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Self-actualization is the absolute disclosure by an individual of personal potential, inclinations and inclinations. It is expressed in a personal desire for the most complete identification of personal capabilities and their further education. True self-actualization depends on the presence of favorable social and historical conditions, but it cannot be set by society or culture from the outside.
Self-actualization does not contain an external goal. It comes from within the individual, expressing his positive nature. Self-actualization is considered a key concept in the humanistic concept in psychology. Its main values are: personal freedom, striving for development, realization of the potential and desires of the subject.
Personal self-actualization
The problem of self-actualization of personality was most clearly represented by two leading psychologists, the founders of the humanistic approach to psychological science - K. Rogers and A. Maslow. Therefore, the theory of self-actualization is rooted in the humanistic direction of psychology. It was first developed in the middle of the 20th century in the United States and became a core component of humanistic psychology, which declared itself the third germ of psychology along with behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Humanistic psychology got its name due to the recognition of the dominant aspect of personality as a single unique system, which is not something provided in advance, but an open opportunity for self-actualization. It is based on the belief that everyone is likely to flourish if they are given the opportunity to independently choose their own destiny and give it the right direction.
The emergence of the concept of self-actualization of the personality and the allocation of its main positions are associated with the name of A. Maslow. key point it is the concept of the formation of the personality, the doctrine of the need for ultimate creative self-realization, which leads to the true mental health.
According to the study of self-actualization conducted by A. Maslow, different definitions are given, but all scientists agree on the main thing:
- in the need to reconcile the individual with the inner "I" as the "core" of the personality and its expression, in other words, "ideal functioning", the development by the subject of all personal and species characteristics;
- in minimizing diseases, neuroses, which reduce the fundamental personal and general inclinations of the individual.
Some researchers believe that it is self-actualization and the subject that are the strongest of the needs of the individual, which can overshadow even the need for food or sleep.
In accordance with the concept of K. Rogers, two directions can be distinguished in the psyche of the individual, provided from birth. The first is a self-actualizing direction, which includes inclinations, future personality traits. And the second direction is a mechanism of control over the formation of personality or an organismic tracking process. It is on these two tendencies that the formation of a unique personality is based, including the “I” real and ideal, between which a completely different relationship can be observed - from disharmony to maximum harmony.
In this concept, self-actualization and self-realization of the subject are closely related. Self-actualization of a person is presented as a process of discovering individual potential, which allows one to become a person who uses absolutely all possibilities. In the course of achieving the goals, the individual lives a fantastically rich, exciting life filled with self-improvement and amazing results. Such a person lives, enjoying every moment of existence “here and now”.
It is possible to single out the typical features of self-actualization of personality. An individual who is engaged in self-actualization and has achieved great success in it can be characterized as follows:
- doing what you love;
- not subject to foreign influence;
- strives for development;
- loves to read;
- he can be called a creative person;
- applies a positive way of thinking;
- self-assured;
- open emotionally;
- forgives himself for the periodic incontinence, irritability inherent in all.
Such individuals are in complete harmony with themselves, as a result of which it can be said with conviction that personal growth contributes to more happy life.
Unfortunately today, the problem of self-actualization is considered one of the most undeveloped aspects in psychology.
Maslow's self-actualization
Maslow is considered the founder of the humanistic approach to psychology. American psychologist, unlike his comrades in scientific activity, studied mentally healthy individuals, creatively developed individuals, in other words, such subjects who have achieved self-actualization. And directly under the term self-actualization, he meant the full use of abilities, potential, inclinations by individuals.
Maslow's theory of self-actualization is an experience that is perfect, selfless, alive, with full concentration, absorption and absorption, in other words, an experience without the shyness inherent in adolescence. He also developed character traits self-actualizing personalities:
- a more effective perception of reality and more favorable relations with it;
- acceptance of oneself, others, nature;
- spontaneity, ingenuity, immediacy;
- focus on the goal;
- a non-hostile sense of humor;
- the need for isolation and solitude;
- independence from cultural and environment, autonomy;
– constant novelty of the assessment;
– experience of higher states;
- deeper and more perfect interpersonal relationships;
- separation of means and tasks, the concept of good from evil;
- a sense of belonging, union with others;
- self-actualizing creativity.
