Structural-Content Analysis of Existential Theory and its Value for Psychological Consulting

Abstract

The present research was based on modern psychological studies. The article features the structure and contents of the existential theory. The structure of the theory is presented in the framework of the concept coined by A. V. Yurevich, while its contents are represented in the context of the existential and phenomenological philosophical traditions. The paper focuses on three elements in the structure of the existential psychological theory. The central one includes a generalized image of psychological reality, its central category, corresponding phenomena, basic concepts, the system of relations between them, basic statements, etc. The peripheral elements are represented by theoretical and empirical components. The third component features the implicit part. The generalized image of the psychological reality is represented by the concept of "Dasein", its central category being "the existence". The author described the basic concepts and auxiliary statements of the theory. The basic statements of the theoretical part of the existential approach are the key provisions and principles of existentialism as formulated by J.-P. Sartre. The auxiliary statements belong to A. Camus and V. Frankl. The authors clarify the conceptual formation of existential theory, starting with E. Husserl’s phenomenology and moving on to modern psychology. The authors believe that the establishment of existential theory contributed to the development of the existential tradition in psychological counseling practice.

Keywords

• existentialism
• phenomenology
• dasein
• existence
• being
• freedom
• responsibility