Podcast
Questions and Answers
The manuscript of my first book, which I had hidden in my coat when I arrived at ______, would ever be rescued.
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 ______.
I had to undergo and to overcome the loss of my mental ______.
child
Their question was, 'Will we survive the ______?'
Their question was, 'Will we survive the ______?'
camp
The question which beset me was, 'Has all this suffering, this dying around us, a ______?'
The question which beset me was, 'Has all this suffering, this dying around us, a ______?'
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One solution to every ______.
One solution to every ______.
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High mattering is experienced when we feel that our life, goals or actions make a ______.
High mattering is experienced when we feel that our life, goals or actions make a ______.
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Low mattering occurs when we feel that our existence carries little ______.
Low mattering occurs when we feel that our existence carries little ______.
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Wong (2012a) argued that, without having a sense of ______, people would experience life as 'being on a ship without a rudder.'
Wong (2012a) argued that, without having a sense of ______, people would experience life as 'being on a ship without a rudder.'
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Terror Management Theory suggests that our need to create ______ occurs on the back of our existential understanding that our existence is temporary.
Terror Management Theory suggests that our need to create ______ occurs on the back of our existential understanding that our existence is temporary.
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Becker (1973) argued that in order to cope with aspects of life such as suffering, inadequacy and ______.
Becker (1973) argued that in order to cope with aspects of life such as suffering, inadequacy and ______.
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The search for meaning in life is often triggered by an existential ______.
The search for meaning in life is often triggered by an existential ______.
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Finding areas of dissatisfaction can trigger a renewed search for ______.
Finding areas of dissatisfaction can trigger a renewed search for ______.
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Large-scale studies show a positive relationship between meaning in life and educational and financial ______.
Large-scale studies show a positive relationship between meaning in life and educational and financial ______.
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The difference between meaning of life and meaning in life is an important ______.
The difference between meaning of life and meaning in life is an important ______.
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Frankl is widely credited as being a ______ in the study of meaning.
Frankl is widely credited as being a ______ in the study of meaning.
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Frankl developed a meaning-centred therapeutic approach called ______.
Frankl developed a meaning-centred therapeutic approach called ______.
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The first way of finding meaning in life is by __________ something.
The first way of finding meaning in life is by __________ something.
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Meaning in life is defined by the degree to which an individual experiences their life as ______.
Meaning in life is defined by the degree to which an individual experiences their life as ______.
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Experiencing goodness, truth, and beauty is a way of finding meaning in __________.
Experiencing goodness, truth, and beauty is a way of finding meaning in __________.
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The cognitive facet of meaning in life is referred to as ______.
The cognitive facet of meaning in life is referred to as ______.
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Purpose is the ______ component of meaning in life.
Purpose is the ______ component of meaning in life.
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Love allows us to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his __________.
Love allows us to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his __________.
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By loving someone, we enable them to __________ their potentialities.
By loving someone, we enable them to __________ their potentialities.
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When experiencing high comprehension, life feels clear and ______.
When experiencing high comprehension, life feels clear and ______.
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Low purpose manifests itself in a sense of ______.
Low purpose manifests itself in a sense of ______.
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The third way of finding meaning in life is by __________.
The third way of finding meaning in life is by __________.
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Transforming a personal tragedy into a __________ is a uniquely human potential.
Transforming a personal tragedy into a __________ is a uniquely human potential.
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When faced with inescapable fate, we are challenged to change __________.
When faced with inescapable fate, we are challenged to change __________.
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The elderly general practitioner struggled with depression after the loss of his __________.
The elderly general practitioner struggled with depression after the loss of his __________.
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Frankl believes that having a ______ to live can help one endure any situation.
Frankl believes that having a ______ to live can help one endure any situation.
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Logotherapy is focused on the ______ of human existence.
Logotherapy is focused on the ______ of human existence.
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According to logotherapy, striving to find a ______ in one's life is the primary motivational force.
According to logotherapy, striving to find a ______ in one's life is the primary motivational force.
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The term 'Logotherapy' is derived from the Greek word ______, which means meaning.
The term 'Logotherapy' is derived from the Greek word ______, which means meaning.
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In the concentration camp, every circumstance tries to make the prisoner lose his ______.
In the concentration camp, every circumstance tries to make the prisoner lose his ______.
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A survey revealed that 78 percent of students considered finding a ______ and meaning to their life very important.
A survey revealed that 78 percent of students considered finding a ______ and meaning to their life very important.
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Logotherapy contrasts with Freudian psychoanalysis, which focuses on the pleasure ______.
Logotherapy contrasts with Freudian psychoanalysis, which focuses on the pleasure ______.
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Frankl’s method is less ______ compared to traditional psychoanalysis.
Frankl’s method is less ______ compared to traditional psychoanalysis.
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When there is lack of awareness of a meaning worth living for, they are caught in the situation known as the 'existential ______.'
When there is lack of awareness of a meaning worth living for, they are caught in the situation known as the 'existential ______.'
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The specific meaning of a person's life usually differs from man to man, from day to day, and from hour to ______.
The specific meaning of a person's life usually differs from man to man, from day to day, and from hour to ______.
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To search for an abstract meaning of life is compared to asking a chess champion what is the best move in the ______.
To search for an abstract meaning of life is compared to asking a chess champion what is the best move in the ______.
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Everyone has his own specific ______ or mission in life to carry out.
Everyone has his own specific ______ or mission in life to carry out.
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The meaning of life is directed towards something or someone other than oneself, reflecting the essence of human ______.
The meaning of life is directed towards something or someone other than oneself, reflecting the essence of human ______.
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According to logotherapy, we can discover the meaning of life by creating a work, experiencing something, or through our ______ toward unavoidable suffering.
According to logotherapy, we can discover the meaning of life by creating a work, experiencing something, or through our ______ toward unavoidable suffering.
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The more one forgets himself by giving to a cause, the more human he becomes and the more he ______ himself.
The more one forgets himself by giving to a cause, the more human he becomes and the more he ______ himself.
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The meaning of life always ______ but never ceases to exist.
The meaning of life always ______ but never ceases to exist.
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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
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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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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.
