Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, The Divinity School, March 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 352-366). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

It goes without saying that Sigmund Freud was one of the most important contributors to the formation of psychological theory. Freud's theories were largely concerned with his construction of the role of a psychotherapist, and his psychoanalytical viewpoint. Though influential, Freud's psychoanalysis was also a business model for the new position of therapist, a role traditionally delegated to clergy members. That meant that Freud could put himself, as psychotherapist, in the esteemed position of clergy and become a sort of medical Father Confessor. To do that, he had to undermine the authority of the Church in any way possible. Whether intentional or not, Freud's outright dismissal of religion in psychotherapy is indicative of his desire to take its place, especially evidenced through his writings in The Interpretation of Dreams (1994). The problem with dismissing religion's role in psychotherapy has been discussed since Freud; he is not representative of all psychologists, or even of all members of the school of psychoanalysis. Most other theorists understood the value of religion both to the person and to therapy. Even if Freud were correct in his statements about the etiology of religious beliefs, he still ignored a potential source of therapeutic insight. This is a damaging strategy which was not universally shared; denying such an important part of the human experience is simply dangerous for the psychotherapist.

This study involved a survey of 164 undergraduate students and sought to determine whether relationships exist between 1) religiosity and preferences for a counselor's use of religious interventions in counseling, and 2) gender and preferences for a counselor's use of religious intelentions in counseling. It was hypothesized that high religiosity in students would be related to a strong preferences for a counselor's use of religious interventions. It was also hypothesized that females would show stronger preferences for religious interventions in counseling. Results supported both hypotheses, indicating that a significant relationship exists between religiosity and preferences for religious interventions, and between gender and preferences for religious interventions. These results have important implications for counselors working with religious clients. / Department of Secondary, Higher, and Foundations of Education

Este estudo busca questionar algumas das bases epistemológicas da psicologia clínica em relação à espiritualidade e à mística. Partindo da discussão entre Freud e o escritor Francês Romain Rolland a respeito do sentimento oceânico (baseado na correspondência entre eles no período de 1927 a 1931), abordaremos a compreensão da natureza ontológica da experiência de união com o universo (como descrito por Rolland) em um duplo vértice: tanto como um subproduto de dinâmicas psicológicas (inerentemente patológicas ou não) ou como uma experiência ontológica de alteridade, mais bem compreendida através de uma abordagem não psicológica que possa investigar seu significado em consonância ao registro da condição humana em si. Nessa última perspectiva, estaremos acompanhados da obra de Gilberto Safra, que em seus escritos evidencia uma preocupação com a busca de uma concepção antropológica que aborde o ser humano em toda sua complexidade, evitando o possível reducionismo psicológico de temas e áreas que possam se relacionar a outras categorias de experiência, como a religiosidade e a espiritualidade. Como eixo central dessa discussão, utilizaremos a vida do místico Indiano Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) para ilustrar esses diferentes modos de se abordar a experiência espiritual. Ramakrishna foi uma das principais fontes das construções de Rolland acerca da religiosidade, levando o autor francês a escrever uma de suas principais biografias (A vida de Ramakrishna, 1929), que teve um importante impacto na recepção ocidental de concepções espirituais orientais. Contemplando exemplos da vida de Ramakrishna, através de uma leitura fenomenológica-hermenêutica da obra de Rolland (que abarcam desde sua infância até seu período como um famoso mestre espiritual na Índia), será apresentado, em cada um desses períodos, diferentes perspectivas de autores que consideram Ramakrishna tanto em uma chave psicológica-psicopatológica quanto em uma abordagem que inclua um registro espiritual não redutível a dinâmicas psíquicas em sua vida. Dentro desse estudo, nós percebemos que há uma limitação inerente às leituras exclusivamente psicológicas das experiências místicas, assim como uma há uma limitação das leituras exclusivamente espiritualistas. Assim, ao apresentar tal discussão nós pretendemos repensar a posição que a espiritualidade e a mística ocupam na prática clínica, tanto para reformular sua compreensão em psicoterapia quanto para expandir as concepções éticas e antropológicas subjacentes ao entendimento clínico da condição humana / This study aims at questioning some of the epistemological basis of clinical psychology concerning mystical experience and spirituality. Focusing on the discussion between Freud and French author Romain Rolland regarding the oceanic feeling (based on their letters exchange from 1927 to 1931), we will question the comprehension of the ontological nature of the feeling of union with the universe (as described by Rolland) through a twofold bias: either as a by-product of psychological dynamics (inherently pathological or not) or as an ontological experience of alterity, better comprehended through a non-psychological approach that investigates its inner meaning regarding the human condition as such. In the latter perspective, we will be accompanied by the work of