Between Fantasy And Finitude: Re-Appraising Kierkegaard’s Philosophy Of Despair With A Contemporary Existential-Psychotherapeutic Attitude Of (De)Spero
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65828/5xfhmm47Keywords:
Kierkegaard, despair, finitude, infinitude, (de)speroAbstract
This paper makes the case for the use of fantasy in exploring feelings of despair (contra Kierkegaard). I suggest that we adopt an existential-psychotherapeutic attitude towards the actuality of our (de)spero (despair/hope) and through the experience of balancing (de)spero, find liberation from, and peace within, our despair.
Complete access to the full archive of articles is available with SEA membership. Existing members: please log in with your membership password to view full text. Non-members can buy a single article or issue by registering an account on this website, then selecting a padlocked full text button to purchase.
References
Briere, J. N. & Lanktree, C. B. (2012). Complex Trauma in Adolescents and Young Adults. London: Sage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452240497
Bugental, J. F. T. (1965). The Search for Authenticity: An existential-analytic approach to psychotherapy. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/11.1.114-a
Camus, A. (2005 [1942]). The Myth of Sisyphus. Trans. J. O'Brien, London: Penguin.
Einstein, D. A. & Menzies, R. G. (2004). The presence of magical thinking in obsessive compulsive disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 42(5): 539-549. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0005-7967(03)00160-8
Erskine, R. G. (2014). Nonverbal stories: The body in psychotherapy. International Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy. 5(1): 21-33.
Frankl, V. E. (1959/2004). Man's Search for Meaning. London: Rider.
Gendlin, E. T. (1996). Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy: A manual of the experiential method. New York: The Guildford Press.
Gilbert, P. (2013). The Compassionate Mind. London: Constable.
Goldblatt, M. J. & Maltsberger, J. T. (2009). Self attack as a means of self-preservation. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytical Studies. 7(1): 59-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aps.228
Goods, N.A., Rees, C.S., Egan, S.J. & Kane, R.T. (2014). The relationship between magical thinking, inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. 43(4): 342-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2014.941393
Heidegger, M. (1953/2010). Being and Time. Trans. J. Stambaugh. New York: State University of New York Press.
Kierkegaard, S. (1849/2008). The Sickness Unto Death [Sygdommen til Døden]. Trans. A. Hannay, London: Penguin.
Maltsberger, J. T., Ronningstam, E, Weinberg, I., Schechter, M. & Goldblatt, M. J. (2010). Suicide fantasy as a life-sustaining recourse. American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry. 38(4): 611-623. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1521/jaap.2010.38.4.611
May. R. (1953). Man's Search for Himself. London: Norton.
Minkowski, E. (1923/1958). Findings in the case of schizophrenic depression. Trans. B. Bliss in May, R., Angel, E. & Elleenberger, H. F. (eds) Existence: A New Dimension in Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Simon and Schuster: 127-138. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/11321-004
Moustakas, C. E. (1994). Existential Psychotherapy and the Interpretation of Dreams. New Jersey: Jason Aronson.
Oei, T. I., Verhoeven, W. M. A., Westenberg, H.G.M., Zwart, F.M. & Van Ree, J.M. (1990). Anhedonia, suicide ideation and dexamethasone non-suppression in depressed patient. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 24(1): 25-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3956(90)90022-i
Ogden, P. & Fisher, J. (2014). Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for trauma and attachment. London: W. W. Norton.
Ogden, P. & Minton, K. (2000). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: One method for processing traumatic memory. Traumatology. 6(3): 149-173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/153476560000600302
Selby, E. A., Anestis, M. D. & Joiner, T. E. (2007). Daydreaming about death: Violent daydreaming as a form of emotion dysregulation in suicidality. Behaviour Modification. 31(6): 867-879. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445507300874
Smith, P. N., Cukrowicz, K. C., Pondexter, E. K., Hobson, V., & Cohen, L. M. (2010). The acquired capability for suicide: A comparison of suicide attempters, suicide ideators, and non-suicidal controls. Depression and Anxiety. 27(9): 871-877. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20701
Stolorow, R. D. (2011a). Toward greater authenticity: From shame to existential guilt, anxiety, and grief. International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology. 6:2, 285-287. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15551024.2011.552411
Tillich, P. (1952/2000). The Courage to Be. 2nd edition. New Hampshire: Yale University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300170023
Van der Kolk, B. (2005). Developmental trauma disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals. 35(5): 401-408. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3928/00485713-20050501-06
Van der Kolk, B. (2015). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. London: Penguin.
Vassilopoulos, S. P. (2008). Coping strategies and anticipatory processing in high and low socially anxious individuals.Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 22(1): 98-107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.01.010
Yalom, I. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. US: Basic Books.
Yontef, G. M. (1993). Awareness Dialogue and Process: Essays on Gestalt therapy. Maine: The Gestalt Journal Press.
