Man’s Search For Ultimate Meaning
Victor Frankl

Reviewed by:
Joy Felegie
Graduate Student
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Introduction

Man’s Search For Ultimate Meaning addresses and leads the reader into thought about the meaningfulness of life, spiritual aspects of man, and what Frankl considers man’s greatest motivator or need, which he has called “the will to meaning”, that man is striving to find and fulfill meaning and purpose in life (Frankl, 1997, p. 85). These topics are pertinent today, especially in light of the changing emphasis in health care from a medical orientation to a holistic orientation, which includes the spiritual dimension. Frankl introduces and reintroduces these key topics through the book and does so in various contexts. His ability to change communication styles add to maintaining reader interest. Frankl provides real life examples of the use of logotherapy, a branch of psychotherapy, which he developed. Logotherapy, while not described
in detail in this book, deals with the belief that the primary need of each person is to find meaning in their life, and that this is the primary human motivation. Logotherapy also asserts that humans are capable of and responsible for making decisions. Frankl provides some comparisons of his views with other well-known and accepted theories and models regarding human needs and behaviors. The author seems to assume, at the beginning of the book, that the reader would have at least a foundational knowledge of various terms, theories and techniques, such as Adlerian Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Psychotherapy, Existential Analysis,
Associationism, as well as Logotherapy. Readers who are unfamiliar with these terms may wish to review them in order to facilitate a deeper appreciation of the authors points.

Pertinence to Therapeutic Recreation

According to recent literature in therapeutic recreation, a shift is occurring from a disease model of healthcare to a more holistic model. A client-centered holistic model includes the “biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of the person as well as the developmental, cultural, and environmental factors that influence a client’s needs, wants, opportunities and constraints” (Shank & Coyle, 2002, p. xiv). In view of this conceptual shift, Frankl’s views regarding the importance of recognizing the spiritual aspects of man provides interesting food for thought to recreation therapists. A person’s spirituality may impact their life
view, and dovetail with the physical, social/emotional and cognitive domains that have been traditionally addressed through recreation therapy. The spiritual dimension of man is something that should not be left out of the equation by recreation therapists if we seek to see man and treat man from a holistic standpoint.

Frankl’s views may also positively impact therapeutic recreation practice when dealing with the topic of motivation of individuals, problem behaviors, and the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life. Frankl asserts that finding meaning in life is the key motivating force in man. He provides examples of research studies where the findings support this concept. If this is true, then the implications of this view are great within the field of therapeutic recreation. Logotherapy teaches that problem behaviors such as depression, suicidal behaviors, etc. may be caused by a feeling of meaninglessness and an appropriate intervention would then be to help the patient discover meaning to their life. Frankl indicates that “today, man’s will to meaning is frustrated on a worldwide scale. Ever more people are haunted by a feeling of meaninglessness which is often accompanied by a feeling of emptiness or, as I am used to calling it ‘an existential vacuum’” (Frankl, 1997, p. 139). He goes on to say that, “addiction, aggression, and depression are, in the final analysis, due to a sense of futility”(Frankl, 1997, p. 140).

Therapeutic Recreation can be an effective intervention for individuals to find meaning in their lives. Frankl suggests that there are three avenues by which a person can go about finding meaning. These can be summarized as doing something meaningful or creating something meaningful, experiencing something or someone i.e. a meaningful relationship, and last of all, facing a difficult situation that we cannot change and making the best of it (Frankl, 1997, p. 139). Two, or perhaps three of these avenues can be effectively addressed through therapeutic recreation practice.

Closing

Frankl’s book, Man’s Search For Ultimate Meaning, provides much food for thought regarding spirituality as it relates to therapy, the conscious versus unconscious, life focus, relationships with others (including the therapeutic relationship), problem behaviors, dealing with trauma, etc. with the overall goal of finding meaning in life. These themes address important issues that are appropriate for therapists to consider in order to better understand ourselves and our clients. Frankl provides us with the optimistic view that “People are capable of finding meaning in their lives irrespective of gender, age, IQ, educational background,
character structure, environment, and most remarkably, also irrespective of whether or not they are religious” (Frankl, 1997, p. 141).

Man’s Search For Ultimate Meaning is not what I would consider light Sunday afternoon leisure reading material. There are parts that I found extremely dry, parts that I found quite analytical, parts that seemed poetic, and parts that were so interesting that I didn’t want to stop reading. In addition, because the author was Austrian, there are Austrian words and quotes used in several places in the book. The translations of these Austrian words of wisdom are not clearly identified, and therefore it was a challenge to fully understand all that was being communicated.

I would encourage recreation therapists to read this book and to persevere through the parts that may seem dry or difficult to understand. It is well worth it in the end. The wealth of information and thought provoking questions and reflections cannot be fully appreciated until the entire book has been completed and digested.

References

Frankl, V.E. (1997). Man’s Search For Ultimate Meaning. New York, N.Y. Plenum.

Shank, J. & Coyle, C. (2002). Therapeutic Recreation in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation. State College, PA. Venture.