Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Section 1. Introductory Issues
Chapter 1. Existentialism and the problems of being - Gerard Kuperis, University of San Francisco.
This opening chapter provides a history and overview of the central ideas of the existential philosophers. A thorough grounding in the theoretical orientation of these thinkers, and the common claims of existentialism, sets the scene for the rest of the volume.
Chapter 2. Existentialism and its place in contemporary cognitive-behavior therapy - Michael Worrell, Regent's University London and Head of Department, London CBT Training Centre
Chapter 2 examines the way in which existentialism and CBT can be successfully integrated. The education of cognitive behavior therapists has not traditionally included any direct engagement with existential philosophy or existential psychology. This is despite the fact that Beck, and other founding figures in the history of CBT, have highlighted the relevance of existentialism to their thinking. The chapter describes the benefits of experiential practice exercises that ask therapists to 'just listen' to their clients and note the presence of 'existential givens'.
Section 2. Death
Chapter 3. Death awareness and terror management theory - Ilan Dar-Nimrod, University of Sydney
Terror Management Theory (TMT) is the dominant social psychological theory examining the relationship between death awareness and human behaviour. According to TMT, cultural worldviews and self-esteem are thought to serve an important anxiety-buffering function in order to manage (or 'tranquilise') existential fear of death. This chapter will review the evidence for TMT and alternative accounts of the role of death awareness on human behaviour.
Chapter 4. Death fears and their relationship to mental health - Rachel E. Menzies, University of Sydney
Recent research suggests that death anxiety may be a transdiagnostic construct that mediates a range of mental health symptoms and disorders. It has been linked to OCD, Panic Disorder, Illness Anxiety Disorder and more recently to Somatic Symptom Disorder, PTSD, Depression and even Eating Disorders. This chapter will review the evidence and discuss the implications of these relationships between death anxiety and mental health.
Chapter 5. Creative approaches to treating the dread of death - David Veale, The Priory Hospital North London and Visiting Professor, Department of Psychology, Kings College London
Building on his work on death anxiety and Illness Anxiety Disorder, Professor Veale will explore contemporary approaches to treating the dread of death. Unlike other phobic reactions (e.g. fear of dogs, spiders, water), which may be characterised as irrational, death anxiety is based on an inevitable event or an 'existential given'. As such, it requires a more creative and imaginative approach to treatment.
Section 2. Isolation
Chapter 6. Interpersonal, intrapersonal and existential isolation - Jeff Greenberg, University of Arizona
The existential psychotherapist Irvin Yalom (1980) describes three types of isolation. Interpersonal isolation refers to the loneliness created by social distance. Intrapersonal isolation refers to the dissociation between parts of oneself. Finally, existential isolation refers to the unbridgeable gap between oneself and any other being i.e. the fact that we can only ever experience our own consciousness. Chapter 6 examines the three types of isolation described in existential theory.
Chapter 7. Isolation, loneliness and mental health - Peter Kelly & Isabella Ingram, University of Wollongong, NSW