Core values of Existential Psychology % S. t7 X$ U' m: l, P* N
A holistic way of knowing - c6 K/ X# ]3 ^/ z$ G+ A
Concern for the subjective experience of the individual
3 A8 G6 M+ Z4 y8 DA commitment to being honest about the human condition + s5 f- ]* D/ S$ l) s* \
! l3 i6 l/ p8 B: \ 1 V ^6 {: X- B: o
The Good Life & Existential Psychology
3 t3 a& ~) m( \The idea of “the good life” in psychology :This represents the end or result that should be sought in life
7 N q- ?- z1 u' J% p) iAll psychologies and philosophies have a vie of the good life , whether explicitly stated or not 6 R+ Z9 }! X6 r# \
; b" I _3 O0 O2 \
8 z4 E' E9 }0 c3 z) t* s5 ?
Existential Psychology views the good life as:
9 O$ y. B+ b% H: b9 WThe meaningful life
- k8 L9 h5 B0 g; ?% X% OThe psychology free life
8 T0 T, g5 Y+ w$ C8 i5 Q3 EThe aware life 4 c' d ~4 j4 ?# U
The ethical or moral life
5 O( o# S4 C7 j5 [$ ^9 hThe life fully embraced , or the passionate life * s' _# H5 w, a) }/ Q0 C6 K
Transcendance6 w1 V, ]0 N3 U3 U, w, N
0 T, l" f+ @4 j3 G* _Intimate relationships+ X) r% K5 X% C) ]( U9 R
: z* U2 w" `; E
6 o9 ?1 h) ]1 t0 {; N& ^* W * L) g& p. w5 }6 i% P
The Existential Givens
, M8 v4 Z3 M& U/ a5 Sthe idea of the givens 6 p" S. A1 R8 Z! C$ ^! }0 c
' Y% D( G7 p; O4 R& cthe givens are aspects of human existence that everyone must face or deal
1 _& \8 m1 ^$ C" m# s& {Five Existential Givens:
4 o" Y8 W/ u; Q& g2 l$ T$ {' U$ O$ c/ ?* H0 W2 ]
Death/human limitation + g. A) v9 W2 k
, t& z+ ?2 u8 x
Free/responsibility/destiny
( f D! A4 w6 a8 m) p& M9 i, B( t3 z J) B
Isolatton/relationship9 j; `9 z( G0 {, p6 w
3 J0 \, ^% b5 hMeaning
" t- i7 A+ Q! P8 i; e8 O) R+ O# G3 L6 z+ J- j. M
Embodiment/emotion
! K$ O! \$ F) F( u
( C3 O/ |6 ]7 F ^0 c5 v' L) v* \2 N0 c: z* F
1 r9 H; z" h. d/ f' T5 e( n+ I
The Role of Myth
7 G* H4 H2 }7 Z1 \( m5 DMyth can be understand as a basic unit of meaning in existential psychology ! t- t5 s/ P, M& c( t
According to May(1991),myths are not false ,but rather something that cannot be proven to be true; e5 j( E4 b9 u9 U" N* b6 b% C- N0 a+ D
Myths are often not literally true ,in the sense that the story may not be literally true ,but the may still represent a basic truth
" a0 h5 E9 s6 ^8 e, M @! v
- [/ F, X6 h: g% ]# f, F4 F# H8 M
( M0 W! q; H5 e: o) L/ R$ J! P Q ! z! N& q. Q' [
Core Tenets of Existential Psychology
6 u2 M; ?, q$ ~1 d1 n$ Q
* \5 `1 J4 U4 b; X4 O2 YEmbracing emotions & the unknowns
2 g, K7 X8 `* W1 XReflective listening
. t& b5 x8 s. c9 mGood reflection listening will new insinghts to the clients
) ~0 G& T* l5 ]0 Y# [" s$ pGoes beyond reflecting what a client is saying
+ j. r* x5 H' `# k / r# ~3 f8 h& R- J* n: G) H2 r
o6 K/ b$ m; M
! w6 w9 Q$ J! m! ]! N/ ^% y ~ |