Meaning in Life and Logotherapy
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Questions and Answers

The manuscript of my first book, which I had hidden in my coat when I arrived at ______, would ever be rescued.

Auschwitz

I had to undergo and to overcome the loss of my mental ______.

child

Their question was, 'Will we survive the ______?'

camp

The question which beset me was, 'Has all this suffering, this dying around us, a ______?'

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

One solution to every ______.

<p>problem</p> Signup and view all the answers

High mattering is experienced when we feel that our life, goals or actions make a ______.

<p>difference</p> Signup and view all the answers

Low mattering occurs when we feel that our existence carries little ______.

<p>significance</p> Signup and view all the answers

Wong (2012a) argued that, without having a sense of ______, people would experience life as 'being on a ship without a rudder.'

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

Terror Management Theory suggests that our need to create ______ occurs on the back of our existential understanding that our existence is temporary.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

Becker (1973) argued that in order to cope with aspects of life such as suffering, inadequacy and ______.

<p>death</p> Signup and view all the answers

The search for meaning in life is often triggered by an existential ______.

<p>crisis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Finding areas of dissatisfaction can trigger a renewed search for ______.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

Large-scale studies show a positive relationship between meaning in life and educational and financial ______.

<p>resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

The difference between meaning of life and meaning in life is an important ______.

<p>distinction</p> Signup and view all the answers

Frankl is widely credited as being a ______ in the study of meaning.

<p>forerunner</p> Signup and view all the answers

Frankl developed a meaning-centred therapeutic approach called ______.

<p>Logotherapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

The first way of finding meaning in life is by __________ something.

<p>achievement</p> Signup and view all the answers

Meaning in life is defined by the degree to which an individual experiences their life as ______.

<p>making sense</p> Signup and view all the answers

Experiencing goodness, truth, and beauty is a way of finding meaning in __________.

<p>life</p> Signup and view all the answers

The cognitive facet of meaning in life is referred to as ______.

<p>comprehension</p> Signup and view all the answers

Purpose is the ______ component of meaning in life.

<p>behavioral</p> Signup and view all the answers

Love allows us to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his __________.

<p>personality</p> Signup and view all the answers

By loving someone, we enable them to __________ their potentialities.

<p>actualize</p> Signup and view all the answers

When experiencing high comprehension, life feels clear and ______.

<p>coherent</p> Signup and view all the answers

Low purpose manifests itself in a sense of ______.

<p>aimlessness</p> Signup and view all the answers

The third way of finding meaning in life is by __________.

<p>suffering</p> Signup and view all the answers

Transforming a personal tragedy into a __________ is a uniquely human potential.

<p>triumph</p> Signup and view all the answers

When faced with inescapable fate, we are challenged to change __________.

<p>ourselves</p> Signup and view all the answers

The elderly general practitioner struggled with depression after the loss of his __________.

<p>wife</p> Signup and view all the answers

Frankl believes that having a ______ to live can help one endure any situation.

<p>why</p> Signup and view all the answers

Logotherapy is focused on the ______ of human existence.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to logotherapy, striving to find a ______ in one's life is the primary motivational force.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'Logotherapy' is derived from the Greek word ______, which means meaning.

<p>Logos</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the concentration camp, every circumstance tries to make the prisoner lose his ______.

<p>hold</p> Signup and view all the answers

A survey revealed that 78 percent of students considered finding a ______ and meaning to their life very important.

<p>purpose</p> Signup and view all the answers

Logotherapy contrasts with Freudian psychoanalysis, which focuses on the pleasure ______.

<p>principle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Frankl’s method is less ______ compared to traditional psychoanalysis.

<p>retrospective</p> Signup and view all the answers

When there is lack of awareness of a meaning worth living for, they are caught in the situation known as the 'existential ______.'

<p>vacuum</p> Signup and view all the answers

The specific meaning of a person's life usually differs from man to man, from day to day, and from hour to ______.

<p>hour</p> Signup and view all the answers

To search for an abstract meaning of life is compared to asking a chess champion what is the best move in the ______.

<p>world</p> Signup and view all the answers

Everyone has his own specific ______ or mission in life to carry out.

<p>vocation</p> Signup and view all the answers

The meaning of life is directed towards something or someone other than oneself, reflecting the essence of human ______.

<p>existence</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to logotherapy, we can discover the meaning of life by creating a work, experiencing something, or through our ______ toward unavoidable suffering.