Maslow's theory of self-actualization is that in order to achieve the goal of avoiding disappointments in human nature, individuals must first give up illusions about it. Maslow proposed eight principles of self-actualization.
The first principle is based on total selfless living experience with absolute concentration and absorption. Often individuals are not aware of what is happening in themselves and around them.
The second principle lies in choosing a solution in the direction of growth in any situation. Choosing to grow means opening yourself up to new, unforeseen experiences that run the risk of being left in the unknown.
The third principle teaches individuals to actually exist, not potentially. This principle means that you need to decide on things that give pleasure and which do not, regardless of the opinions and positions of others.
The fourth principle covers taking responsibility and honesty, which are moments of self-actualization.
The fifth principle is trusting one's own instincts, views and following them, and not trusting what is accepted in society. Only in this case, the individual will be able to make the right choice of profession, diet, life partner, creativity, etc.
The sixth principle advocates the regular development of their inclinations, talents, inclinations, their use in order to do excellently what they want to do.
The seventh principle covers the transitional stage in self-actualization, which Maslow referred to as the "peak experience." In the moments of "peaks" people think, act and feel as clearly and clearly as possible. They love and accept others more, are freer from personal conflict and unrest, and can use their energy more constructively.
Principle eight symbolizes the next step of self-actualization, aimed at finding "protection" and destroying it. Maslow's concept of "protection" implies projection, rationalization, repression, identification, etc., in other words, everything that is used in psychoanalytic practices.
Maslow identified several levels of fundamental needs, presented below. Actually lowest level he placed physiological needs, such as the need for food or intimate relationships. They are followed by the need for security. It is in order to satisfy this need that the subject will purchase an apartment, clothes, observe a certain regime, etc. At the third level, there is a need for belonging and love, i.e. the individual acquires a family, friends. The next level covers the need for respect, i.e. the subject moves up career ladder, is engaged in politics, etc. The fifth level contains the need for self-actualization. It is the highest level in the presented hierarchy of needs model.
Maslow identified common features for higher needs. He argued that higher needs later manifest themselves. The specificity of higher needs lies in their uselessness for survival, i.e. the higher the level of the hierarchy the need is, the less it will be necessary for survival, the more long term her satisfaction will be delayed.
Higher biological efficiency depends on the level of satisfaction of needs, i.e. the higher the level, the greater the efficiency, life expectancy, fewer diseases, etc. All higher needs are perceived by individuals as less relevant. After all, a person is not up to reading books when there is nothing to eat or nowhere to live. Satisfaction of higher needs often leads to personal development, a happier life and enrichment of the inner world.
Only after satisfying the need for self-actualization does the subject become actually complete.
The need for self-actualization
One of the internal manifestations of the desire for personal development is the need for self-actualization.
According to the concept of K. Rogers, human nature contains a quality or phenomenon that encourages him to move in the direction of progress, to maturity, i.e. to greater adequacy of one's own self, potential and inclinations, to the integrity of the individual. Rogers was convinced that personal growth is inherent in every individual. He argued that even if the desire for self-actualization was tightly locked under layers of rusted psychological defenses, hidden behind intricate aspects that reject the very fact of its reality, it still exists in every individual and is only waiting for the moment of occurrence favorable conditions to prove yourself.
Rogers' theory of self-actualization is based on his belief in the innate desire to become a whole person, capable and competent as far as the potential allows.
According to Maslow, the need for self-actualization represents the need for self-development, the need for self-expression, the need for self-fulfillment, the desire for identity. He was convinced that the process of self-actualization is a full-fledged development of the personality, which corresponds to the biological predetermination of the individual.
