Pathogenesis and pathoplasticity
- Pathogenesis describes how a problem arises - its biological, psychological and social causes.
- Pathoplasticity describes how a person shapes their relationship to the problem: what they do with anxiety, depression or illness, and how they can lessen what breaks them.
The term was popularised especially by Elisabeth Lukas. It is not an elegant word, but it touches the heart of logotherapy - the bit of human freedom towards one's own “baggage”.
Alternating diagnosis
The logotherapist diagnoses on two tracks: besides identifying causes, they look for resources and the space in which the patient can take a stand.
Three sources of problems
According to dimensional ontology, a problem may originate in:
| Source | Example | Role of therapy |
|---|---|---|
| somatogenic | bodily illness | psychotherapy as a supplement to treatment |
| psychogenic | psychological conflict, neurosis | psychotherapy as the method of choice |
| noogenic | crisis of meaning, value conflict | logotherapy particularly indicated |
See noogenic neurosis.
Sources
E. Lukas, H. Schönfeld, Psychotherapy with Dignity; E. Lukas, works on logotherapeutic practice; V. E. Frankl, Homo patiens.