<p>attitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

The more one forgets himself by giving to a cause, the more human he becomes and the more he ______ himself.

<p>actualizes</p> Signup and view all the answers

The meaning of life always ______ but never ceases to exist.

<p>changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Meaning in life

The degree to which someone feels their life has meaning, purpose, and value. It involves understanding their life, being driven by worthy goals, and feeling important in the world.

Meaning of life

A question about the ultimate reason for human existence, often dealt with in theology.

Comprehension (meaning in life)

The cognitive aspect of meaning in life; the understanding of one's life and whether it feels coherent and making sense.

Purpose (meaning in life)

The behavioral aspect of meaning in life; having clear goals and directions, and feeling driven by these goals.

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Logotherapy

A meaning-centered therapy developed by Viktor Frankl, emphasizing finding meaning in life and purpose.

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Viktor Frankl

A psychiatrist who survived a Nazi concentration camp and developed Logotherapy.

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Existential Psychology

Focuses on the meaning and purpose of human existence, including topics like freedom, responsibility, and meaning in life.

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Positive Psychology

A branch of psychology focused on understanding and promoting well-being, positive emotions, and strengths.

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Existential Vacuum

A state of emptiness and lack of meaning in life, where individuals feel a void within themselves.

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Specific Meaning

The unique meaning of life for each individual, which can change over time.

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Vocation or Mission

The specific role or purpose that each individual is meant to fulfill in life.

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Essence of Existence

The fundamental nature of being human, which involves finding meaning beyond oneself, whether through a cause or another person.

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Creating Meaning

Finding meaning through creative endeavors, achievements, or contributions.

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Experiencing Meaning

Finding meaning through encounters, relationships, or experiences that enrich our lives.

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Mattering

The emotional feeling that one's existence is significant and has value or impact.

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Need to assign meaning

An innate human desire to ascribe meaning to experiences, people, and events.

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Existential Crisis

A significant event or period of reflection triggering a search for meaning, often in response to a major life change (death, loss, etc.)

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Meaning Mindset

The capacity for self-reflection, awareness, and evaluation needed for finding meaning in life.

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Sources of meaning

Various factors contributing to a sense of purpose, like achievement, relationships, or spirituality.

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Socioeconomic status & meaning

Studies show a positive link between resources (education, finances) and a sense of meaning in life.

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Death anxiety

Fear or anxiety related to the inevitability of death which drives the need to find meaning.

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Will to Meaning

The fundamental human drive to find purpose and meaning in life, according to logotherapy.

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Concentration camp survival

The ability to endure extreme circumstances by clinging to images of loved ones, faith, humor, and nature, while focusing on future meaning.

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Logotherapy: Future Focus

Logotherapy focuses on the patient’s future and the meaning they can fulfill, contrasting with therapies that focus on the past.

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Logos (Greek)

Greek word meaning "meaning".

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Will to Pleasure

A concept in psychoanalysis opposing the will to meaning, concerned with seeking pleasure and gratification.

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Student Goal (study)

In a study, 78% of students prioritised finding a life purpose and meaning, reflecting the importance of a sense of purpose.

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Meaning through Achievement

Finding meaning in life by accomplishing goals, creating things, and making a contribution.

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Meaning through Experience

Finding meaning in life by experiencing beauty, goodness, truth, and connection with others.

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Loving Another

Seeing the true essence of a person and helping them reach their full potential through love.

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Meaning through Suffering

Finding meaning in facing a difficult fate, such as an incurable illness, by transforming adversity into a personal triumph.

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Turning Tragedy into Triumph

The ability to find meaning and growth even in the face of suffering, by turning a negative experience into a positive one.

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Changing Yourself

When faced with a situation you can't change, finding meaning by changing your perspective or approach.

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Facing the Loss of a Loved One

Logotherapy helps people find meaning in life after losing a loved one by focusing on their unique relationship and the positive memories they shared.

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Meaning in Suffering

The question of whether there is inherent meaning in suffering, particularly in the face of hardship and loss.

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Viktor Frankl's Question

The question of whether life holds meaning even when surrounded by death and suffering, challenging the idea that life's meaning only comes from external factors.

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Mental Child?

Frankl's metaphorical representation of his hopes and dreams for the future, symbolized by his manuscript. He asks if his life has meaning if his 'child' (his aspirations) can't survive.

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Surrendering Clothes

Frankl's realization that his identity, even his clothes, could be stripped from him in the concentration camp.