K. Goldstein argued that it is the abilities of the individual that determine his needs. In developing the doctrine of self-actualization, Maslow argued that the abilities of the individual stubbornly demand their use and stop putting forward their demands only on the condition that they are fully used.
In accordance with Maslow's theory, the main motivating force that predetermines the behavior of an individual is the strength of a person's feelings in his personal experience. The process of self-actualization is also reflected in hedonism - the enjoyment of the highest benefits inherent in human nature. It is embodied in a feeling of deep satisfaction with life, expressed in a sense of wholeness and enlightenment. Maslow called these experiences peak experiences.
The value and intensity of experiences that are associated with the satisfaction of lower needs, for example, in food or sleep, has a predisposition to decrease with each subsequent action to satisfy this need. Along with this, the peak experiences experienced by a person in the course of self-actualization are the most intense in strength, stable and have a greater value for the subject, in comparison with the experiences arising from the satisfaction of lower needs. This is the basis of Maslow's entire concept of the hierarchy of needs. The main postulate of his concept can be considered the assertion that the desire for self-actualization will always prevail in the ranking of motives.
Goldstein also argued that a healthy subject may temporarily delay the satisfaction of such needs as food, sex, for the sake of satisfying curiosity or other motives.
Maslow believed that in order to satisfy higher needs, the subject can endure hardships, hardships, and will make sacrifices. Often, for the sake of views and principles, an individual agrees to lead an ascetic lifestyle. At the same time, Maslow emphasized the fundamental difference between scarce and existential motivation. A subject who has not satisfied his basic needs, feels a shortage, for example, in security or food, will perceive the world as a hostile reality, which requires him to mobilize all efforts for survival. In such a world, he gets used to being defeated, as a result of which his entire moral and value system is subordinated only to lower needs. At the same time, the self-actualizing individual is no longer concerned about the problems of survival, he is striving for development and is controlled by internal potencies that were originally laid in him by nature and require their implementation and development.
According to Maslow, self-actualization of a person means moving upward from the need to eliminate the deficit. He emphasized that self-actualization of a person cannot be considered as a state of nirvana, in which there are no problems at all. On the contrary, in the process of self-actualization, a person faces real problems of being, which can bring disappointment and pain. Going beyond the boundaries of their own capabilities in the process of creative being, a self-actualizing individual has to fight with himself in order to force himself to make efforts for the next step in his own being.
Along with this, Maslow was convinced that self-actualization cannot be an end in itself. He said that the process of self-actualization is an intense and painstaking work leading to a gradual increase in achievements. Maslow also pointed out the possibility of "pseudo-development" due to evading an unmet need. This happens when a person convinces himself that the unsatisfied higher need for self-actualization is actually satisfied or does not exist at all. However, this need is necessarily present as an unconscious force that calls on the individual to develop his own potential, to fulfill his life's destiny, becoming himself.
Self-actualization, as the goal of the personality, will simultaneously be an intermediate and final goal. Maslow was sure that self-actualization is not precisely the final state, it is the very process of translating the potential inherent in the individual into reality.
Development of self-actualization
Today, in an era of rapid social transformations that force a person to constantly transform their own established and established life relationships, rebuild themselves, the problem of using and developing personal potential is becoming more acute and qualitatively new. Therefore, the issue of the importance of creating conditions for personal self-actualization, the need for incentives for personal growth and the development of the creative potential of those individuals whose professional and labor activities include training, education and assistance is of particular relevance.
For individuals whose profession is closely related to communicative interaction with people, a high degree of personal maturity, mental health and a degree of self-actualization are not only professional significant characteristics but also the key factors that determine the effectiveness of the work.
Self-actualization is a mental neoplasm that is directly related to the formation of the highest possible abilities, the need to achieve success, overcome obstacles and aspire to unknown heights of growth, both personal and professional. professional field.
