Existential Psychoanalytic Theory and Life

Department - LART
Offered - Fall
Course number - LSOC-P451

The course examines psychoanalysis and existential therapy. Students learn both traditional and current developments in the field. Students will review of the work of Sigmund Freud, Medard Boss, Rollo May, and Viktor Frankl. Key questions for exploration include: Why do people do the things that they do? How can we free ourselves from our compulsion to repeat? We will explore the powerful forces that compel us to "act out" unconscious scripts. Issues covered will include: the repetition compulsion of addiction, the tyranny of anxiety and fear, the possibility of purpose, freedom and responsibility, love and will, and the relationship between "dreaming" and authentic living. A willingness to develop self-reflection is required.

Credits: 3
Course Chair: Darla Hanley
Prerequisites: LENG-111 and LSOC-211
Required of: None
Electable by: All