The Defiant Power of the Human Spirit Viktor

The Defiant Power of the Human Spirit Viktor Frankl’s Discovery for Meaningful Living

Part I: History

Who was Viktor Frankl?

Part II: Theory

What is Logotherapy?

The Short Definition Healing Through Meaning

Lack of Meaning in Life The central problem of logotherapy

A person experiencing loss of meaning in life is living in a world in which previous traditions and values no longer provide guidance on what to do and a world in which the person may not even know what he or she wishes to do.

A person in this situation may then simply do what others do (conformism) or do what others direct (totalitarianism).

Loss of meaning can affect attitudes. It may be characterized by: (1) a provisional attitude toward life–living as if there is no tomorrow; (2) a fatalistic attitude toward life–acting as if one has no control over one’s destiny; (3) collectivist thinking–a denial of one’s own personhood; and (4) fanaticism–a denial of the personhood of those who think differently.

Possible clinical results of meaninglessness: (1) depression (2) aggression (3) addiction

The Solution A philosophy of life that demonstrates life has meaning for each and every human person no matter how dire the circumstances.

“There were always choices to make. Every day, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision, a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you would become the plaything of circumstance, renouncing freedom and dignity to become molded into the form of the typical inmate. ” --Viktor Frankl

Frankl’s Assumptions: (1) Freedom of the Will (2) The Will to Meaning (3) Meaning in Life

Frankl‘s Two-Fold Revolution Freedom of Will Image of the Person Frankl: Nous vis-a-vis Motivation Theory Freud: Libido Adler: Self Esteem Behav. : Learning history

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms– to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ” --Viktor Frankl

The Will to Meaning the basic striving of the human person to find and fulfill a concrete meaning and purpose in personal existence.

Ultimate Meaning vs The Meaning of the Moment

The Categorical Values

Meaning may be found by: (1) The creative value (2) The experiential value (3) The attitudinal value

The Tragic Triad: (1) pain (2) guilt (3) death

What Does it Mean to Be Human?

„For the first time in their approx. 150 years, the behavioural sciences not only tell us how we function (mechanics of the mind), but also who we are (architecture and substance of the mind). “ --- Alexander Batthyány 25

The materialist‘s problem Think back to the time before matter had collapsed into the first stars. Since the universe at this time consisted of simple particles randomly scattered through vast reaches of spaces, it seems unlikely that there was experience anywhere to be found. If the universe in this condition was wholly experience free, how can simply rearranging the same elementary particles have given birth to something fundamentally new and different: consciousness? How can the bringing to gether of non experiential things ever produce an experience? Even the simplest experience seems to be something wholly other than a collection of physical atoms. 26

First Law of Dimensional Ontology “One and the same phenomenon projected out of its own dimension into different dimensions lower than its own is depicted in such a way that the individual pictures contradict one another. ”

Second Law of Dimensional Ontology “Different phenomena projected out of their own dimension into one dimension lower than their own are depicted in such a manner that the pictures are ambiguous. ”

The Spiritual Unconscious

Functions of the Human Spirit: (1) Self-distancing (2) Self-transcendence

The Conscience

Part III: Practice

Clinical Indications (according to Frankl): (1) Logotherapy is a specific treatment when the source of the psychological disturbance is a lack of meaning-orientation. (2) Logotherapy is a non-specific treatment when the source of the disturbance is rooted in physiology or psychology. (3) Medical Ministry (4) On the level of society, Logotherapy is seen as a tool to counter the influence of nihilism. (5) Within the medical and therapeutic community, Logotherapy is seen as a tool to counter reductionism.

Primary Techniques of Logotherapy: (1) Paradoxical Intention (2) Dereflection (3) Socratic Dialogue

Paradoxical Intention technique of logotherapy in which one is encouraged to do or to wish that which is feared. Paradoxical intention is based on the uniquely human capacity of self-distancing

Dereflection technique of logotherapy in which one is enabled to ignore the self, ignore symptoms, and to become directed toward the concrete meaning of personal existence.

Socratic Dialogue in logotherapy, method to bring the healthy, noetic core of the human person to conscious awareness such that spiritual resources can be used therapeutically.

Ancillary Techniques of Logotherapy: (1) Values Clarification (2) Writing Assignments (3) Structured Experiences

Part IV: Research Toward an evidence-based practice of logotherapy

A Review of the Research

Most Well Documented Findings (based on over 20 studies) 1. A positive correlation exists between meaning and measures of well-being and coping. 2. An inverse correlation exists between meaning and a diagnosis of mental illness. 3. When mental illness does occur, an inverse correlation exists between meaning and symptom severity.

Other Well Documented Findings (based on 10 -20 studies) 1. An inverse correlation exists between reasons for living/purpose in life and suicidality. 2. An inverse correlation exists between meaning and a diagnosis of substance use disorder. 3. A positive correlation exists between meaning and health.

Emerging Findings (based on less than 10 studies) 1. Meaning in life is positively correlated with occupational functioning. 2. An inverse correlation exists between meaning and criminal or antisocial behavior. 3. Meaning in life is positively correlated with social functioning.

The First Logotherapy Treatment Manuals Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2014

Randomized Controlled Studies demonstrate the efficacy of logotherapy in reducing desire for hastened death in persons diagnosed with stage III and IV cancer.

A Kansas Initiative

Source: Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Marshall H. Lewis, Ph. D. Diplomate in Logotherapy marshallhlewis@yahoo. com kansasinitiative. org