Viktor Frankl

Viktor Emil Frankl

Viktor Emil Frankl (26 March 1905 – 2 September 1997) was an eminent Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist. A Holocaust survivor, he endured and survived the horrors of Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, Kaufering, and Türkheim concentration camps.

Career and Work

Frankl is best known as the founder of logotherapy, a form of existential analysis often referred to as the "Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy". Logotherapy is based on an existential analysis focusing on Kier kegaard's will to meaning as opposed to Adler's Nietzschean doctrine of will to power or Freud's will to pleasure. Rather than power or pleasure, logotherapy is founded upon the belief that striving to find meaning in life is the primary, most powerful motivating and driving force in humans.

Experience During the Holocaust

During the Holocaust, Frankl was held in several concentration camps, including Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, Kaufering, and Türkheim. His experiences during this time significantly influenced his development of logotherapy. He used his skills as a psychiatrist to help fellow prisoners cope with the trauma, and later wrote about his experiences and observations in his internationally acclaimed book, Man's Search for Meaning.

Legacy

Frankl's work as a psychiatrist and neurologist, particularly his development of logotherapy, has had a profound impact on the field of psychology. His insights into the importance of finding meaning in life's experiences, particularly in times of suffering, have continued to resonate with manynpeople, both within and outside the field of psychology. His book, Man's Search for Meaning, has been translated into multiple languages and remains widely read and influential.

His approach to psychotherapy has been a major influence in the fields of counseling and clinical psychology, providing practitioners with a new perspective on human behavior, motivation, and resilience. Frankl's work continues to be explored and applied in diverse contexts, from counseling and therapy to coaching, organizational development, and beyond.

See also

• Existential therapy
• Holocaust survivors
• Psychotherapy
• Neurology
• Psychiatry

External links

Official Viktor Frankl website

References

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