Viktor Frankl: The search for meaning in life today

1987 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Viktor Frankl

scholarly journals A Pessoa Idosa e a Busca do Sentido. Um Olhar de Esperança

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-113
Author(s):  
Cleia ZANATTA ◽  
Luís Antônio Monteiro CAMPOS ◽  
Patricia Damiana da Silva COELHO
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Elderly Person ◽  
Meaning Of Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
The Road ◽  
Viktor Frankl ◽  
On The Road

The purpose of this article is to propose a reflection on the importance of the meaning of life for the elderly person. It is known that the phenomenon of aging gains visibility worldwide and points to numerous challenges, especially for some 30 million elderly people in Brazil, according to IBGE statistics. At this stage of life recognizing the potential, beyond stereotypes about aging contributes to minimizing the possible challenges. Through the review of the literature on research in the field of aging it is observed that a significant number of these elderly people are concentrated in the losses and declines that occurred in this stage. However, it becomes possible to broaden the understanding of this phase of life by considering the concepts of Logotherapy. According to Viktor Frankl, the man, endowed with his noetic dimension, driven by the search for meaning in life, walks in search of the values of creation, experience and attitude. As a sense-seeker, the elderly person becomes capable of finding, in his existential walk one for which to live, which enables him to continue drawing meaning in the adverse situations of life. Being able to focus on achievements along the way, the challenges faced, and the experiences recognized as valuable, can help make the stage of aging meaningful. Values can continue as paths that point to meaning, and such a possibility should not be wasted on the road of life. With hope and accumulated wisdom, the elderly person is able to respond to what life calls in a committed and meaningful way. Palavras-chave : Elderly; Logotherapy; Meaning.

scholarly journals How Does Search for Meaning Lead to Presence of Meaning for Korean Army Soldiers? The Mediating Roles of Leisure Crafting and Gratitude

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung In Lim ◽  
Jason Yu ◽  
Young Woo Sohn
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Army Soldiers ◽  
The Republic

Many studies demonstrate that finding meaning in life reduces stress and promotes physical and psychological well-being. However, extant literature focuses on meaning in life among the general population (e.g., college students or office workers) in their daily lives. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of how individuals living in life-threatening and stressful situations obtain meaning in life, by investigating the mediating roles of leisure crafting and gratitude. A total of 465 Army soldiers from the Republic of Korea (ROK) participated in two-wave surveys with a 2-week interval. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that the direct effects between the search for meaning, presence of meaning, leisure crafting, and gratitude were significant, except for the direct relationship between the search for meaning and the presence of meaning, and between leisure crafting and the presence of meaning. We tested indirect effects using a Monte Carlo approach and found that leisure crafting and gratitude sequentially mediated the relationship between the search for meaning and the presence of meaning. Our findings highlight the importance of the motivation behind searching for meaning, the proactive use of leisure time, and gratitude for individuals in stressful situations and controlled lifestyles. Finally, we discuss the implications and limitations of this research and future research directions.

Meaning in Life and Substance Use

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19
Author(s):  
Matthew Csabonyi ◽  
Lisa J. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Lower Alcohol ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

Viktor Frankl theorized that an absence of meaning in one’s life can result in boredom and apathy—the “existential vacuum”—and attempts to avoid or “escape” the vacuum can include short-acting distracting behaviors. This study investigated whether the presence of meaning (PM) or the search for meaning are associated with alcohol, drug, and cigarette use by young adults, and whether boredom mediates those relationships. Hundred and seventy-six young adults completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and provided information about cigarette and illicit drug use over the preceding year. The results partly support Frankl’s model: higher PM was associated with lower alcohol/other drug use and boredom mediated those relationships, but PM was not related to cigarette smoking. Contrary to Frankl’s model, no relationship was found between search for meaning and alcohol, drug, or cigarette use. This suggests that psychological interventions that assist individuals who use drugs or alcohol to identify meaning or purpose in their lives might reduce levels of drug and alcohol use. The process of searching for meaning may not have substantial direct impact on levels of substance use, but once some meaning was established there may be decreased impetus to continue using drugs and alcohol.

