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"object" or "target" ofthis search. Logotherapists look for some "symbolicpast ex­
perience that is meaningful", while psychoanalysts look for symptoms and/or pro­
blems that were deeplyrooted in early childhoodexperiences, motivatedby uncons­
cious factors (Hjelle & Ziegler 1992:120).
Froma psychodynamic point ofview, especiallyfrom an objectrelational view point,
the purpose ofgaining insight about internalrepresentations ofsignificant others and
developmental changesin the patient's/client's way ofviewinginterpersonalrela­
tions, is lacking. There is "insight" in the sense that the patient/clientdiscovers that
there is meaning to be found in an experiencedsymbol,but there is no particular in­
sight in the important role oftransferenceand counter-transference issues that are
centralfor object relationspersonologists (Kernberg 1976 & 1986).
From an ego psychological point ofview (Hartmann 1939), logotherapists do no take
the conflict-resolving functions ofthe ego thoroughly enough into account in the
healingprocess. The logotherapeutic aim or purpose is rather simple. Just find an
experienced symboland elevate the patient/clientto a cognitive level where he/she
will discoverthat there is something meaningful in the past symbolicexperience that
can assist hiin/herto transcend to a new better present and future lifellifestyle. Ego
psychologists would argue thathumanbeings are far more too complexto simply ef­
fect real changein the life ofa patient/clientby simply discovering"past meaningful
experiential symbols."
Interpersonal personologists like Harry Stack Sullivan (1953) would also criticize the
way this logotherapeutic technique operates because "symbolic meaningful experien­
ces" cannot be separated from social phenomenathat are very often, for example,
rooted in parent-childrelationships(Kendall & Hammen 1995:71). Althoughlogo-
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