Existential-phenomenological Perspective Research Articles

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE FROM A PHENOMENOLOGICAL-EXISTENTIAL AND PERSON-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE: An integrative review

This study aims to conduct an integrative and qualitative review of scientific productions on depression and suicide according to Existential Phenomenology and Person-Centered Approach. Data collection was carried out in the Scielo, Pepsic, ResearchGate, and CAPES Periodicals databases. 13 articles that correlate the descriptors used and meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. The results show that, from the existential phenomenological perspective, depression and suicide are seen as multifaceted phenomena that take into account subjectivity, the search for meaning, and human authenticity. The authors discuss that what leads a person to suicide is existential anguish caused by factors such as a technicist society, the incessant search for happiness, social stigma, individualism, fragile relationships, dysfunctional families, and the prioritization of medicalization over care. The most cited authors supporting the studies found are Heidegger, Sartre, and Carl Rogers, who bring both similarities and differences. Studies relating depression and suicide to the Person-Centered Approach assert that these phenomena occur due to a distortion of the self, causing anguish and existential pain, as the idealized self-image and the real lived experience are distinct. It is encouraged to produce more articles that bring a humanistic perspective on depression and suicide in life stages beyond adolescence, such as old age and childhood. Additionally, it encourages the production of more studies focusing on the Person-Centered Approach, as well as empirical studies with case analyses.

Anxiety, Hope and Meaning in Times of Ecological Crisis: An Existential-Phenomenological Perspective on Environmental Emotions

AbstractEnvironmental anxiety is often thought of as a psychopathological condition. Our paper aims to challenge this narrow understanding by offering an existential-phenomenological interpretation of environmental anxiety that posits it as an existential attunement with a transformative potential, capable of opening the anxious individual to a hopeful and meaningful outlook on the future. In the first part of the paper, we provide a conceptual analysis of environmental anxiety, drawing on current interdisciplinary taxonomies of environmental emotions as well as on existential-phenomenological definitions of anxiety. We then proceed to define the two key existential characteristics of environmental anxiety, firstly (i) its ability to reframe the aesthetic perception of nature, and secondly (ii) its impact on the subjective constitution of meaning. In the second part of the paper, drawing on the work of Kierkegaard and contemporary ecopsychological and ecotheological thinkers, a distinction is made between a naïve and a radical form of environmental hope. It is argued that while the former type of hope leads to inactivity, the latter is capable of motivating individuals to pro-environmental action.

Falling Out of Time, Relationships, and Mood: A Case Study of Post-Concussion Syndrome

Abstract In this article, the authors examine post-concussion syndrome (PCS) from an existential-phenomenological perspective, specifically as a Heideggerian analysis of Dasein (or Daseinsanalysis; Condrau, 1988). As a medical syndrome, PCS was once defined in terms of its pathophysiology. However, in the absence of reliable evidence of pathophysiology, PCS has been removed from the DSM-5. We have suspended the natural attitude, in this case the biomedical model, and have taken seriously the symptoms of PCS as indications that meaningful changes have occurred within the structure of the patient’s existence. Following the medical theories of Goldstein (1995) and Gadamer (1996), the authors describe the significance of PCS as it is lived by Tyrese, an NCAA Division II football player whose series of concussions left him permanently sidelined. Careful consideration is paid to the existential dimensions of the syndrome, specifically the backgrounds of temporality, sociality, and attunement. In conclusion, a new approach to rehabilitation is explored.

The Hideout, the Underground, and Avoidance of Non-Being: Tischner, Dostoevsky and Tillich on Personality Disorders

An attempt is made to develop a basic framework for an existential-phenomenological perspective on personality disorders. Its starting point is taken from the psychiatrist Antoni Kępiński and the philosopher Józef Tischner. The former provides a clinical framework capacious enough to allow ethical, existential, and phenomenological explorations. This conceptual “space” is then explicitly recognized, addressed, and fulfilled by the latter’s investigation of personality dynamics proper to “the hideout.” In order to supplement this thread of thought with a specific illustration, a “case” provided by Fyodor Dostoevsky in his Notes from the Underground is investigated. Then, in turn, Paul Tillich’s The Courage to Be is referred to, so that the deepest roots of personality disorders can be identified with an ontological dynamic proper to the avoidance of non-being. Finally, some brief remarks are made concerning how all the above relates to the idea of a normatively neutral science and how it can be integrated with more up to date clinical practice.