The Rediscovery of the Human: Basic Texts of Viktor E. Frankl

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-78
Author(s):  
DAVID KISSANE
Keyword(s):  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Viktor Frankl ◽  
Meaning And Purpose

The Rediscovery of the Human: Basic Texts of Viktor E. Frankl. Translated by Rabbi Dr. Shimon Cowen and Liesl Kosma. Monographs in Judaism and Civilization. Melbourne: Institute for Judaism and Civilization, 2006. ISBN 0-9585933-5-3, 74 pages.Three seminal essays by Viktor Frankl highlight the deep spirituality that he believed to be at the heart of man's search for meaning and purpose in this world. Humanity returns consciously or unconsciously to this universal spirituality in its quest for a fulfilling existence.

Meaning in life and resilience among teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-109
Author(s):  
Maria Platsidou ◽  
Athena Daniilidou
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Social Resilience ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Resilience Process ◽  
Resilience Factors

Meaning in life is a significant resource in the resilience process, supporting the use of adaptive behaviors and enhancing the feeling of wellbeing. As such, it could be critical for teachers who encounter many stressors threatening their life quality and work productivity. This study aimed to investigate how teachers' levels of meaning in life relate to their resilience. Data were collected from 299 teachers using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (assessing presence of and search for meaning) and the Multidimensional Teacher Resilience Scale (assessing protective factors related to motivational and professional, social, and emotional resilience). As predicted, presence of meaning had medium-sized positive correlations with the resilience factors, whereas search for meaning had low correlations with social resilience and professional-motivational resilience and no correlation with emotional resilience. Using K-means cluster analysis, teachers were grouped into three clusters according to their scores in the two meaning dimensions. The cluster of teachers reporting both high presence of and high search for meaning showed the highest scores on the resilience factors, followed by the cluster including teachers with high presence and low search. In conclusion, our results emphasized the important role of presence of meaning in strengthening resilient responses; also, searching for meaning, when combined with a high sense of meaning, relates to better use of the resilience protective factors and resources. As to the study implications, a meaning-centered approach to building resilience in teachers is suggested and discussed.

How do Curiosity, Meaning in Life, and Search for Meaning Predict College Students’ Daily Emotional Exhaustion and Engagement?

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Garrosa ◽  
Luis Manuel Blanco-Donoso ◽  
Isabel Carmona-Cobo ◽  
Bernardo Moreno-Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Search For Meaning

Meaning in Life in Earlier and Later Older-Adulthood: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Correlates of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1270-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Hallford ◽  
D. Mellor ◽  
R. A. Cummins ◽  
M. P. McCabe
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

Objective: To validate the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in earlier and later older-adulthood, and examine its correlates. Method: Participants in earlier ( n = 341, M age = 68.5) and later older-adulthood ( n = 341, M age = 78.6) completed the MLQ and other measures. Confirmatory multigroup analysis, correlations, and regression models were conducted. Results: A two-factor (presence and search), eight-item model of the MLQ had a good fit and was age-invariant. Presence and search for meaning were largely unrelated. Meaning was associated with life satisfaction, well-being across a range of domains, and psychological resources. Searching for meaning correlated negatively with these variables, but to a lesser degree in later older-adulthood. Discussion: The MLQ is valid in older-adulthood. Meaning in life is psychologically adaptive in older-adulthood. Searching for meaning appears less important, especially in later older-adulthood. Findings are discussed in the context of aging and psychosocial development.

scholarly journals Music in advertising and consumer identity

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morteza Abolhasani ◽  
Steve Oakes ◽  
Helen Oakes
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Consumer Identity ◽  
Normative Identity ◽  
Musical Taste ◽  
Identity Protection

This study discusses netnographic findings involving 472 YouTube postings categorized to identify themes regarding consumers’ experience of music in advertisements. Key themes relate to musical taste, musical indexicality, musical repetition and musical authenticity. Postings reveal how music conveys individual taste and is linked to personal memories and Heidegger’s coincidental time where moments of authenticity may be triggered in a melee of emotions, memories and projections. Identity protection is enabled as consumers frequently resist advertisers’ attempts to use musical repetition to impose normative identity. Critiques of repetition in the music produce Heideggerian anxiety leading to critically reflective resistance. Similarly, where advertising devalues the authenticity of iconic pieces of music, consumers often resist such authenticity transgressions as a threat to their own identity. The Heideggerian search for meaning in life emphasizes the significance of philosophically driven ideological authenticity in consumers’ responses to music in advertisements.

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