The development of self-actualization is an eternal value for any modern subject. Contributing to the process of mastering the external elements of a positive attitude towards the implementation of activities, as a result of which a positive attitude towards one's own personality is formed, the perception of oneself as a subject of such activity, self-actualization plays the role of a driving factor in the development of personality. It contributes to the maximum manifestation of personal potential, the disclosure of the most hidden possibilities of the individual, and leads to self-organization and personal. Also, self-actualization is a key factor in the formation of internal integrity, the inseparability of all aspects of the personality. So, for example, self-actualization determines the purposeful nature of the subject's activity, gives promises for further professional and personal growth, promotes interactive processes of personal formation at the same time, being such a moment organizing the personality that leads to the natural state of self-organization.
Necessary condition and the foundation for the development of self-actualization will be the harmony of the psychological organization of the individual. The harmony of the psychological organization of personal self-actualization is determined by the formation of the spheres of the personality's life (behavioral, intellectual and emotionality), the balance of development of these spheres and their integration.
Speaker of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"
Abraham Maslow and the psychology of self-actualization ===
As a pioneer in his field, Abraham Maslow was not always strict with word usage. Under the word "" A. Maslow in different time And various works had in mind different things, namely, once the process of growth and development of the individual, once the method of this growth, and once the result of this growth.
In the early works, self-actualization for A. Maslow is the aspiration of the individual "upwards".
"Self-actualization is the continuous realization of potential capabilities, abilities and talents, as the accomplishment of one's mission, or calling, destiny, etc., as a more complete knowledge and, therefore, acceptance of one's own original nature, as a relentless desire for unity, integration , or internal synergy of personality".
At the same time, self-actualization is defined as "full use of talents, abilities, opportunities, etc." .
"I imagine a self-actualized person not as ordinary person, to whom something has been added, but as an ordinary person, from whom nothing has been taken away. Average person- this is a complete human being, with muffled and suppressed abilities and gifts.
In this understanding, self-actualization is a process, a process of full unfolding of personal potential, personal growth due to the natural unfolding in a person of what is inherent in him by nature.
In more later works he proposed to clarify the concepts and call self-actualization the achievement of human maturity, and development and movement towards self-actualization - personal health.
"I believe that from the point of view of psychological strategy, it would be useful to distinguish between the concepts of maturity, humanization, self-actualization, on the one hand, and the concept of health, on the other. It would be more reasonable to interpret health as "development and movement towards self-actualization": in this interpretation the concept of health is filled with special meaning and becomes quite accessible for scientific study. (A. Maslow. "Motivation and Personality").
Thus, for the mature A. Maslow, self-actualization is not a process, but a result. A self-actualized person is one who has reached a more optimal, efficient and healthy level of functioning than the average person. Self-actualization - achievement the highest level natural personal growth, namely: personal maturity, the maximum severity of the psychological health of the individual, its high psychological culture, sufficient education and sociality.
"I unequivocally connected the concept of self-actualization with people of mature age. The criteria of self-actualization developed by me allow me to state with a high degree of certainty that the phenomenon of self-actualization does not occur among young people ...".
Literature
A self-actualizing personality has the following features:
Full acceptance of reality and a comfortable attitude towards it (not hiding from life, but knowing, understanding it);
Acceptance of others and yourself (“I do mine, and you do yours. I am not in this world to meet your expectations. I am me, you are you. I respect and accept you as you are”);
Professional passion for what you love, task-oriented, business-oriented;
Autonomy, independence from the social environment, independence of judgment;
The ability to understand other people, attention, goodwill towards people;
Constant novelty, freshness of assessments, openness to experience;
Distinguishing between ends and means, evil and good ("Not every means is good for achieving the goal");
Spontaneity, natural behavior;
Self-development, manifestation of abilities, potentialities, self-actualizing creativity in work, love, life;
Willingness to solve new problems, to realize problems and difficulties, to realize one's experience, to truly understand one's capabilities, to increase congruence.
