Podcast
Questions and Answers
Meaning of life and meaning in life refer to the same concept.
Meaning of life and meaning in life refer to the same concept.
False
Frankl's Logotherapy focuses on helping individuals find meaning in their lives.
Frankl's Logotherapy focuses on helping individuals find meaning in their lives.
True
Steger and Wong did not contribute to the study of meaning in life.
Steger and Wong did not contribute to the study of meaning in life.
False
Comprehension is the emotional aspect of meaning in life.
Comprehension is the emotional aspect of meaning in life.
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High purpose in life is characterized by a clear sense of direction and motivation.
High purpose in life is characterized by a clear sense of direction and motivation.
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Existential psychology considers meaning in life a non-essential topic.
Existential psychology considers meaning in life a non-essential topic.
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Low comprehension of life often leads to feelings of order and clarity.
Low comprehension of life often leads to feelings of order and clarity.
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Positive psychology integrates meaning in life as a key component of its wellbeing models.
Positive psychology integrates meaning in life as a key component of its wellbeing models.
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Income may predict higher levels of meaning in life similarly to social relationships or religion.
Income may predict higher levels of meaning in life similarly to social relationships or religion.
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High meaning in life is generally correlated with negative affect and mental illness conditions.
High meaning in life is generally correlated with negative affect and mental illness conditions.
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Meaning in life is unrelated to improved immune function and lower cholesterol.
Meaning in life is unrelated to improved immune function and lower cholesterol.
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People who perceive their lives as purposeful have a higher risk of mortality.
People who perceive their lives as purposeful have a higher risk of mortality.
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Social isolation and exclusion can enhance the feeling of meaning in life.
Social isolation and exclusion can enhance the feeling of meaning in life.
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High meaning in life is positively related to sense of belonging and being supported by family.
High meaning in life is positively related to sense of belonging and being supported by family.
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The lack of meaning in life is correlated with various negative experiences, including stress and hostility.
The lack of meaning in life is correlated with various negative experiences, including stress and hostility.
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Viktor Frankl described having a warm and empathetic view towards his fate while in the camp.
Viktor Frankl described having a warm and empathetic view towards his fate while in the camp.
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The patient's dissatisfaction with his job was largely due to a dislike for American foreign policy.
The patient's dissatisfaction with his job was largely due to a dislike for American foreign policy.
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The patient believed that reconciling with his father was important for his analysis.
The patient believed that reconciling with his father was important for his analysis.
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The process of analysis for the patient lasted for ten years.
The process of analysis for the patient lasted for ten years.
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According to Frankl, inner tension is vital for achieving mental health.
According to Frankl, inner tension is vital for achieving mental health.
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Nietzsche's philosophy claims that having a purpose allows one to endure any hardship.
Nietzsche's philosophy claims that having a purpose allows one to endure any hardship.
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Those who survived the Nazi camps were often unaware of any tasks they needed to fulfill.
Those who survived the Nazi camps were often unaware of any tasks they needed to fulfill.
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The manuscript that was confiscated from VF was completed and published.
The manuscript that was confiscated from VF was completed and published.
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VF took notes during his illness in the camp to help him rewrite his manuscript after liberation.
VF took notes during his illness in the camp to help him rewrite his manuscript after liberation.
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The meaning of life is the same for everyone and remains constant throughout their lives.
The meaning of life is the same for everyone and remains constant throughout their lives.
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Logotherapy emphasizes that each individual's life has a specific vocation or mission.
Logotherapy emphasizes that each individual's life has a specific vocation or mission.
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Experiencing something or encountering someone is one way to discover meaning in life according to logotherapy.
Experiencing something or encountering someone is one way to discover meaning in life according to logotherapy.
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According to logotherapy, avoiding selflessness leads to greater fulfillment.
According to logotherapy, avoiding selflessness leads to greater fulfillment.
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The concept of an existential vacuum refers to the awareness of a strong purpose in life.
The concept of an existential vacuum refers to the awareness of a strong purpose in life.
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Logotherapy suggests that there is a universal best move in life that applies to every situation.
Logotherapy suggests that there is a universal best move in life that applies to every situation.
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Creating a work or doing a deed is not considered a way to find meaning in life according to logotherapy.
Creating a work or doing a deed is not considered a way to find meaning in life according to logotherapy.
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Each person can fulfill their life's task in a way that cannot be replaced or repeated by another.
Each person can fulfill their life's task in a way that cannot be replaced or repeated by another.
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The author believed that the suffering he experienced at Auschwitz was meaningless.
The author believed that the suffering he experienced at Auschwitz was meaningless.
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The author felt that the survival of his physical and mental child was certain during his time in Auschwitz.
The author felt that the survival of his physical and mental child was certain during his time in Auschwitz.
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The arrival of the author at Auschwitz was marked by the immediate loss of his personal belongings.
The arrival of the author at Auschwitz was marked by the immediate loss of his personal belongings.
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Most of the author's comrades were focused on finding meaning in their suffering.
Most of the author's comrades were focused on finding meaning in their suffering.
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The author questioned whether life without meaning is worth living.
The author questioned whether life without meaning is worth living.
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Suffering can cease to be suffering when it finds a meaning.
Suffering can cease to be suffering when it finds a meaning.
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Logotherapy suggests that man’s main concern is to gain pleasure.
Logotherapy suggests that man’s main concern is to gain pleasure.
