Phenomenological Approaches

1. Phenomenological Approaches What is Phenomenology? Binswanger: Authenticity Carl Rogers: Self-Actualization George Kelly: Constructive Alternativism Csikszentmihalyi: Flow

2. Biological Approach • Objective, observable situational influences • Rigorous use of scientific method • Psychodynamics • Subjective, unconscious experience • Unobservable, can’t use scientific method • Phenomenology • Focus on conscious individual experience • Introspection • Integrative view

3. Three Aspects of Existence Eigenwelt “Ownworld” Mitwelt “Withworld” Umwelt “Aroundworld”

4. Main Characteristics ofPhenomenological Approaches • Holistic, Qualitative, Idiographic • complete description of human existence • taking the individual’s own perspective • Phenomenological Method • focus on individual experience of the world • focus on interpretation of events, not the events themselves

5. Theoretical Background of Phenomenological Approaches • Humanistic Psychology • e.g. Rogers, Kelly • looks at higher human motives, self-development, esthetics • Existential Philosophy • e.g. Sartre • focus on people’s personal decisions, subjectivity, individuality • life is only meaningful, if we make it meaningful

6. What makes life meaningful? • Achievement • Spirituality • Relationships • Art • Social Responsibility • Developing One’s Potential

7. Ludwig Binswanger (1881-1966) • Existence vs. Essence • The “Givens” of Existence • thrownness • ambivalent physical body • choice/freedom • anxiety/guilt • death • Authenticity vs. Inauthenticity

8. Carl Rogers (1902-1987) • Core of human nature is positive • Culture and environment teach us to behave in negative ways. • Basic goal is self-actualization. • Individuals perceive the world uniquely  phenomenal field • “Self”: Key part of one’s personality

9. Rogers’ Definition of “Self” • Organized and consistent pattern of perceptions • Primarily conscious • Different from the “ideal self” (perceptions and meanings that are self-relevant and that are valued highly) • Is measured by: • Adjective Checklist • Q-sort • Semantic Differential

10. Demonstration Semantic Differential

11. Conditions of Worth • conditional positive regard • conditional positive self-regard • Incongruity • real self • ideal self • Defenses • perceptual distortion • denial, projection • Ideal Therapist • congruent • unconditional • positive regard • empathy • respect

12. George Kelly (1905-1966) • Used the “fruitful metaphor” of seeing ordinary people as scientists: “A person’s processes are psychologically channelized by the way in which he anticipates events” • Laypeople AND scientists • subject to hidden psychological forces • trying to predict the world by understanding its mechanisms

13. Constructive Alternativism • Multiple possible world views • People describe the world along bipolar dimensions (“constructs”) • Some constructs are related (“schemas”) • Social groups/cultures/families have similar constructs

14. Measuring the Construct System • Role Construct Repertory Test (REP) • Participant gives list of persons who are most important • Participant lists dimensions on which pairs of three are rated • Constructs differ in content and complexity

15. Demonstration REP

16. Constructs & Emotions • New information challenges existing construct system - constructs are no longer validated (predicting the world correctly) • Impermeable and preemptive constructs are problematic • Constructs need to change - if not, negative emotions are the consequence • anxiety = existing constructs threatened • guilt = behaving in discordance to constructs • aggression = forcing others to fit my constructs