The Self and the Other: Generational Communication from an Existential-Phenomenological Perspective

The Self and the Other: Generational Communication from an Existential-Phenomenological Perspective

Atuação de doulas no serviço público de saúde

Objetivo: analisar a atuação das doulas no serviço público de saúde, a partir da visão destas e da gestão em uma maternidade local. Método: estudo qualitativo, descritivo, ancorado na perspectiva fenomenológica existencial de Martin Heidegger, envolvendo quatro doulas e três gestoras. Na análise dos dados foi utilizado a Análise de Discurso. Resultados: os campos de atuação das doulas que emergiram foram atenção primária e hospital, e como principal dificuldade de atuação foi a resistência da equipe médica em aceitar essa cuidadora no cenário do parto. A aquisição de informações pelos profissionais foi apresentada pelas doulas como uma possibilidade de atenuar as dificuldades vivenciadas no ambiente hospitalar. As gestoras reconhecem a importância da doula no processo de parto e nascimento. Conclusão: O estudo possibilitou uma visão ampliada acerca das possibilidades de atuação das doulas no serviço público de saúde.

Violência contra a mulher: ação clínica na prevenção em saúde

Trata-se de um estudo sobre a ação clínica de psicólogos voltada para a prevenção em saúde, ressaltando o fenômeno da violência contra a mulher. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica com o uso da estratégia PICO. Inicialmente, apresentamos uma compreensão sobre o sentido da clínica na perspectiva fenomenológica existencial. Em seguida, informamos sobre prevenção em saúde no cerne da ação clínica psicológica voltada ao fenômeno da violência contra a mulher. Nessa perspectiva, ressaltamos a importância de repensar a prática psicológica em direção à prevenção de agravos ao sofrimento humano em situações de violência. A intervenção do psicólogo pode viabilizar o atendimento individual ou grupal às mulheres e aos seus familiares, no sentido de compreender e acolher o seu sofrimento e suas repercussões no viver cotidiano; bem como consolidar os laços sociais e comunitários.

Phenomenology and Depth in Existential Psychotherapy

All psychotherapies try to approach what is essential for alleviating patient suffering. In humanistic psychotherapies such as person-centered, Gestalt, and existential therapy, the focus is typically centered on the person, the essence of the human being. The person, however, as that which is free in human beings, cannot be fixed or measured. This raises a difficult question: How do we gain systematic access to this “person” when they cannot be grasped concretely? Drawing on Existential Analysis, the authors describe a phenomenological approach as possibly the most suitable method for this therapeutic task, because it is pervaded by an attitude of allowing the other to be free and a respect for the uniqueness of the person. In this approach, what is essential is drawn from the depth of the person, simultaneously involving the depth of the therapist, while bracketing foreign interpretations and theories. This article describes this method for accessing personal depth in psychotherapy via an existential-phenomenological perspective.

Hell is other people? An existential-phenomenological analysis of the local gaze in tourism

The “Gaze” is a complex and overarching phenomenon comprised of diverse “Gazers” and “Gazees”. This paper adopts an existential-phenomenological perspective to understand tourists’ lived experiences of being gazed upon by local people. Based on thirty experiences collected from interviews with ten participants, we show that experiencing the “Local Gaze” exposes the tourist as Sartrean “Tourist-esque”: an inauthentic experiencer of positivity, discrimination, alienation and self-consciousness. Moments of true human connections are at best ephemeral. Through an existentialist lens, the study questions the possibility of authentic host-guest relationship in tourism and argues that to maintain hopes for an authentic relationship, the concepts of “Gaze” and – perhaps even of “Tourism” – need to be transcended.

Leader identity development in healthcare: an existential-phenomenological study

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to take an existential-phenomenological perspective to understand and describe the experienced leader identity development of healthcare leaders working in dual roles. Leader identity development under the influence of strong professional identities of nurses and doctors has remained an under-researched phenomenon to which the study contributes.Design/methodology/approachExistential-phenomenology serves as a perspective underpinning the whole research, and an existential-phenomenological method is applied in the interview data analysis.FindingsThe study showed leader identity development in healthcare to be most strongly influenced and affected by clinical work and its meanings and followers’ needs and leader–follower relationships. In addition, four other key categories were presented as meaningful in leader identity development; leader identity development is an ongoing process occurring in relations of the key categories.Originality/valueThe existential-phenomenological approach and analysis method offer a novel way to understand leader identity development and work identities as experienced.

