L'Intention Paradoxale Et Techniques Comportementales Similaires En Psychotherapie a Court Terme

Abstract

The logotherapeutic technique of paradoxical intention and several behaviour therapy techniques use almost identical ways in treating patients with phobias, obsessions and other anxiety states. These consist of confronting the patient with his anxiety and/or avoidance (ritual), eliciting situations, discouraging overreaction to symptoms and encouraging alternative activities. Patients learn different ways of coping during the confrontation (exposure) trials, and therapists also use a variety of ways to motivate the patients

Frankl has claimed for many years that humour is a particularly helpful device to motivate patients for such a treatment and to get them to do the exercises properly. It was found in a group experiment with behaviour therapy for agoraphobics that patients in groups used humour spontaneously as one of their main coping mechanisms. The use of humour as an auxiliary in paradoxical intention and behaviour therapy techniques is therefore reconsidered, with particular emphasis on Frankl's theoretical framework.