Frankl's+Existentialism

Viktor Frankl's Existentialism

Biography
 * Born in 1905 in Vienna, died in 1997
 * Spent time in concentration camp- Theresienstadt transferred to Auschwitz
 * father died in camp in 1943
 * 1944 wife and mom taken to Auschwitz; mother murdered, wife died at age 24
 * He observed his theories here
 * They led him to wonder why some people did well and others didn't

Basic Theory
 * Believed people could choose whether they were productive or not
 * Every human being is free to make choices
 * Choose whether they grow or change or if they don't live to their full potential
 * happiness comes from commitment and accepting responsibility
 * the people who deal with despair well have good reason to live
 * Conscience- seen as unconscious spirituality, different from Freudian unconscious
 * Cyclical Effects
 * Trying too hard can prevent success
 * Insomniacs try to fall asleep, which keeps them awake, which makes them try harder
 * Paranoid behavior can make the feared event occur
 * for example, worrying too much about a test causes a bad grade

Origin of Neurotic Behavior
Stages
 * Anxiety and despair result from aloneness
 * Fear of being responsible for making decisions about life
 * Finding something to believe in. Example - Value, Religion, Moral
 * Taking responsibility or action
 * Taking a risk
 * Discover meaning through values
 * Making a commitment
 * Stages aren't clearly defined; no age requirements

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