Existentialism

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Existentialism

• Existence Precedes Essence

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Key Constructs

• Frame of reference not technique
• No human nature
• No serious world, life as thrown
• Life has no meaning a priori
• Everyone is fully responsible for their Self
• We are condemned to freedom
• Self as Subject vs. Self as Object

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Yalom

• Death
• anxiety
• Freedom
• Responsibility, will, choice
• Isolation
• relationships
• Meaninglessness
• engagement

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A Humanistic Existentialism

• Basic Project (Personal Myth)
• Basic set of choices
• Organizes behavior, values, goals
• Examples
• Leader, Mother, Scientist, Helper
• Victim, Morally superior, Never to be hurt, In
  control
• Bad Faith
• Lie to self, and lie in world
• Escape from freedom

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Treatment

• Making project explicit
• Engaged encounter
• Affirmation--good reasons for actions
• Given persons project
• Movement toward freedom and responsibility
• Becoming authentic