EXISTENTIAL PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

The purpose of this paper is to delineate and discuss the relationship between existential philosophy and psychopathology. To this end, the paper first presents a review of the basics notions associated with existential philosophy. This is followed by a review of how existentialism impacted psychology and the resulting psychological theories and therapeutic practices. With the discussion of the basics of both existential philosophy and existential psychology providing context, the paper then presents a discussion of psychopathology as seen from the existential framework. The last section of the paper formulates a series of conclusions based on the reviewed material.

What is the relationship between existential philosophy and psychopathology? In order to answer this question comprehensively, the essential framework of existential philosophy must first be reviewed. In this regard, Barrett (1982) stated that the existential framework can be considered an outgrowth of the major events in history during the first half of the twenty century, these events being a world-wide economic crisis and the Great Depression which facilitated the rise of fascism throughout Europe, led to the rise of Nazi Germany and World War II, and was then followed by the nuclear age and the beginning of the Cold War. The chaos and brutality of this period caused reflective thinkers to question the absolutes that had previo

. . .
originates, in part, out of a person's awareness that one's being can end. The goal of life (and certainly therapy) is, therefore one of integration, integration that allows the self to make required and satisfactory choices. However, to do this, existential psychology holds that human beings must recognize and confront the paradoxes of their lives. These paradoxes involve two opposing things posited against each other with the recognition that they cannot exist without each other. Thus, good and evil, life and death; and beauty and ugliness appear to be at odds with each other, but the very confrontation with one breathes life and meaning into the other. The goals of integration include confronting one's potentialities for power, love, intentionality, freedom and destiny, and courage and creativity. It is in this context that the impact of existential philosophy can fully be understood as it relates to psychopathology. The next section of this paper presents a detailed look at the conceptualization of psychopathology from the existential framework. Psychopathology Van Deurzen (2002) notes that in terms of psychopathology, existentialism in general and existential psychology in particular holds that freedom is a constant
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Van Kaam, Van Deurzen, According Maddi, According Yalom, According Gendlin, Conclusions Based, PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Introduction, Existential Philosophy, Jean-Paul Sartre, Press Maddi, existential philosophy, existential psychology, philosophy psychopathology, existential philosophy psychopathology, relationship existential, ontological guilt, development courage, relationship existential philosophy, van deurzen 2002, deurzen 2002, ontological anxiety, van deurzen, develop courage, existential philosophy existential, philosophy existential psychology,
Approximate Word count = 2844
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)

More Essays on EXISTENTIAL PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY