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1980:366-374). Logotherapists, on the other hand, will also target negative
symptoms in implementing modification ofattitudes. In fact, they will start with the
negativesymptoms and then proceed to the causes for these symptoms. Then, after
identifying the causes, they will redirect the "thought-processes"ofthe client/patient
away fromthese problematic symptoms to somethingpositive/meaningful. However,
this redirection only occurs after the client/patientbas made a choice to change.
Insight-oriented therapies like traditionalpsychoanalysisand contemporarypsycho­
dynamic therapies lack the more direct and even confrontational approach that is
present in logotherapeutic circles when modification ofattitudes are implemented.
Both branches of this therapy focus on searching for underlyingcauses of maladap­
tion and seek insightas a path to improveadjustment (Kendall & Hammen 1995:
67). This emphasis on the past, in order to discover the reasons for the present state
ofaffairs, is lackingin logotherapy. What is really ofmore importance for logothe­
rapists, is your attitudein this situation.
The emphaseson early childhood developmentalstages (developmental psycholo­
gists), the bonds between the present and the past (psychoanalysts), and even past
conditioning experiences(behaviorists)that are cmciaI in understandingthe present
state ofaffairs in a person's/client's life (Hjelle & Ziegler 1992:252), are not opera­
ting stronglyin this logotherapeutic technique.
Although it is up to the individuallogotherapist to ask questions about the past of
their client's!patient's or not, this type ofmodus operandi is not regarded as neces­
sary to changethe patient's!client's attitude(s). The outstandingthing is that it is the
client/patientwho must decide in a given situationwhat his/her attitudelbehavior will
be. No past and/or environmental matter is bigger than the transcendental power that
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