Existential Dissonance: A Dimension of Inauthenticity

Date of Award

Fall 11-21-2015

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Peter Buirski

Second Advisor

Jennifer Cornish

Third Advisor

Charles Kentnor

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Existential, Dissonance, Authenticity, Inauthenticity

Abstract

This paper will initially review integral concepts found within Heidegger’s understanding of existence or being - namely the dialectic between authentic and inauthentic living, and by extension, existential guilt, anxiety, and regret. Next, I will discuss a particular dimension of inauthenticity found at the intersection of existential guilt and regret, termed existential dissonance. This term, adapted from Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance will serve to illuminate several clinical phenomena. To ground this concept further, I will provide two case examples that further express and clarify this concept.

Copyright Date

11-18-2015

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Garry (Trey) Cole III

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

15 pgs

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