Brazilian author Gilberto Safra, whose clinical writings are concerned with an anthropological conception that approaches the human being in its own complexity, avoiding possible psychological reductionism of themes and issues that relate to other areas of experience, such as religiosity and spirituality. As the main axis of this discussion, we will utilize the life of Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) to illustrate these two different ways of approaching spiritual experience. Ramakrishna has been himself one of the main sources of Rollands constructions on religiosity, leading the French author to write one of his main biographies (The life of Ramakrishna, 1929), which had an important impact on Western reception of Eastern spiritual conceptions. Contemplating examples from Ramakrishnas life through a phenomenological-hermeneutical reading of Rollands work (that range from his childhood to his period as a famous spiritual master in India), we will present, in each situation, different perspectives from authors that either consider Ramakrishna exclusively on a psychological-psychopathological note or through a perception of a spiritual dimension non-reducible to psychical dynamics inherent to his life and teachings. Within this framework, we have come to realize that there are inherent limitations on a solely psychological reading of mystical experience, as well as a limitation on an exclusively spiritual approach. Therefore, by presenting such discussion we intend to rethink the position mysticism and spirituality occupy in clinical practice, both to reformulate their understanding in psychotherapy and as a way of enlarging the anthropological conceptions inherent to clinical understanding of the human condition

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta tese investiga a contribuição de Michel Henry (1922-2002) para a clínica psicoterapêutica. Sua original fenomenologia da Vida aprofunda questões trazidas do diálogo entre Freud e Pfister. Parte I: Vida, obra e pensamento de Michel Henry: Sua crítica aos rumos do pensamento ocidental aponta efeitos da redução galileana que pelo monismo ontológico apenas considera verdadeiro o que é passível de ser representado ou visualizado. Esse é insuficiente para a compreensão da condição humana; Henry propõe o dualismo do aparecer e a inversão do método fenomenológico para abarcar a fenomenalização da vida que se doa como afeto na imanência. Como maior contribuição de Henry está o pioneirismo na investigação fenomenológica da condição autoafetiva do afeto. Parte II: O percurso de Henry pelo cristianismo como proposta fenomenológica de acesso à verdade da Vida: O cristianismo lega à filosofia um paradigma, ainda pouco explorado, de propor a compreensão da vida na inteligibilidade do Logos invisível que gera todo o visível. A condição humana é a de Filho, nascido na Vida absoluta; sua vida doada como um Si dado na passibilidade radical. Pela fenomenologia da encarnação se aprofunda a noção de pathos, com desdobramentos para a questão do sofrimento e da angústia. A condição humana é paradoxal na articulação entre a verdade visível e a invisível. Parte III: A leitura henryana da psicanálise: essa alberga a vida na aridez do pensamento ocidental, mas também sofre seus efeitos, inclusive nos conceitos fundamentais, especialmente na abordagem do afeto. Como contraponto à genealogia apontada por Henry se destaca o enraizamento judaico da psicanálise, que lhe permite manter o paradigma da irrepresentabilidade e da errância. Com Julia Kristeva indicamos a proximidade com as afirmações da fenomenologia do cristianismo. Ao final, volta-se à clínica e às contribuições da fenomenologia da Vida para a prática, no paradigma do duplo aparecer. / This thesis investigates Michel Henrys contribution to the psychotherapeutic clinical practice. His very original phenomenology of Life deepens questions raised in the dialogue between Freund and Pfister. Part 1: Life, Work and Thinking of Michel Henry. His criticism of the directions of Western thought points to effects of Galilean reductionism on ontological monism, which only considers true what can be represented or seen. This is insufficient to the understanding of the human condition; Henry proposes the dualism of appearance and the inversion of the phenomenological method in order to encompass the phenomenalization of the life that donates itself as affection in immanence. Henrys most important contribution is his pioneering phenomenological investigation of the self-affectional condition of affection. Part II: Henry's journey through Christianity as a phenomenological proposal of access to the truth of Life: Christianity bestows a paradigm to Philosophy, which is still little explored, proposing the understanding of life in the intelligibility of the invisible Logos that generates everything visible. The Human condition is that of Son, born in the absolute Life; his life donated as a Self given in radical passivity. Through the phenomenology of incarnation the notion of pathos is deepened, with consequences for the issues of suffering and anguish. The Human condition is paradoxical in this articulation between visible and invisible truth. Part III: The Henryan reading of Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis shelters life amidst the barrenness of Western thought, but is also affected by it, even in its fundamental concepts, especially its approach to affection. As a counterpoint to genealogy as described by Henry, the Jewish rooting of Psychoanalysis is highlighted, which allows him to maintain the paradigm of non-representability and of errancy. With Julia Kristeva we point to the proximity with the affirmations of the Phenomenology of Christianity. In the end, we return to the clinical setting and to the contributions of Phenomenology of Life to the praxis, in the paradigm of the double appearance.

