Phenomenological Approaches

• What is Phenomenology?• Binswanger: Authenticity• Carl Rogers: Self-Actualization• George Kelly: Constructive Alternativism • Csikszentmihalyi: Flow

Psychodynamics• Subjective, unconscious experience• Unobservable, can’t use scientific method

Biological Approach• Objective, observable situational influences• Rigorous use of scientific method Phenomenology

• Focus on conscious individual experience • Introspection• Integrative view

Three Aspects of Existence

Umwelt“Aroundworl

d”

Mitwelt“Withworld

”

Eigenwelt

“Ownworld”

Main Characteristics of

Phenomenological 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

• 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

Theoretical Background of Phenomenological

Approaches

What makes life meaningful?

• Achievement• Spirituality• Relationships• Art• Social Responsibility• Developing One’s Potential• •

Ludwig Binswanger (1881-1966)

•Existence vs. Essence•The “Givens” of Existence–thrownness–ambivalent physical body–choice/freedom–anxiety/guilt–death

•Authenticity vs. Inauthenticity

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

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

Demonstration Semantic Differential

• 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

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

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

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

Demonstration REP

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