Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl (1905–1997) was an Austrian psychiatrist, neurologist, and psychotherapist best known as the founder of logotherapy, a meaning-centred approach to psychotherapy.
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who founded logotherapy. His book *Man's Search for Meaning* remains a landmark work on finding purpose in suffering.
What it is
Logotherapy is a meaning-centred psychotherapy developed by Frankl. It is often described as the 'third school' of Viennese psychotherapy, after Freud and Adler. The core idea is that humans are primarily motivated by a search for meaning in life.
Why it matters
Frankl's ideas have influenced psychotherapy, existential therapy, and popular discussions of resilience. In Canada, his work is widely studied in psychology, counselling, and palliative-care contexts, especially for discussions of meaning, grief, and trauma.
Key details
Frankl was born in Vienna in 1905 and earned medical and doctoral degrees at the University of Vienna. He survived Nazi concentration camps and later wrote *Man's Search for Meaning* based on those experiences. He held professorships at the University of Vienna and visiting roles at Harvard and Stanford.
In short
- Founder of logotherapy, a meaning-centred approach.
- Holocaust survivor and author of *Man's Search for Meaning*.
- Professor at the University of Vienna and visiting scholar in the US.
- His ideas are studied in Canadian psychology and palliative care.
Frankl’s ideas are widely studied in psychology, counselling, and palliative-care contexts in Canada, particularly for discussions of meaning, resilience, grief, and trauma.
Quick questions
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Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Viktor-FranklSupports: Birth, death, occupation, logotherapy, and core theory of meaning-centered psychotherapy.
- Viktor Frankl Institute — https://www.viktorfrankl.org/lifeandwork.htmlSupports: Academic posts, development of logotherapy, and book publication claims.
- Viktor Frankl Institute — https://www.viktorfrankl.org/standard_vitae.htmlSupports: Career details, university appointments, books, awards, and concentration camp history.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_FranklSupports: General biographical details, Holocaust survival, and *Man's Search for Meaning*.
- PubMed Central — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8763215/Supports: Academic description of Frankl as founder of logotherapy and Third Viennese School.