Binswanger's Existential Analysis and Dasein Analysis M. Boss: to the History of Formation of the Existential Approach in Psychology

Abstract

The article is of an overview nature and aims at a preliminary analysis of the origins of the existential tradition in psychology. The author considers the existential analysis of L. Binswanger and the Dasein analysis of M. Boss as concepts that have arisen in contrast to the natural science paradigm in psychology, in particular, psychoanalysis. It shows that the existential approach in psychology arises as an attempt to form a new view of man in science, based on philosophical traditions: the phenomenology of E. Husserl and the fundamental ontology of M. Heidegger. At the same time, Binswanger’s teaching is defined as an anthropological type of scientific research aimed at studying the essence of human existence; the doctrine of M. Boss — as an ontological concept in psychology. Particular attention is paid to the issue of implementing the principles of the teachings under consideration in work of existentially oriented psychotherapists and counseling psychologists. The article shows that the basis of the both concepts is the phenomenological method.