Welcome to the world of Logotherapy, a psychotherapeutic approach and philosophy of life that heals by finding meaning in everything we experience. Logotherapy was founded by Dr. Viktor Frankl, neurologist, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, who successfully applied his theory in the prevention of suicide among the young in pre-war Vienna. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the concept of Dereflection in Logotherapy as a powerful tool that can help individuals redirect their focus away from their problems and towards a more meaningful existence.
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Hyper-reflection and Hyper-intention
Dereflection and Paradoxical Intention are techniques of logotherapy that are used to counter anxiety, phobias and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. The root cause of many problems comes from two self-sabotaging habits: hyper-reflection and hyper-intention.
Hyper-reflection is excessive self-monitoring and worry about one’s performance and self-image
Examples:
- Watching one’s arms and legs while swimming
- Excessive attention to the spot on one’s clothes while giving a speech
- Fretting about not being able to fall asleep
Like a millipede that suddenly cannot walk when he starts paying attention to how his legs are moving, hyper-reflection results in failure.
Hyper-intention is intentionally trying to force or avoid an outcome
Examples:
- Trying too hard to succeed sexually
- Avoiding public spaces out of fear of germs
- Fear that one will have a heart attack
Self-Transcendence and Self-Detachment
The techniques of logotherapy are effective because they allow us to access human strengths of self-transcendence and self-detachment.
Technique
Dereflection
Paradoxical Intention
Human strength
Self-transcendence
Self-detachment
Dereflection helps access the human capacity for self-transcendence, the ability to reach beyond ourselves to people we love or causes we care about. We can rise above inertia and helplessness, and commit ourselves to a meaningful goal for its own sake.
Paradoxical Intention helps access the human capacity for self-detachment, the capacity to look at ourselves from a distance and stop making the problem into an identity. You are not your symptoms. You are struggling with low self-esteem, addictions, obsessions and emotional outbursts, but these are not your inherent identity. You are not a helpless victim of your circumstances, biological drives or upbringing. You can take a stand, choose your attitude towards yourself, and change. The best examples of self-detachment are humor and heroism.
Dereflection in Logotherapy
Dereflection in Logotherapy is a fundamental concept that encourages individuals who are obsessed with a problem to shift their attention from their problems and their worry to something of larger importance. By doing so, they can find a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. Let’s break down this concept further.
The intensive inward focus of someone who is obsessed with a problem causes them to be completely preoccupied with how they appear to others or how well they are performing.
Redirecting focus
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to become consumed by our problems and worries. Dereflection invites us to redirect our focus away from these issues. It’s not about ignoring problems but recognizing that an excessive focus on them can lead to a sense of hopelessness. Instead, we are encouraged to look outward, towards goals and values that we really care about.
Embracing life’s challenges
Life is full of challenges, and Dereflection doesn’t deny this fact. Instead, it empowers us to embrace these challenges and use them as opportunities for growth. By acknowledging that adversity is a part of life, we can find meaning in overcoming obstacles and becoming stronger individuals.
Finding transcendent values
Dereflection encourages us to identify and pursue transcendent values – principles and ideals that go beyond our individual desires. These values could include love, creativity, spirituality, or a sense of service to others. By aligning our actions with these values, we can experience a profound sense of purpose.
Practical application
Dereflection is not just a theoretical concept; it can be applied to our daily lives. When faced with a problem, consider how you can redirect your focus towards a transcendent value. For example, if you’re dealing with work-related stress, focus on the value of personal growth and learning. This shift in perspective can make the problem seem less overwhelming.
Dereflection vs. Paradoxical Intention
While both Dereflection and Paradoxical Intention are essential concepts in Logotherapy, they address different aspects of human experience. Paradoxical Intention counters anticipatory anxiety by ridiculing one’s symptoms. In contrast, Dereflection counters self-observation by “ignoring” one’s symptoms.
The key word in Paradoxical Intention is “intention,” emphasizing the element of intentionality. On the other hand, the key word in Dereflection is “attention,” focusing on the act of redirecting one’s attention.
Paradoxical Intention is applied in cases of fear and obsessions. The vigilant effort to guard against mistakes and the overreaction to minor failures reinforces the feelings of impotence that caused it to begin with. Fear creates a vicious cycle, which causes the very thing you are afraid of, to actually happen. For example, the fear that I will fail the test produces failure, which reinforces the fear.
Instead of running from the fear or fighting the obsessions, the client is encouraged to intentionally wish for the very thing he fears will happen. He learns to laugh at himself and ridicule the situation.
- I will try to fail this test.
- At 3:00, I will have a heart attack
- The paintings will be stolen
- Let my face turn red when I am speaking. I don’t care. I will try as hard as I can to make my whole body all red!