Fenomenologinis egzistencinės supervizijos tyrimas

Straipsnyje pristatomas fenomenologinis tyrimas, kurio tikslas yra aprašyti superviziją iš egzistencinės-fenomenologinės perspektyvos, išskiriant jos būdingus bruožus. Tyrimas remiasi dvylikos tyrimo dalyvių patirčių aprašymais iš supervizuojamo terapeuto ir iš supervizoriaus pozicijų. Rezultatai apibendrinti dviem apibrėžimais. Tyrimas atskleidė keturis fenomeno matmenis, trys iš jų sutampa iš abiejų tyrimo dalyvių pozicijų: tyrimo dalyviai kaip svarbias egzistencinės-fenomenologinės supervizijos charakteristikas išskiria supervizijos proceso ypatumus, supervizoriaus buvimo būdą bei santykį tarp supervizoriaus ir supervizuojamo terapeuto. Tyrimo dalyviai, būdami supervizuojami terapeutai, kaip vieną svarbiausių egzistencinės-fenomenologinės supervizijos charakteristikų nurodo supervizoriaus buvimo būdą, o tyrimo dalyviai, būdami supervizoriaus pozicijoje, labiau pabrėžia patį supervizijos procesą. Supervizijos rezultatas, kaip jausminis pokytis, o ne mentalinio atsakymo gavimas, buvo aprašytas kaip svarbus, tačiau rečiau pasitaikantis egzistencinės-fenomenologinės supervizijos bruožas iš supervizuojamo terapeuto perspektyvos. Tyrimo dalyviai iš supervizoriaus pozicijos aprašė supervizijoje naudojamas intervencijas (lygiagrečių procesų (angl. paralell process) ir neverbalinių procesų atspindėjimą, metaforų ir vaizdinių naudojimą ir kt.) kaip svarbią, tačiau rečiau aptinkamą egzistencinės-fenomenologinės supervizijos charakteristiką.

Veiled Bereavement: The Experience of Lesbian Widows from an Existential-Phenomenological Perspective

Veiled Bereavement: The Experience of Lesbian Widows from an Existential-Phenomenological Perspective

Everything is at stake; yet nothing is at stake: exploring meaning-making in game-centred approaches

While not wishing to cover old ground in articulating the promise or continued promise of phenomenology within the physical education and sports domains, this paper aims to explore the ‘human’ nature of the game-centred approach (GCA) from an existential-phenomenological perspective. In a recent review of literature on the current state of research on GCAs, Harvey and Jarrett made the call for phenomenological-oriented empirical studies. Urging the academic fraternity to embrace such ‘participatory epistemologies’ is an extremely positive and important step by the authors. This is because, although they do not explicitly make the point, to call for the embrace of phenomenological-oriented research into GCAs, the authors are accepting the fundamental importance of individual experience and meaning in games teaching. If we focus on the individual it then becomes a distinct possibility of structuring increasingly meaningful game-centred practice. In this respect we analyze Martin Heidegger's notion of ‘being-in-the-world’ and illustrate how Arnold's three categories of meaningful movement—primordial, contextual and existential—can help facilitate ideas for pedagogical practice and provide an appropriate interpretive lens for future research into GCAs.

Connecting contexts

This essay is a response to Askegaard and Linnet’s (2011, ‘Towards an Epistemology of Consumer Culture Theory: Phenomenology and the Context of Context’, Marketing Theory 11(4): 381–404) call for a greater epistemological plurality within consumer culture theory (CCT). The article begins with a brief review of what these authors refer to as the dominant existential–phenomenological perspective and their Morinian alternative and then presents contemporary political philosophy as another alternative. Political philosophy has experienced quite a renaissance in recent years, and the school of thought has inspired major epistemological and ontological interventions throughout the academy. Here, I provide a general introduction to this field of social inquiry and then focus specifically on the contributions of French philosopher Alain Badiou. Badiou’s work is particularly valuable for fields such as CCT, as it presents a unified epistemological framework for developing knowledge of social structures, cultural forms and subjectivities. The utility of political philosophy in general as well as the Badiouian framework is then demonstrated with recourse to the extant CCT literature. Ultimately, a Badiouian perspective has the potential to fulfil Askegaard and Linnet’s call for epistemologies that can attend to everyday experience while also considering the operation of cultural, political and sociological forces.

Formation of clinical psychologist in phenomenological-existential perspective: dilemma and challenges in technical times

This paper develops reflections on training of the clinical psychologist in existential-phenomenological perspective, at a time when the technique prevails, ...

‘A relational approach to supervision’: Some reflections on supervision from an existential-phenomenological perspective

This paper draws attention to the dearth of information on clinical supervision in the existential-phenomenological literature. It suggests that this should be of concern to existential trainers and practitioners since it seems indicative of a lack of the reflectiveness and clarity which are at the core of existential-phenomenological practice. The author proposes an experiential approach to this situation which utilizes some aspects of existential therapy to facilitate exploration of the concept of ‘supervision’ per se from an existential perspective. The author reminds us of the centrality of relationship in existential-phenomenological therapy, particularly in the form of healing encounter espoused by Buber and the equality of client and therapist engaged in an investigation of the difficulties in living which is proposed by Heidegger. In doing so, the author raises the possibility that an ‘attitude’ to, rather than a model for, existential-phenomenological supervision may emerge which takes relationship as its primary focus: he describes this as a ‘relational approach to supervision’.

