Viktor Emil Frankl (1905-1997) was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. He is best known as the founder of logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that posits that finding meaning in life is the primary motivational force for humans. Often called the "Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy," logotherapy followed the approaches of Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler. Frankl's theories are considered part of existential and humanistic psychology.
Frankl's experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II significantly shaped his views. He observed that prisoners who found meaning in their suffering were more likely to survive. After the war, he documented his experiences and philosophical insights in his book, Man's Search for Meaning, which has sold millions of copies and is considered a seminal work in psychology. Before his time in concentration camps, Frankl headed the suicide prevention department at the General Hospital in Vienna and the neurology department at the Rothschild Hospital. After the war, he was a professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Vienna from 1948 to 1990 and lectured at universities worldwide, including Harvard, Stanford, and Duquesne. Frankl received numerous awards and honors, including the Oskar Pfister Award from the American Psychiatric Association.
