Background
Victor E. Frankl, the man behind logotherapy, was a professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Vienna Medical School. Born on March 26, 1905, this Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist is well recognized for being the creator of logotherapy and for his psychological memoir, Man’s Search for Meaning (2006). He wrote 40 works that have been translated into 50 languages, proving that racial, cultural, religious, and continental boundaries are not barriers to love, freedom, purpose, or responsibility. However, when Frankl and his family were sent to a Nazi detention camp in 1942, his life took a dramatic turn. Drawing on his views and experiences while fighting to survive in the Nazi camp, he developed the notion of logotherapy, which held that people can persevere despite hardship by seeking purpose in life.
His most well-known memoir begins by detailing his own experience in the horrifying Auschwitz concentration camps. His three years in the camps became more than just a survival tale; Frankl is the epitome of resilience in the modern sense.
Logotherapy
Developed by Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, logotherapy is a type of psychotherapy. In logotherapy, the term “logos” denotes meaning or purpose, highlighting the main focus of this therapeutic method. Logotherapy is predicated on the notion that humans are motivated by a “will to meaning,” or an inner need to find purpose and meaning in life, as opposed to Freud’s “will to pleasure” and Adler’s “will to power” (Amelis & Dattilio, 2013).
Based on his conviction that the pursuit of meaning, even in the face of sorrow, can provide a resolution to human suffering, Viktor Frankl coined the term logotherapy.
The American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Medical Society have all recognized logotherapy as a scientifically grounded school of psychotherapy (Schulenberg, Hutzell, Nassif, and Rogina, 2008).
According to Rajeswari (2015), the heart of Frankl’s philosophy has three essential properties:
- Everybody has a sound center within them.
- Teaching someone to use their own core and educating them about their inner resources are the main goals.
- Life gives meaning and purpose, but it does not guarantee contentment or pleasure.
Discovering Meaning with Logotherapy
According to logotherapy, a person’s primary source of motivation is their search for purpose in life.
It highlights that people can discover meaning in their attitudes, decisions, and actions, and that life can have purpose even in the midst of hardship.
Helping people find and follow their own sense of meaning and purpose in life is the main objective of logotherapy.
It examines existential issues such as the pursuit of morality, personal accountability, and purpose.
Frankl identified three methods for finding the purpose of life:
- By producing an artwork or completing a task.
- By genuinely embracing something or loving someone.
- By the perspective one takes on inevitable suffering.
Frankl also believed that by identifying one’s unique purpose in life, a person could find meaning in their existence. An often-cited example that clarifies Frankl’s method involves an elderly general practitioner. The old man had lost his wife and was suffering from despair. Frankl demonstrated to him how his wife’s passing had ultimately protected her from losing him, allowing the old man to realize that his experiences had safeguarded her. This shift in perspective gave his pain purpose and significantly reduced his despair.
The core tenets of logotherapy include finding meaning in relationships and one’s contributions to society, transcending oneself, and establishing a connection with something greater than oneself. The main reason to live is to discover meaning or the drive to find meaning. Each person’s search for meaning is distinct and can only be fulfilled by that individual. Frankl emphasized that engagement with people and the outside world are the genuine means of discovering one’s life’s purpose, rather than relying solely on introspection. Assigning someone a task they may find meaningful stimulates their drive for significance (Graber, 2004, p. 65).
Assumptions
- Body, Mind, and Spirit
The body (soma), intellect (psyche), and spirit (noos) comprise the human being. Frankl believed that although we have a body and a mind, our spirit is what makes us who we are and what makes us whole. Frankl’s thesis was not inspired by theology; however, this assumption departs from atheistic materialism and shares similarities with some religious ideas. - Life Has Meaning Even in the Most Miserable Circumstances
This presumption admits that there is a greater order in the universe—one that transcends simple human laws. Thus, there can be significance even in situations that are objectively horrible. - Humans’ Primary Motivation is the Will to Meaning
According to the theory proposed by logotherapy, people have a will for meaning; thus, understanding why they suffer can help them cope with it. This assumption represents a significant divergence from the desire for pleasure and power, arguing that finding purpose in life is the main reason to live. The will-to-meaning is “the basic striving of man to find meaning and purpose” (Frankl, 1969, p. 35). - Freedom to Access the Will and Find Meaning
People are free to exercise their will to find meaning in any situation. One’s resolve to find significance in any circumstance can be empowered by making a positive adjustment to their perspective toward unavoidable pain. Frankl’s own experiences in the Nazi camps are a major source of inspiration for this notion. - Meaning of the Moment
The significance of a person’s choice is determined by their response. One can find significance in their decisions by adhering to their conscience or paying attention to societal ideals. This assumption relates to the importance of the present in real-world, practical, everyday existence, rather than to ultimate meaning. - Individuals are Unique and Irreplaceable
Humans face distinct situations due to the diverse needs of life. They are also continually seeking purpose.
Methods of Logotherapy
- De-reflection
This tactic is employed when someone is too fixated on a problem or the achievement of a goal. The individual can feel fulfilled by thinking about others instead of themselves, or by de-reflecting, which involves refocusing attention away from the self. According to this method, changing one’s focus and showing concern for those around oneself can greatly improve one’s circumstances when one is self-absorbed and facing difficulties in life. - Paradoxical Intention
In logotherapy, paradoxical intention refers to a practice where a client consciously participates in or magnifies the behavior or symptom they wish to change in order to conquer the issue or lessen anxiety by facing it head-on. The main goal of using paradoxical intention is to overcome fear by anticipating the source of one’s anxiety. For example, one may hope that their anxiety will diminish by using humor and ridicule. This approach can also alleviate symptoms. - Socratic Dialogue
Using the practice of Socratic dialogue, the logo therapist guides the patient’s self-discovery using their own words. By paying close attention to what the individual says, the therapist can help the client uncover new meanings by pointing out word solutions or patterns. Through this process, one may come to realize that the solution lies within them, ready to be discovered. Additionally, one can use attitude adjustment alongside the first three methods. This method focuses more on changing how one feels about a situation than on changing behavior.
CRITICISM
Rollo May, often regarded as the father of the American existential movement, is a prominent critic of logotherapy. May contended that logotherapy is authoritarian because it implies that all issues have simple answers, and that Frankl provides meaning to those who use it when they are unable to come to their own conclusions. Aware of May’s critique, Frankl disputed the notion that logotherapy absolves the patient of responsibility, arguing instead that logotherapy teaches the patient about personal accountability.
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