Im reading his main book and I was super into it until I reach that part or the second chapter talking about how hyper intentionality can help with people with neurosis such as obsessions. As in Viktor gives the example that people with certains phobias if they focus their same hyper intention to do their opposite will be able to put It in remission. Some guy is scared of sweating so he changed his mind by telling him to try to sweat as much as he can and tell people look how much I can sweat so that it would block him from swearing. Already I wasn’t super into that example (I don’t know how applicable it is at work but even socially as in if he’s scared of perspiration it’s because of social reasons maybe and telling people look how much I’m gonna sweat might indeed not help with his social connections which was what he may have been scared of in first place).
Secondly he lost me when he said if you can’t sleep and scared to not fall asleep , then try to stay awake and you will see you will fall asleep. For me that doesn’t work whatsoever I mean yes eventually you’ll fall asleep at some point but hours later. Like if I tried to stay awake I would look at a screen which will mess up my circadian rythm and then if I keep trying that I’m gonna create a sort of jet lag where I won’t be able to sleep .
Maybe I’m not understanding something ? I agree in certain cases it works like if you think of wanting to create the best music ever and think so much about it you prolly won’t succeed but I don’t get how his technique of doing hyper intention on the think that scares you will remove phobia always
I often hear people mentioning the book "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankly as a "must read," and of course it was a very popular book that talked about the idea of logotherapy. But despite the popularity of that book and Frankl's influence on existential therapy, I seem to remember reading somewhere that logotherapy mostly doesn't actually hold up when looking at the scientific evidence. I'm curious as to how the academic psychology community feels.
I've read Man's Search for Meaning a few times and looking for deeper insight, and suggestions?
Long post ahead: Tldr: Frankl critiqued Jung, don't agree, actually believe they are very complementary and am surprised by little overlap. Discuss.
So I'm almost finished reading "Man's Search for Meaning" and being a big fan of Jung obviously I got to thinking and researching...
Apparently Frankl critiqued Jung for his view that religion is instinctual and archetypal. Frankl believed it was personal and spiritual. He also made a comment (if my source is accurate) that perhaps the reason why many cultures throughout history have believed in a similar god is because he exists, not because it's built into our collective unconscious.
My problem with this critique is that, while Jung did believe that religion is archetypal and instinctual, he very much had a view of people having the need to find their own spirituality and meaning in life (don't need to provide quotes, you guys know them all). Similarly, we know that Famous YouTube Interview where Jung says he "knows" there's a god. Perhaps Frankl did not know the extent of Jung's writings and teachings? I find that hard to believe but who knows.
Anyway, my point is that I'm not sure why there is not more overlap between these 2. I see both as inherently existential in their approach to dealing with life, both touch that part in my soul where the deep stuff lies. Both place a big emphasis on synchronicity (in different words), both place importance on owning ones suffering, both speak of taking responsibility for your life... I could go on. One key difference is that Frankl barely makes mention of an unconscious at all (from what I've read) but the conscious and numinous stuff is very aligned in my opinion.
I find the 2 very complementary and see value in Frankl taking one down a path that Jung didn't seem to want to take us down - how exactly do we go about creating meaning? My knowledge may be lacking, but I can't recall Jung ever giving such explicit advice on how to go about creating a meaningful life (I feel like surely he did and I just haven't read it. I mean I know he speaks about meaning and creating your own myth but not as explicitly as Frankl it seems)
Enough mental vomiting from me. Please discuss, give your views, inputs and insights. Also please fill any gaps in my knowledge about these 2 - I'm sure I have a lot.
Stumbled upon Victor Frankl’s Wikipedia page today and was curious if anyone had any thoughts on Logotherapy. Frankl seems to be influenced by Kierkegaard, an existentialist who I’ve always been sympathetic towards, but I was mainly wondering how it may interact with critiques of psychoanalysis / psychotherapy made by say, Deleuze and Guattari.
Frankl centers on Kierkegaard’s “will to meaning” over Nietzsche’s will to power and Freud’s will to pleasure, which at first glance seems interesting, but I’m personally not well versed enough in D&G to know if their various critiques of psychoanalysis would apply here as well.