Congruence is the correspondence of experience, the consciousness of experience to its present content. Overcoming defense mechanisms helps to achieve congruent, true experiences. Defense mechanisms make it difficult to correctly recognize their problems. Personal development is an increase in congruence, an increase in understanding of one's "real self", one's capabilities, characteristics, it is self-actualization as a tendency to understand one's "real self".
Ways of self-actualization of personality. Different ways of self-actualization can be provided if a person has higher meta-needs for development, life goals: truth, beauty, kindness, justice.
Self-actualizing people, without exception, are involved in some business, in something outside of themselves. They are devoted to this cause, it is something very valuable to them - it is a kind of calling, in the old, preaching sense of the word. They are engaged in something that is for them the vocation of destiny and that they love so much that the division "work - joy" disappears for them.
A. Maslow identifies eight ways of self-actualization.
First, self-actualization means a full, living and selfless experience with full focus and absorption, that is, an experience without adolescent shyness. At the moment of self-actualization, the individual is wholly and completely human. This is the moment when "I" realizes itself. At the present time, we can see how in young people who want to appear cruel, cynical and experienced, something of childish indifference reappears; something innocent and fresh is reflected in their faces as they fully dedicate themselves to reliving the moment. The key to this is selflessness. Our young people suffer from a lack of selflessness and an overabundance of shyness and conceit.
Secondly, the very word "self-actualization" implies the presence of "I", which can be actualized. Man is not malleable wax. He is always already something, at least some core structure. The human being is already at least a certain temperament.
Thirdly, it is necessary to imagine life as a process of constant choice. At every moment there is a choice: advance or retreat. Either moving towards even more protection, security, fear, or the choice of advancement and growth. To choose development instead of fear ten times a day means ten times to advance towards self-actualization. Self-actualization is a continuous process; it means multiple separate choices: to lie or be honest, to steal or not to steal. Self-actualization means choosing from these possibilities the possibility of growth. This is what the movement of self-actualization is.
Fourth, when you doubt something, try to be honest, don't defend yourself with the phrase: "I doubt it." Often, when we doubt, we are untruthful. Turning to oneself, demanding an answer, means taking responsibility. This in itself is a huge step towards self-actualization. Whenever a person takes responsibility, he is self-actualizing.
Fifth, so far we have talked about experiencing without criticism, choosing growth over choosing fear, listening to the voice of impulse, honesty, and taking responsibility. These are steps towards self-actualization, and they all provide better life choices. The person who does these little things in every situation of choice will find that they help him choose better what is constitutionally right for him. He begins to understand what is his destiny, what is the meaning of his life. A person cannot make a good life choice until he begins to listen to himself, to his own Self at every moment of his life. In order to express an honest opinion, a person must be different, independent from others, must be a non-conformist.
Sixth, self-actualization is not only the final state, but also the process of actualizing one's capabilities. This is, for example, the development mental capacity through intellectual pursuits. Here, self-actualization means the realization of one's potential abilities. Self-actualization is not necessarily doing something out of the ordinary; it can be, for example, going through a difficult period of preparation for the realization of one's abilities. Self-actualization is work for the sake of doing well what a person wants to do.
Seventh, higher experiences are moments of self-actualization. These are moments of ecstasy that cannot be bought, that can be guaranteed and that cannot even be sought. You can, however, and vice versa, put yourself in such conditions under which their manifestation will be extremely unlikely. Giving up illusions, getting rid of false ideas about yourself, understanding what you are not suitable for, what are not your potentialities, is also part of discovering yourself, what you really are. Almost everyone experiences higher experiences, but not everyone knows about it. Some people withdraw from these short-term subtle experiences.
Eighth, to find yourself, to discover who you are, what is good and bad for you, what is the purpose of your life - all this requires exposing your own psychopathology. To do this, you need to identify your defenses and then find the courage to overcome them. This is painful, as the defenses are directed against something unpleasant. But giving up protection is worth it.
