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Crises of Meaning

Hyper-intention and hyper-reflection

Two neurosis-generating mechanisms: excessive wanting (hyper-intention) and excessive self-observation (hyper-reflection). Both thwart what we strive for.

Hyper-intention

Hyper-intention is an excessive, forced striving for a goal that by its nature can only be a by-product - e.g. sleep, sexual pleasure, happiness, spontaneity. The harder someone tries to fall asleep, the harder it becomes.

Hyper-reflection

Hyper-reflection is excessive self-observation: of one's symptoms, reactions, performance. For example, someone closely monitors their heartbeat and precisely because of that falls into anxiety.

Anticipatory anxiety

Both spirals are driven by anticipatory anxiety - fear of a symptom that itself produces the symptom. Whoever fears blushing blushes more often.

The logotherapeutic answer

Sources

Wikipedia: Logotherapy; V. E. Frankl, Theory and Therapy of Neuroses.

See also