And, with the second question in the title, is there any overlapping areas of research between critical theory and this school of thought that anyone could point me to?
Stoicism and Logotherapy have similar lines of thinking. Logotherapy even has direct roots in Stoicism I think.
>Dr. Pattakos in the book and Dr. Covey in the foreword briefly recount the meetings with Dr. Frankl and his influence on their lives and practices. Dr. Pattakos writes briefly about seven principles he has distilled from Dr. Frankl's work.
>
>These principles are:
>1. Freedom to choose our reaction and attitude towards things that affect us (we can >see negative things in positive ways as Dr. Frankl did in viewing his time in Nazi >concentration camps); >2. We can focus consciously on positive, meaningful values and goals (look to >improve, rather than complain); >3. We can find meaning in everything that happens (a setback is an opportunity to >learn how to improve); >4. We can learn how to stop our self-sabotage (get out of funks, rather than >deepening them); >5. We can see ourselves objectively and with humor (and gain from these >perspectives); >6. We can choose our focus when dealing with challenges in ways that will reward us >(count your blessings when you have a problem); >7. We can influence the world in positive ways.
I think it's just delusion and turning a blind eye to the suffering.
Im a former FMF Navy Corpsman now a Vet Center counselor. In my personal journey back to well being the book "mans search for meaning" by Viktor Frankl opened my eyes to what was causing my pain (outside of the PTSD)- when i left 1st Marine Division and entered college i lost a pround sense of meaning. The role of being a corpsman with my marines in Afghanistan and stateside gave me pride, purpose, and meaning. Frankl believed our souls and minds would heal when we lived a life of meaning, and this led me to become a social worker. Ive worked in homeless shelters for vets, on a suicide prevention team working with the veterans crisis line, now as a therapist for combat veterans and veterans that experianced military sexual trauma.
My question is: have other veterans on here read frankls work, and how did it impact you?
Take care all!
The book basically reignited my love for reading — multiple times I chuckled in acknowledgment of Frankl's ideas. I was particularly impressed with the last sections (Logotherapy in a Nutshell, Postscript 1984, The Case for a Tragic Optimism) where he introduced Logotherapy and Psychology, and his experience as a psychiatrist in general, as well as his view against nihilism.
I'd love a book that either elaborates on either Logotherapy (or Nihilism, as I also wish to understand challenging viewpoints). A book that introduces me to Psychology in general would be great as well.
Thanks for your help!
Here's what is being taught in my online class. If anyone wants to discuss it, I'll be grateful.
My understanding of logotherapy is like this: Everyone has a will to make life meaningful, and in a sense it's even stronger than Freud's "pleasure principle". People are willing to risk pain, and the loss of pleasure, in order to do things they find meaningful. Everyone knows about Freud's pleasure principle, but we should also consider Nietzsche's "will to power" and Kierkegaard's "will to meaning". What I don't understand is how logotherapy fits in with other types of therapy. For example, when using methods from cognitive-behavioral therapy or rational-emotive behavior therapy (Ellis, 1955) should we try to re-frame disruptive thought patterns in a way that focuses on the way our work or suffering is meaningful?
In practical application, these will to power/pleasure/meaning seem to become a matter of making priorities. In some situations unhelpful thought pattern can be reorganized in ways that are more empowering (i.e. will to power), but should we aim instead to reorganize them in ways that help the person find a sense of meaning?
There's a feeling of pleasure when someone gains power, and there's a feeling of pleasure when someone accomplishes something meaningful, so.. maybe it's all will to pleasure after all.
I need to summarize logotherapy and the way Viktor Frankl addressed meaning in the Holocaust to a group of high schoolers for a presentation in just 1 or 2 paragraphs.
the string of mistakes bad luck that got me here belongs in a different subreddit.
During March, at the beginning of the lockdown, I had made a list of targets that I wanted to achieve. I had jotted down those things that I wanted to do for a long time, about which I only made plans and resolutions and never accomplished them. So to make this lockdown time period as useful, as productive I can, I decided to work upon myself. For that purpose, the first item on my list was to read self-help books. Believe it or not, I have researched and noted down almost 75+ books on my reading list. So I have started to read from that list.