What is self-actualization? Positioning this need at the very top of the hierarchy, Abraham Maslow gave it the following definition. “A person should be what he can be. We can call this need the need for self-actualization... It refers to the desire to self-actualize, namely, to the desire to translate into reality those possibilities that are inherent in it. The definition for this tendency can also be formulated as the desire to become more and more oneself, to become what a person is generally capable of becoming.
Although theory is generally presented as a fairly rigid hierarchy, Maslow noted that the order in which needs can be met is not always the standard order. For example, for some people, the need for self-respect may be more significant than the need for love. For others, the need for creative self-realization can crowd out even the most basic, physiological needs.
Characteristics of a self-actualized personality
In addition to his definition of self-realization, Maslow also identified several key features self-actualized people:
- Acceptance and realism. Usually self-actualized people have realistic ideas about themselves, others and the world around them.
- Focus on the problem. Self-actualized people focus on solving problems that are not their own. inner world, - including helping others and finding solutions to problems in the outside world. These people are often driven by a sense of personal responsibility or ethics.
- Spontaneity. Self-actualized people are spontaneous both in their thoughts and in their behavior. Their behavior generally conforms to the rules and expectations of society, although they can still be called open and non-standard.
- Autonomy and loneliness. Another feature of self-actualized people is the need for independence and privacy. They do not depend on the opinions of others. Yes, they are able to enjoy the company of others, but despite this, these people sometimes need privacy - they need time to focus on their own individual abilities.
- A lasting feeling of gratitude. Self-actualized people tend to look at the world with a constant sense of appreciation, wonder, or even awe. Even simple experiences can serve as a source of inspiration and pleasure for a long time.
- Peak experiences. Such people often experience what Maslow called peak experiences are moments of intense joy, wonder, awe and delight. After these sensations, people feel inspired, renewed or even completely changed, and also get a boost of energy.
A. Maslow in his concept of self-actualization offers the following interpretation of the nature of personality: a person is naturally good and capable of self-improvement, people are conscious and intelligent creatures, the very essence of a person constantly moves him in the direction of personal growth, creativity and self-sufficiency.
To study a person as a unique, holistic, open and self-developing system, A. Maslow used the concept of self - actualization (English) The development of a person in this theory is presented as climbing the ladder of needs, which has levels in which it “highlights”, on the one hand, social dependence of a person, and on the other hand, his cognitive nature associated with self-actualization. The author believed that "people are motivated to seek personal goals, and this makes their life meaningful and meaningful." Questions of motivation are central to the humanistic theory of personality and describe a person as a "desiring being", rarely achieving satisfaction.
A. Maslow considers all human needs as innate. The hierarchy of needs, according to A. Maslow, can be traced from the first level, which consists of physiological needs associated with maintaining the internal environment of the body. As these needs are saturated, next level needs arise. The second level is the need for security, stability, confidence, freedom from fear, security. These needs function similarly to physiological needs and, if regularly satisfied, cease to be motivators. The next, third level includes the need for love and affection, communication, social activity, the desire to have one's place in a group, family. This is followed by the fourth level, which is the need for respect, self-esteem, independence, independence, skill, competence, confidence in the world, the desire to have a certain reputation, prestige, fame, recognition, dignity. Dissatisfaction with the needs of this level leads a person to a feeling of inferiority, uselessness, leads to various conflicts, complexes and neuroses. And finally, the last, fifth level of needs is the need for self-actualization, self-realization and creativity.
A. Maslow identified two types of needs that underlie personality development:
"deficit", which stop after their satisfaction and "growth",
which, on the contrary, only intensify after their implementation. In total, according to Maslow,
There are five levels of motivation:
1) physiological (needs for food, sleep);
2) security needs (need for an apartment; work)
3) needs for belonging, reflecting the needs of one person in
another person, for example in creating a family;
4) the level of self-esteem (the need for self-actualization, competence,
dignity);
5) the need for self-actualization (metaneeds for creativity, beauty,
integrity, etc.).
