Viktor Frankl

Viktor Emil Frankl (1905–1997) was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor who founded logotherapy. Logotherapy is a school of psychotherapy that describes the search for a life's meaning as the central human motivational force. It is considered part of existential and humanistic psychology. Frankl's work is recognized as the "third school of Viennese psychotherapy," following those of Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler. He authored 39 books, including the international bestseller *Man's Search for Meaning*, which is based on his experiences in Nazi concentration camps. Frankl developed logotherapy through his experiences and theoretical development, identifying three primary ways to realize meaning: by creating a work or doing a deed, by experiencing something or encountering someone (e.g., love), and by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering. His work has had a significant impact on psychology and philosophy, emphasizing the human capacity to find meaning even in the most dire circumstances.