By: Amber Ferron, Haylee Meyer and Marlene West
Viktor Frankl: A Man’s Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) Accomplished psychologist
and neurologistHolocaust survivor
Lost wife and family Wrote “mans search for
meaning” Earned Ph.D in Philosophy Developed Logotherapy
Born in Vienna, Austria on March 26, 19051930 earned medical degree 1938 Nazis seized Austria – forced to head
Rothschild Hospital 1942 married first wife, Tilly9 months later Frankl, wife and family sent to
Theresienstadt concentration campWife, parents and other immediate family
members killed in concentration camp1946 published “ Man’s Search for Meaning”
1947 married second wife, Eleonore1959 English version of Logotherapy book
published – Revised in 1963 to “The Doctor and the soul: An introduction to Logotherapy”
Awarded the American Psychiatric Associations Prestigious Oskar Pfister Prize
Awarded 29 doctorates from many universities world wide
LogotherapyForm of psychotherapy used to help patients find meaning in their lives
Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones.
Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life
We have freedom to find meaning in what we do and what we experience.
“It is the striving to find a meaning in one’s life that is the primary, most powerful motivating and driving force in humans” – Viktor Frankl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CTNpx8mFKas
Work, Love , Attitude:Working with other prisoners
around himLove and hope of survival for his
wifeStaying positive about the future
(Wong, 2007).
Searching for Meaning Logotherapy
"Has all this suffering, all this dying around us, a meaning? For, if not, then ultimately there is no meaning to survival” –Viktor Frankl
Not denying grief or rage that come from suffering
Viewing suffering as an experienceTurn life's predicaments into achievements(Pattakos, 2008).
Meaning Through Suffering
Pattakos , A. (2008). Our Crisis of Meaning. Retrieved from http://globaldialoguecenter.blogs.com/meaning/007/12/our-crisis-of-m.html
Wong, P. (2007). International Network on Personal Meaning. Retrieved from http://www.meaning.ca/archives/archive/art_logotherapy_P_Wong.htm
References