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