Paradoxical intention

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Part of a series on
Psychology
Basic types
Applied psychology
Lists
  • Psi2.svg Psychology portal
  • v
  • t

Paradoxical intention (PI)[1] is a therapeutic procedure to treat the patients suffering with certain conditions and disorders such as phobias, insomnia and performance anxiety, etc. It is a cognitive method in which patients are persuaded to engage in their most feared behavior.[2][3]

The term[]

Dr.Viktor Frankl, the founder of Logotherapy, coined the term and advocated for its use by patients suffering from severe anxiety disorders.[4] Though therapists had been utilizing paradoxical treatments for a long time before the term was coined.[1][2]: 133  Later on paradoxical intention is included in the Logotherapy.[5]: 114 

Technique[]

Within the framework of Logotherapy, two techniques have been developed: 'paradoxical intention' and 'dereflection.'[5]: 114 

The Paradoxical intention is to create a paradox against the intrinsic fears and attempts to break the vicious cycle of anticipated anxiety. In Paradoxical intention, the patient is prompted to engage in, or to desire, the very activities or situations he fears. This way the vicious cycle of anxiety may be discontinued.[5]: 117, 118  Human potential for self-detachment is exploited and used for therapy goals.[6] The focus is on the distinction between inherent and created paradox. In psychotherapy, paradoxical intention is the deliberate practice of a neurotic habit or thought with the goal of identifying and eliminating it.[4]

For Phobic and Obsessive compulsion[]

The patient is encouraged to do, or to wish to happen, the very things he fears (the former applying to the phobic patient, the latter to the obsessive-compulsive)

— Viktor Frankl, Defines Paradox intention, [1]

For insomnia[]

Paradoxical intention suggests that insomniacs attempt to intentionally try to avoid falling asleep to reduce anticipated anxiety during bedtime.[1]

Dereflection[]

Dereflection refers to diverting the client's attention away from their symptoms. Dereflection has been developed for people suffering from sexual disorders, in which the patient's desire for sexual pleasure becomes an obstruction to achieving it. The therapist discourages intercourse and breaks the cycle of desire, striving, and disappointment.[7]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Paradoxical Intention - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Espie, Colin A. (1991). The psychological treatment of insomnia. Internet Archive. Chichester ; New York : Wiley. pp. 48, 49. ISBN 978-0-471-92369-5.
  3. ^ "Paradoxical Intention for Insomnia | Society of Clinical Psychology". div12.org. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Frankl, Viktor (1959). Man's Search for Meaning (1984 ed.). New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. pp. 126. ISBN 0-8070-1426-5.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Frankl, Viktor E. (Viktor Emil) (1978). The unheard cry for meaning : psychotherapy and humanism. Internet Archive. New York : Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-22891-0.
  6. ^ Frankl, Viktor E. (Viktor Emil); Crumbaugh, James C. (1967). Psychotherapy and existentialism; selected papers on logotherapy. Internet Archive. New York, Washington Square Press. p. 3.
  7. ^ "APA PsycNet". doi.apa.org. doi:10.1037/h0086434. Retrieved 2021-08-29.


Stub icon

This psychology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""