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It is essential for suffering to occur in order to find meaning in life.
It is essential for suffering to occur in order to find meaning in life.
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The focus of logotherapy includes removing the cause of avoidable suffering.
The focus of logotherapy includes removing the cause of avoidable suffering.
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The odds of surviving a concentration camp were approximately one in twenty-eight.
The odds of surviving a concentration camp were approximately one in twenty-eight.
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When someone suffers due to loss, logotherapy cannot change their fate.
When someone suffers due to loss, logotherapy cannot change their fate.
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Suffering must always have a cause that can be changed or removed.
Suffering must always have a cause that can be changed or removed.
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The experience of suffering can be rendered meaningful through sacrifice.
The experience of suffering can be rendered meaningful through sacrifice.
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Study Notes
Meaning in Life
- Meaning in life differs from the meaning of life
- The meaning of life is a theological question. Why are we here?
- Meaning in life is a psychological question. What makes our lives meaningful?
- Meaning in life can't be answered using psychology
- Frankl (1963) is a key figure in the study of meaning
- Frankl recognised meaning and purpose helped him survive a Nazi concentration camp in World War II
- Frankl developed logotherapy (1986)
- Steger (2012) and Wong (2012a) expanded upon Frankl's theories theoretically and empirically.
- Wong (2012b) developed the Meaning-Centered Counselling and Therapy model
- Meaning in life is a fundamental topic in existential psychology
- Meaning in life is defined by the degree to which an individual experiences their life as making sense, being guided and driven by worthy goals, and mattering in the world (King, Heintzelman, & Ward, 2016)
- Meaning in life includes three components: comprehension, purpose, and mattering
Comprehension
- Comprehension is the cognitive facet of meaning in life
- It's about the degree to which individuals understand their lives and experience a sense of coherence
- High comprehension means lives make sense, things seem clear, well-fitting, and as they "ought to be"
- Low comprehension means life seems unclear, incoherent, or fragmented
Purpose
- Purpose is the behavioral component of meaning in life
- It reflects the extent to which a person experiences their life as directed and motivated by worthy life goals
- High purpose is felt when there's clear direction in life, and goals to achieve
- Low purpose can manifest as aimlessness
Mattering
- Mattering is the emotional component of meaning in life
- It refers to the degree to which individuals feel their existence matters (is significant) and has value or impact
- High mattering is felt when a person's life, goals, or actions make a difference
- Low mattering occurs when a person feels their existence has little significance and that nonexistence wouldn't make a difference
Meaning in Life's Impact
- Meaning in life shapes perception, action, and goal-striving
- Without meaning, one would experience life as "being on a ship without a rudder" (Wong, 2012a)
- There's an innate need to ascribe meaning to events, experiences, people, and aspects of life (Frankl, 1986)
- The need for meaning is tied to existential understanding of temporary existence (Becker, 1973)
- Meaning allows one to cope with suffering, inadequacy, and death by providing value, specialness, and usefulness (symbolic immortality)
- The search for meaning can be triggered by existential crises (Wong, 2010) like facing death, tragedy, or significant life changes
- Meaning in life is subjective and dynamic
- Meaning in life correlates positively with socioeconomic status (Ward & King, 2016)
- Meaning in life correlates with higher well-being, happiness, vitality, high morale, sense of control, autonomy, environmental mastery, and positive perceptions of oneself and the world
The Benefits of Meaning in Life
- High meaning in life correlates with wellbeing and positive outcomes
- Meaning in life has been linked with improved immune function, lower cholesterol, better glucose control, and improved cardiovascular health, among other physical health improvements
- Meaning in life correlates positively with longevity, based on large-scale longitudinal studies in the USA (Hill & Turiano, 2014)
Correlation with Negative Outcomes
- Meaninglessness correlates with negative affective states, rumination, adverse life events, hassles, grief, stress, and hostility
- Lack of meaning is linked to mental illnesses such as depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, substance abuse, and PTSD
Relationships and Meaning
- Meaning in life is positively correlated to various relational aspects: satisfaction in relationships, close relationships and sense of belonging
Viktor Frankl
- Frankl frequently quoted Nietzsche: "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how"
- During his time in Nazi concentration camps, Frankl's will to keep writing helped him survive
- In the concentration camps he realized that circumstances conspire to make prisoners lose their inner hold
- The last remaining human freedom is choosing attitude in difficult circumstances
- Logotherapy focuses on the future and meaning fulfillment for the patient rather than retrospectively examining past experiences and psychoanalysis.
Logotherapy
- Logotherapy focuses on the future, identifying meanings a patient hopes to fulfill and helping them apply to their lives
- Logotherapy's goal is to help the patient overcome feelings of neurosis.
- Logotherapy utilizes the will to meaning as opposed to psychoanalytic theories of the will to pleasure or power/superiority
- Individuals who lack awareness of a worthwhile meaning for life are caught in the existential vacuum
- The meaning of one's life is specific to that person and constantly changing. One should not search for an abstract meaning of life but rather to carry out one's designated role in the world, which demands fulfillment.
- Meaning is possible in all life situations, even those that are deeply difficult, like unavoidable suffering
- Meaning in life isn't found despite difficulties, but sometimes precisely because of them
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of meaning in life and its distinction from the meaning of life. It delves into the contributions of key figures like Frankl and his theories of logotherapy, as well as the expansions by Steger and Wong. Understand the psychological implications and components that define a meaningful life experience.