They thereby voluntarily “invite” the outcome instead of being involuntarily attacked by it. Paradoxical Intention breaks the cycle of fear because you can’t be afraid of something and wish for it to happen at the same time. If you have to speak in front of a crowd and are afraid you will break out in a cold sweat, say to yourself, “I’ll show them just how much I can sweat. I will sweat gallons!”
Humor doesn’t show real life but is a caricature of real life
- Imagination creates the reality of fear
- The fear image is replaced with a humorous image – The caricature of the self doing something ridiculous
- The unreal image puts distance between the person and what is confronting him
We fear what is not in our control. Intentionally wishing for it to happen, or acting as if it has already happened or will certainly happen, turns something that one is involuntarily attacked by into something that is under one’s voluntary control. The person says, ‘Come on. Bring it on; the more, the better!’ This creates an ‘I don’t care’ attitude, which is the opposite of fear. You stop running away from it because you are facing it with an “I don’t care” attitude and laughing at it, which puts the person back in control. Thus, the same imagination that created the fear is used to dissipate the fear.
Humor, in general, creates perspective and puts distance between himself and whatever may confront him, allowing flexibility and openness to change. It brings playfulness and spontaneity and helps turn negative situations into positive ones by diffusing the tension.
A client of Frankl’s was obsessed with the fear that he would have a heart attack. We are not talking about someone who should have a check-up. This is someone who was worrying so much that he was not able to do anything with his life. Frankl told him, ‘Why don’t you try to have a heart attack at 4:00, because we have an appointment at 3:00?
These two concepts are not necessarily separate but often overlap in the human experience. For instance, anticipatory anxiety, with its hyper-intention, can quickly transition into hyper-reflection, where individuals become overly self-aware and doubt their abilities.
A practical example
Consider a simple example: repairing a window blind. Initially, hyper-intention may lead to thoughts like, “I’ve got to get this done now!” However, as self-observation intensifies, you start criticizing your own actions, creating a running commentary about how awkwardly you’re doing the task. This hyper-reflection can be counterproductive, leading to mistakes and frustration.
Dereflection intervenes at this point by redirecting your attention away from self-critique and towards the task at hand. It’s crucial to understand that Dereflection isn’t a distraction; it’s a technique that takes you away from your own self-distracting thoughts and focuses your attention on what really matters.
Finding your meaning
Dereflection emphasizes the importance of recognizing that your meaning in life consists of what you are presently engaged in and passionate about. It’s not about ignoring problems or challenges but shifting your attention to what truly matters in the here and now.
For instance, Frankl recounted a case where a young man had a speech disturbance due to a traumatic childhood experience. He was constantly preoccupied with speaking correctly, fearing he would never be a public speaker. This self-obsession hindered his performance.
Dereflection helped him shift his focus from self-concern to self-commitment. He began paying attention to the content of his speech rather than how he was delivering it. This change allowed him to reconnect with his mission in life and replace self-concern with self-commitment.
Trust in the process
Both Paradoxical Intention and Dereflection bring the awareness that you don’t need to be overly concerned with the results. Whether you are seeking a particular outcome or trying to avoid something, the results are not entirely within your control.
By focusing on the task at hand and understanding that it’s something you’ve been entrusted with, you can trust yourself with it. You don’t need to be preoccupied with the outcomes because you can rest assured that whatever you do will have an impact, even if you don’t fully comprehend it. All you need to do is pay attention to the task itself.
In summary, Dereflection, just like Paradoxical Intention, helps restore a sense of trust in life. It frees you from the burden of controlling outcomes and allows you to focus on what you’ve been entrusted with, leading to personal growth and self-discovery.
FAQs about Dereflection in Logotherapy
Dereflection encourages individuals to shift their attention from self-observation to transcendent values, ultimately leading to a more meaningful and purposeful life.
Dereflection focuses on redirecting attention away from self-observation, while Paradoxical Intention ridicules anticipatory anxiety by challenging the intention behind symptoms.
Absolutely. Dereflection is a valuable tool for addressing existential questions and finding a sense of purpose in life.
No, it’s not a distraction technique. Dereflection redirects your attention away from self-distracting thoughts, allowing you to focus on what genuinely matters.
Start by identifying your transcendent values that can be fulfilled in the situation, such as courage or acts of kindness, and when faced with challenges, redirect your focus towards actualizing these values.
To gain a deeper understanding of Logotherapy and Dereflection, consider reading Viktor Frankl’s seminal work, The Doctor and the Soul. One may also find many examples of Paradoxical Intention in Frankl’s work, Psychotherapy and Existentialism.