Cultural Competence in Transnational Settings & Quality Education for American Indians: Anatomy of Challenges

This article juxtaposes the lived experiences of two educators newly immersed in very different work environments. One of the educators, one coming from a British education background, looks at the anomalies of communication, work practice, and student expectations at a university located in the southern United States. The second educator, working in a K-12 school system on an American-Indian reservation in Arizona, looks at the challenges of NCLB, ELL, curricula, assessment methods, dropout rates, and funding. Upon examination of the issues of a quality and fair education for American Indians, it becomes clear that teachers have to bring an existential-phenomenological perspective. The wide-ranging conversations articulate the necessity for educators to develop a practical anthropology of practice of their work environment and culture.

Não nascer: algumas reflexões fenomenológico-existenciais sobre a história do aborto

This article is theoretical and does a brief history of abortion in the world, exposing the meanings of this theme over time in different societies and cultures, showing more specifically how this practice has developed and is seen today in Brazil. The study also shows the statistical reality of abortion in Brazil and Rio Grande do Norte. Finally, we make some reflections in the light of existential-phenomenological perspective in order to initiate an understanding of abortion, which is regarded as a phenomenon present in daily life of some women, and as a possibility among many in the women existence.

Phenomenological reflections on the experience of training and clinical supervision in an applied psychology service within an university

This work proposes a reflection on the specific difficulties of clinical training for the existential-phenomenological perspective. We observed that in the training curriculum in clinical psychology in existential-phenomenological perspective, some difficulties arise due to the inadequacy of the theoretical baggage of newly acquired representations in the course and the kind of comprehensive approach that we are asked to exercise. It is as if the natural attitude of everyday objectifies and crystallizes the meaning of existence and experience of suffering, gaining a reinforcement with the theoretical representations, further blurring the phenomenological attitude of suspension. There is the assumption that the place of psychotherapyst can only be legitimized from a positive knowledge about mental life and, consequently, the attainment of effective techniques for intervention. The experience as students and supervisor training in clinical psychology in addressing the existential-phenomenological psychology course of Fluminense Federal University, shows that these moments of impasse, which installs a “crisis” of theoretical paradigms and professional identities are essential for a redefinition of the role of psychological theories and techniques in the practices of clinical care in the light of a proper understanding of the phenomenological existence.

Review of Psychotherapy as a human science.

Reviews the book, Psychotherapy as a human science by Daniel Burston and Roger Frie (see record 2006-12980-000). In this book, the authors show how philosophical assumptions pervade therapeutic praxis. "In our view, philosophy is inherent to the very practice of psychotherapy" (p. 2). There is a "common ground that unites the therapists of today with the philosophers of the past" (p. 17). Their effort succeeds brilliantly in reconnecting psychology and philosophy and, by that homecoming, to ground psychotherapy (including contemporary psychoanalysis) as a "human science." The book begins by sketching ideas about truth we inherit from the Greeks, then shows how Descartes and Pascal helped launch the Enlightenment with their thinking about truth and the limits of reason. Kant, Hegel, and Marx broaden the scope to include reason, the unconscious, and the course of history. Kierkegaard and Nietzsche interject angst and authenticity. Dilthey proposes a human science neither scientistic nor irrational. Husserl launches phenomenology as the proper study of experience; Scheler, Jaspers and Heidegger react in their particular ways. Freud and Jung come to loggerheads over the unconscious. Buber, Binswanger, and Boss further develop existential-phenomenological perspectives in terms of human interrelatedness. Confrontation with the other and the limits of reciprocity engage Sartre, Lacan, and Laing. Psychoanalysis grows intersubjectively through the work of Sullivan, Fromm, Merleau-Ponty, Benjamin, and Stolorow. Postmodernism's excess, Frie and Burston conclude, requires acknowledgment of an authentic self answerable for choices in life: '...[W]e are both determined by, and exercise our agency in determining, the communicative contexts in which we exist" (p. 262). Psychotherapy from this existential-phenomenological perspective becomes "a rigorous exploration of our ways of making meaning--both consciously and unconsciously" (p. 263). The book ends, then, with an affirmation of life and a call to action. All these thinkers, all these generations of lives lived, all this seeking of meaning and purpose, explanation and doubt, all this is our human lot, inherited equally. Each of us must choose, consciously or not, what to do about it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).