The causes and methods of overcoming existential emptiness

Existential psychology pays special attention to the problem of individuality.

This scientific direction considers a complex of important issues.

Description of the direction

Existence - what is it in psychology?

In psychological science, existential is understood human uniquenesswhich does not obey the general laws.

Philosophical currentunderlying, preaches the individuality and at the same time the irrationality of human life.

Each person in the course of their existence experiences many different mental processes. Due to the individual characteristics of the individual, these processes occur according to a specific scenario.

But the end result of life in any case becomes death. That is why the existence of people cannot be viewed from the point of view of rationality.

Existential psychology distinguishes the world of man from the world of plants and animals. People have their environment open to change and transformation.

Since a person is characterized by the awareness of himself as a separate element, he finds in himself the ability to influence the surrounding reality and transform it.

Unlike animals and plants that adapt to the originally proposed circumstances, we have a choice.

Existence - The central concept of this area of psychology. It is understood as the core of our "I." This is a set of unique characteristics that make a person a particular person.

Definition of the concepts of existentiality

There are several basic concepts that researchers operate on.

Selection

Every person in the course of his life constantly making choices.

This choice determines the ways of its further development, events occurring with it, prospects for the future, etc.

All people are constantly face crises in everyday life. These can be crises of a different nature: political, religious, economic or personal.

The most difficult is the last type of crisis, which forces a person to analyze his life and his convictions, revise the existing system of values and make plans for the future.

However, other external crises also imprint on human lifeas a member of society. The choice that one constantly has to make is largely determined by the individual characteristics of the character and the development of the will.

Society influences a person, but cannot fully control its behavior, due to the presence of an existential component.

Meaning

Personality is prone to reflection. She turns her attention inward, analyzes the mental processes taking place inside and draws conclusions.

Constant search for the meaning of life makes people analyze their behavior, achievements and failures.

Man seeks objectively evaluate products of their own activities and give them a description.

Mature person, realizing the existing contradiction between the real life attitudes and the status quo, seeks to rethink its existence and find ways out of this situation.

Achievement of the tasks set, adherence to one’s own moral principles, satisfaction of existing needs allow a person enjoy their activity in the current moment in time.

This smooths out the general awareness of the irrationality of existence, which will end sooner or later anyway.

Dannosti

These are inalienable, inevitable aspects of life that cause anxiety. It is customary to single out four such given:

Death. All people are mortal and at the moment mankind has not found ways to get rid of death. The inevitability of the end leads to a state of oppression. All scientific studies of ways to prolong youth, religious teachings about the immortality of the soul, and other attempts to solve a problem only confirm the fear of death.

freedom. People strive to be free, but not everyone is aware of the inseparability of freedom with a manifestation of responsibility and will. A person can gain independence and independence, realizing the responsibility for his life and decisions. And decisions can be made only as a result of applied volitional efforts. People who constantly blame others for all their failures and external circumstances are completely unfree.
Insulation. Each of us is isolated, alone. Mature personalities are able to accept their isolation and rationally combine it with social activity. Others experience a feeling of inner emptiness and seek to overcome it, entering into emotionally dependent relationships, demonstrating pathological jealousy, etc.
Senselessness. The total meaninglessness of life can be overcome by self-setting tasks and their further solutions: the accomplishment of good deeds, achievement of heights in a career, sports achievements.
Solving the tasks assigned to oneself gives life meaning and helps to enjoy it.

Theory of Existentialism

The founder of the theory is the Danish philosopher, psychologist and writer - Ceren Obyu Kierkegaard.

The theory developed in parallel with related areas: personalism, philosophical anthropology.

These directions considered possibility of disclosing abilities.

The theory of existentialism focused on the ability to overcome its nature and pay more attention to the inner essence.

Kierkegaard pointed out that there are differences between objective truth and existential truth.

The first can be simply understood, and the second is experienced. Accordingly, in order to experience it, one must live as a person, as an individual.

Causes of phenomena

Researchers have always sought to identify and justify the reasons for the development of a number of existential phenomena.

Emptiness

Existential void - what does it mean? It is a state of mind in which the meaning of life is completely lost.

Often this feeling occurs in people with fine mental organizationthat can not find an incentive for their activity.

Cause of emptiness can be a serious loss, serious illness, a series of troubles, etc.

In the era of high technology, people especially often experience this state, because the world is becoming more rigid and standardized.

That is why it is now so common. depression problem, the output of which is possible only by referring to specialists and the use of drugs.

A crisis

Awareness of the insignificance and meaninglessness of existence leads to the emergence anxiety, anxiety, fear. Usually in the routine of everyday worries, we are not inclined to analyze such states, but this does not exclude the fact of the existence of the problem.

The crisis can overtake a person at any time of his life, regardless of age, social status, achievements.

Typical ways to escape from the crisis: alcohol, work, entertainment, casual communication, travel. But all this is only temporary measures that will not help resolve the internal conflict. Left alone with himself, a person again faces inevitable thoughts.

Experiences

Typical experiences that may occur when analyzing your own life and existing circumstances: horror, boredom, despair, loneliness.

Each of these experiences causes certain emotions to be experienced.

Overcoming them depends on degree of responsibility for their own lives and on the level of development of the will.

Strong personalityfaced with adverse circumstances, mobilizes and will do everything possible to overcome the experiences. A weak person will give up under the pressure of his own emotions, if he does not find support from others.

Neurosis

Often people who by all existing social standards are successful, totally unhappy with their lives. They have money, power, family, position in society, but there is no sense in life.

Psychologists call such clients "existential neurotics."

They are able to easily overcome everyday problems, but they cannot find a way to solve the problem of searching for the higher meaning of their existence.

As a result, typical neurotic disorders (insomnia, irritation, fatigue, etc.) appear, which prevent to live fully and have fun from small joys.

Problem

Existential problem is the combination of all of the above phenomenawhich force a person to constantly dive inside his own “I” to search for the meaning of his existence.

It is the presence of such a problem that distinguishes people, as owners of individual installations, from other representatives of the animal world.

A variety of scientific approaches

Existential theory is actively used by experts in different directions.

Humanistic psychology

This direction of psychology, which recognizes as the main subject of personality. The individual is considered as unique system capable of self-actualization.

The main areas of analysis: values, freedom, responsibility, etc. Existentialism here serves as the main philosophical base.

Psychological counseling

During the consultations, practicing psychologists use the theory to analyze the personality in two main areas: inner peace and external activity.

In the first case, the level of development of self-awareness, attitude towards oneself and people around you, the search for the meaning of life is analyzed. In the second case, all are studied. aspects of social activity: participation in social groups, making contacts, etc.