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or anypresentcircumstances can overcome this innerability ofman. However, it is
the responsibility ofmanto choosewhat will becomeofhimlher.
Behaviorists who denythat man has a free will and that he/sheis a definite product
ofthe environment, would disagreewith this scalethat tries to measure ifa patient/
client is experiencing an existential vacuumor not Skinner believedthat any form of
behavior is lawfully determined, predictable and environmentally controlled (Ras
1998:65). Thewholeidea ofmeasuring an existential "vacuum", that is present "so­
mewhere inside man", is not in line with Skinner's rejection ofan "inner autonomous
man", as the canse ofhumanactions and that also can findmeaning in life.
From a phenomenological-existential perspective the beliefis that meaning is to be
found in the subjective-existential world ofman. Becanse phenomenological
approaches share a respectfor the client's1patient's subjective experience and a trust
in the capacity ofthe client/patient to make positive and constructive conscious
choices, the measuring ofan "existential vacuum", in itself: is no problem (Brammer,
Abrego & Shostrom 1993:34). Criticism rather wouldbe focused on the meaning
that is attached to the term "meaning"and how it is measured.
Froma constructivistic-strategic point ofview (see Mahoney 1991: in toto) there
is no normal modelofindividual development or a "valid" way to live one's life.
"Each" personwith his/her"own story" ofreality(e.g. frustrations, problems) creates
and/orattachhislherown subjective meaningto someone/something - which inter
alia necessitates the measuring ofmatters like "existentialvacuums."
It seems, from a Gestaltpointofview, thatthe purpose ofthe EVS-scaleto measure
meaning and the existence or not ofan existential vacuum, does not pose a threat
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