Recently I read a book called, “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. As the name suggests, it really helps to find true meaning, the true purpose of our life. We try so many ways to be happy. Get a dream job, car, house, traveling places, things that can satisfy ourselves, but yet we lack to find our core happiness.
https://preview.redd.it/4dp82o6ikn451.jpg?width=189&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6858fbe0b7bb486b55fe1f5018ce77faff896f10
BRIEF HISTORY
Dr. Viktor Frankl (26 March 1905 – 2 September 1997) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist. He is the author of over 39 books. He is most noted for his best-selling book Man’s Search for Meaning based on his experiences in various Nazi concentration camps. During World War II, as Frankl was a Jew, he had to spend about 3 years in the death camps. He was the only member to survive amongst his all family.
During that period of time, by observing the conditions of others, he developed a therapy. He observed that most of the people who survived were those who had desires to get out of the camps and do something meaningful with their lives. That spirit, that desire, that courage to do something going out there even after being in the death camps for so long, made them survive.
After the end of World War II, Frankl met those people of the camp after some years and realized that they had really achieved what they were eager about to do in the death camps.
Viktor maintained a manuscript about the therapy he developed and called it as logotherapy. “Logo” is a Greek word for meaning.
CORE PROPERTIES
Frankl believed in three core properties on which his theory and therapy were based:
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Each person has a healthy core.
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One's primary focus is to enlighten others to their own internal resources and provide the tools to use their inner core.
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Life offers purpose and meaning but does not promise fulfillment or happiness.
**
... keep reading on reddit ➡Hi all,
Is there any online resource where people can easily find therapists with a focus on Logotherapy in their local area?
Many thanks
My mother recently [18-Sep-2020] died at 88 and she was on bed for 5 years. Towards the end everyone was literally praying that she should die. Why: There was no purpose being served in keeping her alive. She was in pain and everyone was tired of caring for her.
I read "Man's search for Meaning" as early as in 2002 and I'm a very strong believer in the basic philosophy of the unconditional meaning of life: Life has meaning under ALL situations, repeat ALL situations; that life's meaning is absolutely unconditional and life has a meaning till the very last breath; the meaning is there not only in achieving but also in suffering bravely; that we can achieve meaning in three ways: through achieving, through experiencing and through loving.
I was watching video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTxOiq3V7Bw&t=2401s of Kuber Ross in which I watched that some people in this situation actually think of committing suicide. I was thinking what I would do in a similar situation.
Recently I also read: "Death of Ivan Illiach", "The Last Lecture" and "Tuesday with Morrie". I still could not get answer to the question.
How can a bed ridden person, in the situation in which my mother was, can find meaning in life?
(I should state that this is not me asking for personal life advice, I am simply curious about schools of psychology and am using my personal experiences as examples)
I've started learning about logotherapy (my interest fueled by Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search For Meaning") and have found it very relevant to my own experiences, i.e. the times of my life when I was happiest were the times when I was looking forward to something big coming up soon like going to college, moving to a new city, and other big exciting life shifts like that. I've been thinking about this a lot because in the past few years I found myself in mild depression and tried to do more present thinking/meditation/mindfulness, which didn't work a ton for me besides making me a little more accepting of my present state. The thing that mostly worked for me was when I was looking forward to something very exciting. I continue to live happily by making sure I plan things in the future to be excited for and things to work on, even thought I don't feel extremely 'present' with this approach. I have been curious about whether there are methods of living/thinking that include the future-thinking aspects of logotherapy while maintaining a present state of mind. I am not a psychology student at all, I just have an interest in learning more so my apologies if this is an odd question or if I'm overlooking an obvious answer. Thanks for any input!
Man’s Search for Meaning has left me feeling curious as to whether Frankl’s ideas still ring true in contemporary psychology.
Thanks!
As a person who just recently started researching these topics, reading and listening, watching and talking to people about said topics. It makes me wonder... What's the difference between it all?
Even Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, besides the religious aspect of it... It tends to focus on this logical form of thinking, which also inspires the whole "meditation" and "mindfulness" aspect of it.
Am I simply going in circles with this? Is the very core of it all the same?
Logotherapy is a school of thought and therapy, centred around the quest for meaning.
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