Viktor Emil Frankl (Vienna, Austria, 1905 - 1997) was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and philosopher, creator of logotherapy, known as the “Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy”. From a young age, he showed a deep interest in psychology and philosophy, influenced by both Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler, though he developed his own perspective focused on the search for the meaning of life
Frankl's life was marked by tragedy and resilience: in 1942, he was deported to several Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau, where he lost most of his family, including his pregnant wife. However, these extreme experiences led him to formulate his most influential work, Man's Search for Meaning (1946), which combines personal testimony with a psychological theory centered on the idea that the vital force of the human being comes from finding purpose even amidst suffering
Internationally awarded and considered a reference in existential psychotherapy, Frankl served as the director of the Vienna Neurological Policlinic for 25 years. His legacy transcends clinical psychology, also impacting philosophy, education, and personal development, being widely cited and studied around the world as a symbol of human capacity to find meaning in adversity
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