Este estudo busca questionar algumas das bases epistemológicas da psicologia clínica em relação à espiritualidade e à mística. Partindo da discussão entre Freud e o escritor Francês Romain Rolland a respeito do sentimento oceânico (baseado na correspondência entre eles no período de 1927 a 1931), abordaremos a compreensão da natureza ontológica da experiência de união com o universo (como descrito por Rolland) em um duplo vértice: tanto como um subproduto de dinâmicas psicológicas (inerentemente patológicas ou não) ou como uma experiência ontológica de alteridade, mais bem compreendida através de uma abordagem não psicológica que possa investigar seu significado em consonância ao registro da condição humana em si. Nessa última perspectiva, estaremos acompanhados da obra de Gilberto Safra, que em seus escritos evidencia uma preocupação com a busca de uma concepção antropológica que aborde o ser humano em toda sua complexidade, evitando o possível reducionismo psicológico de temas e áreas que possam se relacionar a outras categorias de experiência, como a religiosidade e a espiritualidade. Como eixo central dessa discussão, utilizaremos a vida do místico Indiano Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) para ilustrar esses diferentes modos de se abordar a experiência espiritual. Ramakrishna foi uma das principais fontes das construções de Rolland acerca da religiosidade, levando o autor francês a escrever uma de suas principais biografias (A vida de Ramakrishna, 1929), que teve um importante impacto na recepção ocidental de concepções espirituais orientais. Contemplando exemplos da vida de Ramakrishna, através de uma leitura fenomenológica-hermenêutica da obra de Rolland (que abarcam desde sua infância até seu período como um famoso mestre espiritual na Índia), será apresentado, em cada um desses períodos, diferentes perspectivas de autores que consideram Ramakrishna tanto em uma chave psicológica-psicopatológica quanto em uma abordagem que inclua um registro espiritual não redutível a dinâmicas psíquicas em sua vida. Dentro desse estudo, nós percebemos que há uma limitação inerente às leituras exclusivamente psicológicas das experiências místicas, assim como uma há uma limitação das leituras exclusivamente espiritualistas. Assim, ao apresentar tal discussão nós pretendemos repensar a posição que a espiritualidade e a mística ocupam na prática clínica, tanto para reformular sua compreensão em psicoterapia quanto para expandir as concepções éticas e antropológicas subjacentes ao entendimento clínico da condição humana / This study aims at questioning some of the epistemological basis of clinical psychology concerning mystical experience and spirituality. Focusing on the discussion between Freud and French author Romain Rolland regarding the oceanic feeling (based on their letters exchange from 1927 to 1931), we will question the comprehension of the ontological nature of the feeling of union with the universe (as described by Rolland) through a twofold bias: either as a by-product of psychological dynamics (inherently pathological or not) or as an ontological experience of alterity, better comprehended through a non-psychological approach that investigates its inner meaning regarding the human condition as such. In the latter perspective, we will be accompanied by the work of Brazilian author Gilberto Safra, whose clinical writings are concerned with an anthropological conception that approaches the human being in its own complexity, avoiding possible psychological reductionism of themes and issues that relate to other areas of experience, such as religiosity and spirituality. As the main axis of this discussion, we will utilize the life of Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) to illustrate these two different ways of approaching spiritual experience. Ramakrishna has been himself one of the main sources of Rollands constructions on religiosity, leading the French author to write one of his main biographies (The life of Ramakrishna, 1929), which had an important impact on Western reception of Eastern spiritual conceptions. Contemplating examples from Ramakrishnas life through a phenomenological-hermeneutical reading of Rollands work (that range from his childhood to his period as a famous spiritual master in India), we will present, in each situation, different perspectives from authors that either consider Ramakrishna exclusively on a psychological-psychopathological note or through a perception of a spiritual dimension non-reducible to psychical dynamics inherent to his life and teachings. Within this framework, we have come to realize that there are inherent limitations on a solely psychological reading of mystical experience, as well as a limitation on an exclusively spiritual approach. Therefore, by presenting such discussion we intend to rethink the position mysticism and spirituality occupy in clinical practice, both to reformulate their understanding in psychotherapy and as a way of enlarging the anthropological conceptions inherent to clinical understanding of the human condition

