Encounter (psychology)
Encyclopedia
The term "encounter", in the context of existential-humanism (like existential therapy
), has the specific meaning of an authentic, congruent meeting between individuals.
Existential therapy
Existential psychotherapy is a philosophical method of therapy that operates on the belief that inner conflict within a person is due to that individual's confrontation with the givens of existence. These givens, as noted by Irvin D...
), has the specific meaning of an authentic, congruent meeting between individuals.
Examples
Some uses of the concept of encountering:- Martin BuberMartin BuberMartin Buber was an Austrian-born Jewish philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a form of religious existentialism centered on the distinction between the I-Thou relationship and the I-It relationship....
frequently uses this term and associated ideas. - Irvin Yalom in his book "Existential Psychotherapy".
- Carl RogersCarl RogersCarl Ransom Rogers was an influential American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach to psychology...
, in encounter groups and person-centered psychotherapyPerson-centered psychotherapyPerson-centered therapy is also known as person-centered psychotherapy, person-centered counseling, client-centered therapy and Rogerian psychotherapy. PCT is a form of talk-psychotherapy developed by psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s...
. - Jerzy GrotowskiJerzy GrotowskiJerzy Grotowski was a Polish theatre director and innovator of experimental theatre, the "theatre laboratory" and "poor theatre" concepts....
's notion of a "poor theatre" – "The core of the theatre is an encounter". - R D Laing contrasts encounter with collusionCollusionCollusion is an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage...
in much of his work, especially Self and Others.