Existential Framework Research Articles

Existential Social Work Practice with the Aged

This paper discusses existential social work practice with the aged with particular reference to logotherapy. Existential- ism as a philosophy of life has particular utility for social work vractice with the aged as freauentlv the aged client wrceives hfis iife as lacking me&g. ~eveial cases are gesented i d discussed to illustrate the aoolication of an existential framework in oractice with the aged client.

From epistemological truth to existential meaning in cognitive narrative psychotherapy

Abstract The notion of truth is discussed from the standpoint of narrative cognitive psychotherapy. The dominant clinical epistemological framework, based on the search for truth, needs to be replaced by an existential framework emphasizing the construction of alternative meanings. This article begins with a discussion of the paradigmatic shift from epistemological truth to existential meaning. The narrative is then presented as an ideal root metaphor for existence. Finally, the work of cognitive narrative psychotherapy is used to illustrate the construction and deconstruction of meaning in the clinical situation.

Finding Meaning: An Alternative Paradigm for Alzheimer's Disease Family Caregivers

Theoretical formulations of stress and coping, family systems, crisis intervention, and loss and grief have inadequately explained how persons might grow and find meaning through their caregiving experiences. An existential theoretical framework guided the data interpretation in a qualitative study of 94 dementia family caregivers. Results suggest that an existential framework provides an alternative paradigm for understanding the caregiving experience.

The battle within the self, 1: An existential framework for understanding personality disorders

A new phenomenologically based model for understanding personality disorders is presented. This model draws upon the existential concepts of “Dasein” and “pitch” to explain how individuals with personality disorders have extremely constricted and rigid experiences of the world. When they were children, these individuals internalized and retained hypercritical, sadistic parental messages. Such covert parental voices are misidentified as rational evaluations by these patients who are deficient in their capacity to engage in rational self-evaluation. When these individuals are encouraged to observe and report upon the internalized self-attacks, their observing ego is strengthened and an effective groundwork is set for ultimate changes in behavior.

Existential grief: The special case of the chronically ill and disabled

Abstract This descriptive study uses an existential framework for analyzing the grief process. The existential component of grief is presented as centered upon the effort to bring meaning to loss arid the existence of death in the world. The chronically ill and disabled are introduced into the study, and serve to demonstrate the existential struggle to create a meaningful life after loss. Their efforts are impeded by our death-avoiding social reality which reacts negatively to their physical conditions.

A Death Awareness Workshop: Theory, Application and Results

A death awareness workshop is described which is experimental in nature and based on Kubler-Ross' theory [1]. Exercises have been developed which parallel the five stages of acceptance of dying for terminally ill patients. An encounter group format is utilized in order to facilitate group process. An approach which effectively integrated both the existential framework for this workshop and the behavioral techniques utilized is discussed. The research design testing the effectiveness of the workshop is presented. The effects of the workshop reveal cognitive and emotional changes indicating participants in the workshop to be moving towards an “acceptance of death.”

Pain and Suffering

Originally published in Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 1969, Vol 14(2), 100-101. Reviews the book, Disease, Pain, and Sacrifice: Toward a Psychology of Suffering by David Bakan (see record 1968-09628-000). This book consists of three essays hinged on the concept of suffering. The author's aim is to consider suffering from three aspects: disease, from the biological viewpoint; pain, behaviorally and phenomenologically; and sacrifice, from an existential framework. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)