The stated purpose of this research project was: 1. to provide a consensus definition of "religious orientation" as the term is currently being used by Marriage and Family therapists familiar with religious families. 2. to identify and prioritize clinicians' perceptions regarding the effects of religious orientation on "Well Family" functioning, both positively and negatively. 3. to develop descriptions of clinicians’ perceptions of dimensions of behavior which can be employed beneficially in marriage and family therapy with religiously-oriented families. In order to address those areas of inquiry, a Delphi methodology was employed, polling marriage and family therapists familiar with Religious Orientation in clinical practice, research and supervisory contexts. This research design is one which is useful in exploratory studies, following the data rather than attempting evaluate a preconceived hypothesis. Open-ended questions generated the initial data base which was subsequently refined and clarified through recursive re-evaluation of each suggested characteristic by the participant-panelists. The final profiles included only those characteristics identified as important or very important by at least 80% of the participants when describing the attributes under consideration. This study suggests that Religious Orientation can be a healthy, stabilizing, life-enhancing perspective about which many individuals and families organize their lives and experience. This study has identified and distinguished between many specific characteristics of both healthy and unhealthy Religious Orientation for individuals and families. Assets of Religious Orientation to the therapeutic process and well-family functioning were also specifically identified. The general omission of Religious Orientation from marriage and family therapy training, supervision and research was addressed from historical and epistemological perspectives. Recommendations for inclusion of Religious Orientation as a significant paradigm were offered, as were recommendations for further research. / Ph. D.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Religion)--Vanderbilt University, May 2007. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-02-15T18:21:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 rafaelfernandesdemello.pdf: 930069 bytes, checksum: 97a58d172e2e9e3e6e5f419d1f9858da (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-02-26T12:28:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 rafaelfernandesdemello.pdf: 930069 bytes, checksum: 97a58d172e2e9e3e6e5f419d1f9858da (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-26T12:28:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rafaelfernandesdemello.pdf: 930069 bytes, checksum: 97a58d172e2e9e3e6e5f419d1f9858da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-22 / Este trabalho apresenta-se como um ponto de reflexão a respeito da interface psicanálise e religião, a partir do diálogo entre Sigmund Freud e o pastor psicanalista Oskar Pfister. Serão analisados os conceitos de ciência e de religião a que ambos se referem em suas arguições nas obras O futuro de uma ilusão e a Ilusão de um futuro, respectivamente. Esta pesquisa busca entender a forma como os teóricos pensam a cultura, e a relação que o homem estabelece, por meio dela, com a religião. No conceito de ilusão, buscar-se-á compreender o papel que ela exerce na crença; e no conceito de sublimação, os processos culturais para a formação do fenômeno religioso, bem como a transformação da pulsão sexual em valores superiores. Como contribuição final para este diálogo, Carlos Dominguez Morano e Antoine Vergote farão uma retomada dos conceitos freudianos de ilusão e de sublimação, respectivamente, apontando seus pontos relevantes para a relação do homem com a experiência religiosa. / This work is presented as a point of reflection on the interface between psychoanalysis and religion, based on the dialogue between Sigmund Freud and the psychoanalyst pastor Oskar Pfister. There shall be analyzed the concepts of science and religion referred by both authors in their argumentation in the respective works The future of an illusion and The illusion of a future. This research aims to understand the way those theorists think of culture and its role in the relationship which man establishes with religion. Regarding the concept of illusion, we shall seek to understand its role towards belief, while regarding the concept of sublimation, the cultural processes towards the formation of the religious phenomenon, as well as the transformation of the sexual drive into superior values. As a final contribution to this dialogue, Carlos Dominguez Morano and Antoine Vergote shall reappropriate the Freudian concepts of illusion and sublimation, respectively, pointing to their relevant implications to the relationship between man and the religious experience.