The importance of meaning in positive psychology and logotherapy

Leo M. Abrami

pp. 303-310

in: Alexander Batthyány (ed), Logotherapy and existential analysis, Berlin, Springer, 2016

Abstract

Positive psychology and logotherapy both attach great importance to meaning. Whereas logotherapy affirms that the pursuit and fulfillment of meaning is the unique way to attain happiness, the exponents of positive psychology affirm that meaning is one of the main elements, which can lead to happiness. This paper attempts to assess the role given to meaning in the writings of Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology, Mihaly Csikszentmihaly, Tal Ben Shahar, and Viktor Frankl, the initiator of logotherapy.

Cited authors

Frankl Viktor