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Study Notes

Meaning in Life

  • Meaning of life vs. meaning in life:
    • Meaning of life is a theological question (Why are we here?)
    • Meaning in life is a psychological question (What makes our lives meaningful?)
  • Frankl (1963) is a forerunner of meaning studies
    • Survived Nazi concentration camp
    • Found meaning during ordeal
    • Developed Logotherapy (1986)
  • Logotherapy: meaning-centered approach.
  • Later work by Steger (2012) and Wong (2012a) & colleagues developed the concept theoretically and empirically
    • Developed Meaning-Centered Counselling and Therapy model
  • Meaning in life is a fundamental topic in existential psychology and incorporated into positive psychology wellbeing models
  • Definition: The degree to which an individual finds their life meaningful (King, Heintzelman, & Ward, 2016)
    • Sense of coherence (comprehension)
    • Sense of direction / purposeful action (purpose)
    • Sense of mattering
  • Meaning in life is linked to:
    • Higher wellbeing, happiness, vitality, morale, sense of control, autonomy, environmental mastery, positive perceptions of the world, religious affiliation, and spirituality.
    • Improved health outcomes
    • Relationships (relatedness, sense of belonging, closeness, family support, and social appeal)

Significance of Meaning in Life

  • Lack of meaning is correlated with:

    • Negative affect
    • Rumination
    • Adverse life events
    • Hassles and grief
    • Stress, hostility,
    • Mental health conditions (depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, substance abuse, PTSD)
  • Meaning in life shapes perception, action, and goal striving and highlights its importance in wellbeing models.

    • Feeling that life is to be lived, as one who is needed & that what is lived is important

Need to Assign Meaning

  • Innate need to ascribe meaning to events, experiences, people (Frankl, 1986)
  • Terror Management theory (Becker, 1973) : meaning exists for managing death anxiety and maintaining psychological security
    • People ascribe meaning to life events to cope with loss and death concerns

The Quest for a Meaningful Life

  • Meaning in life is a dynamic experience, often triggered by existential crises (Wong, 2010)
    • Facing death, tragedy, misfortune, major crossroads
  • Meaning is inherently subjective
    • One's own unique approach to meaning is essential
  • Requires a meaning mindset, capacity for reflection, self-awareness, and self-evaluation
    • Self evaluation & personal changes are needed to attain true meaning

Sources of Meaning

  • Achievement/fulfillment/Relationship/Intimacy; Religion/Spirituality; Self-Transcendence/Altruism; Self-Acceptance; Fairness/Respect.
  • Socioeconomic status affects meaning in life (Ward & King, 2016)
    • Higher socioeconomic status is correlated with greater feelings of meaning in life
  • Meaning is positively related to resources (e.g., educational & financial resources)

The Benefits of Meaning in Life

  • High meaning in life is associated with wellbeing as well as a variety of other positive outcomes.
  • Meaning in life has been correlated with wellbeing, happiness, vitality, high morale.

Logotherapy: Historical Context

  • Viktor Frankl: Developed Logotherapy
    • Faced Nazi concentration camp experiences
    • Found meaning through his experience
    • Saw the importance of finding meaning to survive

Logotherapy: The Will to Meaning

  • Primary motivational force is to find meaning.
    • Stresses on will to meaning instead of the Freudian pleasure principle or the Adlerian will to power.
    • Meaning seeking could lead to inner tension but is essential to mental health.
  • Meaning in life and suffering
    • Can gain meaning even with suffering.
    • Suffering is not necessary but has meaning in finding oneself
  • Case studies illustrate Logotherapy in practice . A significant part of the study is on the case studies of patients and their experiences.
    • Helped a man cope with the loss of his wife

Logotherapy: The Meaning of Love

  • Love is the only way to grasp another person's personality and to see their essential traits.
  • Enables actualization of potential meaning
  • Love is another approach to finding one's meaning

Logotherapy: The Meaning of Suffering

  • Suffering may be necessary to discover a unique meaning.
  • Challenges to change oneself as a result of unavoidable suffering.
  • Facing suffering leads to the discovery of personal meaning and achievement.

Logotherapy: Criticism

  • One solution to every problem
    • Authoritarian approach

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Related Documents

Meaning in Life PowerPoint PDF

Description

Explore the concepts of meaning in life and meaning of life through the lens of existential and positive psychology. Learn about Frankl's Logotherapy, its development, and the later work by Steger and Wong in meaning studies. This quiz covers key theories, definitions, and their implications on wellbeing.

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