousness in motion. Boredom awakens him and provokes further: either an unconscious return to his usual rut, or a final awakening. And awakening sooner or later comes with consequences: either suicide or restoration of the course of life.”

Methods and techniques of the existential approach

The existential direction in psychology can be considered scientific because it has its own object, subject, research methods and specific methods of work.

Attention! All methods and psychotherapeutic techniques of this approach are authentic. The psychologist does not just let the client talk, he becomes a mentor for him. The basis of cooperation between a specialist and a client is personal participation and interest.

For the psychotherapeutic process to be effective, the specialist needs to establish a trusting relationship with the client. This takes the counseling process to a new level: the client acknowledges his problems. According to the principles of the existential approach, the way out of the vacuum begins at the moment when a person realizes where he made a mistake, what he did wrong. The accumulated experience helps you set a goal and think through the way to achieve it.

The most common methods of work of existential psychologists are:

• “Value of Time” technique. Through an open dialogue with the client, the psychotherapist teaches him to value time and use it rationally.

The value of time

• Methodology for identifying ways to evade responsibility. It is based on the analysis of habitual stereotypes of individual behavior. The psychologist teaches the client to take responsibility for his own failures and bad mood. As a result of psychotherapeutic work, the client’s relationships with relatives and colleagues are normalized.
• Technique “Working with personality protection mechanisms.” It is aimed at transforming inadequate personal defense mechanisms into rational ways of achieving goals.
• The technique of working with dreams allows us to identify a person’s phobias and intrapersonal conflicts.
• The “Fragility” technique helps to understand the patient’s anxiety for his life and health through the client’s description of the signs of the disease. This method of work allows a person to calmly accept the fact that upon reaching adulthood, the aging process of the body begins.
• The Reality Facing technique is designed to change the client's attitude towards unpleasant events in his life. A psychologist helps a person identify those areas of life that can be changed. At the same time, he shows that there are aspects of life that people cannot influence.
• Methods of working with feelings of guilt. Mistakes and failures reduce a person's self-confidence. Low self-esteem gives rise to a feeling of guilt, which inhibits the process of personal development. Corrective work is carried out in a group using parables and training exercises.
• “Decision Making” technique. It is used when working with people who lack self-confidence. The psychologist teaches the client to think through several options for the development of the situation and choose the optimal one.
• The Problem Redefinition technique is based on deepening a person's understanding of a problem by repeatedly explaining it in different phrases and formulations. As a result, the client himself produces a comprehensive vision of the problem and finds ways to solve it.

Attention! Depending on the client’s request and the problems identified, the psychotherapist chooses certain methods of work. The form of correctional therapy can be either group or individual.

The existential approach in psychology does not lose its relevance, since finding a life goal and the meaning of activity is extremely important for any person. Working with a psychotherapist within the framework of this approach helps the client overcome the fear of death, learn to appreciate life and notice the beauty in it.

The value of life

Research methods

To answer questions of interest and obtain new information, scientists use various techniques:

1. Processing of natural mental defense mechanisms. The psychologist conducts a conversation with the patient, the purpose of which is to change the attitude towards death and turn off inappropriate reactions.
2. Permission to endure is a method in which the doctor should talk more about death with patients and encourage them.
3. Study of dreams. The psychologist asks the patient about what he is dreaming. By realizing nightmares, you can get to the hidden problems.

The researcher must create a trusting relationship with the patient.

On the way to meaning

It turns out that anxiety and boredom force us to search for the meaning of life. According to Viktor Frankl, “doubts about the meaning of life are a sign of the most human in a person.”

.
Man needs meaning. Due to its absence, mental disorders, neuroses, and various types of addictions often develop. V. Frankl developed a doctrine about the meaning of life - logotherapy. The basis of a person’s worldview, he said, should be a philosophy of human responsibility, or “tragic optimism.” The loss of meaning leads a person to an “existential vacuum
,” a state where indifference and despondency lead to the brink of suicide.

The meaning of life is unique for everyone, and one can argue about it for a long time and aimlessly. But the fact that the acquisition of meaning most often occurs through creativity (self-realization, contemplation of works of art), emotional experiences (feelings of love, care, friendship) can hardly raise doubts.

This is probably what A. Camus had in mind: “I know that there is something in the world that has meaning, and this is man, for man is the only creature that claims to comprehend the meaning of life.”

. It is important to note that the ideologists of existentialism, Sartre and Camus, even recognizing the complete absurdity of existence, never talked about suicide as a way to free themselves from mortal existence.