13. Logotherapy c. Frankl.
Logotherapy is a method of psychotherapy and existential analysis created by W. Frankl (from the ancient Greek logos - meaning). Logotherapy is a complex system of philosophical, psychological and medical views on the nature and essence of a person, the mechanisms of personality development in normal and pathological conditions, and ways to correct anomalies in personality development.
Logotherapy deals with the meaning of human existence and the search for this meaning. According to logotherapy, the desire for a person to search for and realize the meaning of his life is an innate motivational tendency inherent in all people and is the main engine of behavior and personality development. Therefore, Frankl spoke of the "striving for meaning" as opposed to the pleasure principle (in other words, the "striving for pleasure"), on which psychoanalysis is concentrated. A person does not need a state of equilibrium, homeostasis, but rather a struggle for some goal worthy of him.
Logotherapy is not a treatment that competes with other methods, but it may well compete with them due to the additional factor that it includes. As one of the areas of modern psychotherapy, logotherapy occupies a special place in it, opposing, on the one hand, psychoanalysis, and, on the other, behavioral psychotherapy. It differs from all other systems of psychotherapy not at the level of neurosis, but when it goes beyond it, in the space of specific human manifestations. Specifically, we are talking about two fundamental anthropological characteristics of human existence: its self-transcendence and the ability to self-detachment.
There are specific and non-specific areas of application of logotherapy. Psychotherapy of various kinds of diseases is a non-specific area. A specific area is noogenic neuroses, generated by the loss of the meaning of life. In these cases, the Socratic dialogue technique is used, which makes it possible to push the patient to discover for himself an adequate meaning of life. An important role is played by the personality of the psychotherapist himself, although imposing one's own meanings on them is unacceptable.
The provision on the uniqueness of meaning does not prevent Frankl from giving a meaningful description of possible positive meanings. Values are semantic universals that are the result of a generalization of typical situations in the history of society. There are 3 groups of values: 1) values of creativity, 2) values of experience and 3) values of attitude.
Priority belongs to the values of creativity, the main way of realization of which is labor. Of the values of experience, Frankl dwells in detail on love, which has a rich semantic potential.
paradoxical intention. The method proposed by V. Frankl (in 1929, described by him only in 1939, and published under this name in 1947. As we noted above, logotherapy includes two specific human manifestations, as self-transcendence and the ability to self-detachment .
A person with a noogenic neurosis is constantly in search of meaning. Paradoxical intention is used in neurosis when the following pathogenic response patterns are present:
1. A symptom causes the patient to fear that it may recur; a phobia arises - the fear of expecting a recurrence of a symptom, which leads to the fact that the symptom actually appears again, and this only reinforces the patient's initial fears. Sometimes the fear itself can be what the patient is afraid of repeating, but more often they are afraid of fainting, heart attack, etc. Patients react to their fear by fleeing from reality (life), for example, they try not to leave the house.
2. The patient is under the yoke of obsessive ideas that have taken possession of him, he tries to suppress them, counteract them, but this only increases the initial tension. The circle closes, and the patient finds himself inside this vicious circle.
The paradoxical intention is based on the fact that the patient should want what he fears so much to come true. (With a phobia, others did it, with an obsession, so that he himself did what he was afraid of). At the same time, the paradoxical sentence should be formulated as far as possible in a humorous form.
Dereflection is a psychotherapeutic method that helps the patient to neutralize the compulsive tendency to introspection by focusing on the positive aspects of his existence. For example, one of W. Frankl's patients suffered from a compulsive desire to observe her act of swallowing: feeling insecure, she anxiously expected that the food "would go down the wrong way", or that she would choke. Anticipated anxiety and compulsive self-observation disturbed her eating to such an extent that she became completely thin. In therapy, she was taught to trust her body and its automatically regulated functioning. The patient was therapeutically de-reflexed by the formula: "I don't need to watch the swallow because I don't actually need to swallow because I don't actually swallow, but rather the unconscious does it." And thus the patient got rid of the neurotic fixation on the act of swallowing.
