Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach
The clinical presentation of obsessive–compulsive patients is characterized by unwanted, intrusive, nonsensical, self-related, and recurrent ideas, thoughts, images, or impulses associated with active compulsive compensations. Under the operational diagnostic criteria adopted by the biological- and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1211598/full |
| _version_ | 1797692385244741632 |
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| author | Lívia Fukuda Melissa Tamelini Guilherme Messas Guilherme Messas |
| author_facet | Lívia Fukuda Melissa Tamelini Guilherme Messas Guilherme Messas |
| author_sort | Lívia Fukuda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The clinical presentation of obsessive–compulsive patients is characterized by unwanted, intrusive, nonsensical, self-related, and recurrent ideas, thoughts, images, or impulses associated with active compulsive compensations. Under the operational diagnostic criteria adopted by the biological- and cognitive-oriented neopositivist medical paradigm, it is known as “obsessive–compulsive disorder.” However, this paradigm has been criticized for its controversial assumptions, limited methodologies, theoretic biases, and inconsistency in producing practical outcomes. To bypass some of these issues, we propose a complementary approach that draws on and further develops existing psychopathological studies of the obsessive–compulsive anthropological condition based on dialectical phenomenological psychopathology. As such, we refer to the global clinical configuration as the “obsessive–compulsive existential type.” Our theoretical inspiration comes from the classical phenomenological work on obsessions undertaken by Straus and Gebsattel, which identified the negative transformation of the obsessive–compulsive life-world or the endogenous emergence of the anti-eidos (diluting existential force). We then propose to broaden the concept of anti-eidos, especially in its dialectical correlation with eidos (unifying existential force), representing the existential dialectic between transformation and permanence. Next, we detail the dynamics of anthropological disproportions in obsessive–compulsive existential type, essentially the supremacy of the anti-eidos over the eidos. This primary imbalance modifies the obsessive–compulsive existential structure, consisting of polymorphic temporality; weakened intentionality; maladjusted calibration of distance with the world and others; an integral, isolated, besieged self with dwindling self-agency, and tense and over-protecting embodiment. We also analyze compensatory hyperreflexivity and compulsive rituals as expressions of structural counterbalancing designed to contain the primary structural disproportions and derangements. The heterogeneous obsessive–compulsive clinical manifestations are the complex result of the primary structural alteration and subsequent phenomenological compensations. They tend to be variable in temporal span and rarely assume a fixed form, hindering diagnosis. We correlate structural frameworks with multiple clinical examples. Finally, we raise some insights on how our study may contribute to scientific research and therapeutic proposals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:26:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3da6e10f9acf48c3b6ad16054355c30c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:26:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3da6e10f9acf48c3b6ad16054355c30c2023-09-05T11:47:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-09-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12115981211598Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approachLívia Fukuda0Melissa Tamelini1Guilherme Messas2Guilherme Messas3Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilInstituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilFaculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilThe Collaborating Center for Values-Based Practice, St Catherine’s College, Oxford, United KingdomThe clinical presentation of obsessive–compulsive patients is characterized by unwanted, intrusive, nonsensical, self-related, and recurrent ideas, thoughts, images, or impulses associated with active compulsive compensations. Under the operational diagnostic criteria adopted by the biological- and cognitive-oriented neopositivist medical paradigm, it is known as “obsessive–compulsive disorder.” However, this paradigm has been criticized for its controversial assumptions, limited methodologies, theoretic biases, and inconsistency in producing practical outcomes. To bypass some of these issues, we propose a complementary approach that draws on and further develops existing psychopathological studies of the obsessive–compulsive anthropological condition based on dialectical phenomenological psychopathology. As such, we refer to the global clinical configuration as the “obsessive–compulsive existential type.” Our theoretical inspiration comes from the classical phenomenological work on obsessions undertaken by Straus and Gebsattel, which identified the negative transformation of the obsessive–compulsive life-world or the endogenous emergence of the anti-eidos (diluting existential force). We then propose to broaden the concept of anti-eidos, especially in its dialectical correlation with eidos (unifying existential force), representing the existential dialectic between transformation and permanence. Next, we detail the dynamics of anthropological disproportions in obsessive–compulsive existential type, essentially the supremacy of the anti-eidos over the eidos. This primary imbalance modifies the obsessive–compulsive existential structure, consisting of polymorphic temporality; weakened intentionality; maladjusted calibration of distance with the world and others; an integral, isolated, besieged self with dwindling self-agency, and tense and over-protecting embodiment. We also analyze compensatory hyperreflexivity and compulsive rituals as expressions of structural counterbalancing designed to contain the primary structural disproportions and derangements. The heterogeneous obsessive–compulsive clinical manifestations are the complex result of the primary structural alteration and subsequent phenomenological compensations. They tend to be variable in temporal span and rarely assume a fixed form, hindering diagnosis. We correlate structural frameworks with multiple clinical examples. Finally, we raise some insights on how our study may contribute to scientific research and therapeutic proposals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1211598/fullobsessive–compulsive existential typeobsessive–compulsive disorderdialectical phenomenological psychopathologyanthropological disproportionsphenomenologydialectics |
| spellingShingle | Lívia Fukuda Melissa Tamelini Guilherme Messas Guilherme Messas Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach Frontiers in Psychology obsessive–compulsive existential type obsessive–compulsive disorder dialectical phenomenological psychopathology anthropological disproportions phenomenology dialectics |
| title | Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach |
| title_full | Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach |
| title_fullStr | Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach |
| title_short | Obsessive–compulsive existential type: a dialectical-phenomenological approach |
| title_sort | obsessive compulsive existential type a dialectical phenomenological approach |
| topic | obsessive–compulsive existential type obsessive–compulsive disorder dialectical phenomenological psychopathology anthropological disproportions phenomenology dialectics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1211598/full |
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