Logotherapy and Existential Analysis

The second volume in the series presents ground-breaking advances of Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy and existential analysis, with emphasis on the discovery of meaning as central to coping, resilience, and growth. Noted contributors from around the world present empirical and case study evidence for the importance of meaning in diverse populations and settings, as well as theoretical and philosophical perspectives on Frankl’s body of thought.

The book opens with a historical perspective of the development of logotherapy and personal experiences of those close to Frankl. A section on the amelioration of suffering provides insights into moral injury and finding meaning in blows of fate (unavoidable suffering, death, the injustice of poverty, and international conflict). Powerful case studies address Frankl’s tragic triad (guilt, suffering, death): facing the end of life, PTSD, childhood sexual abuse/neglect, and suicide prevention. Empirical studies address the search for purpose in life, qualities of meaning among the gifted, and service motivation in college students. Meaning-centered approaches are applied to working with youth and adults in schools and the workplace. Philosophical applications of logotherapy connect Frankl’s theory with Buddhist thought and a flaw in the nature vs. nurture theory; the dimensional ontology is expanded into four dimensions. Book reviews evaluate topics of interest to logotherapists.

Topics include:

• Case studies using logotherapy in diverse settings
• Meaning-centered programs and interventions in the workplace
• Innovative approaches to finding meaning with at-risk children and young adults
• Applications of logotherapy in military and childhood PTSD
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration of logotherapy with rational-emotive therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, positive psychology and Theravāda Buddhism
• Philosophical applications and extensions of logotheory
• Empirical studies on processes and measures of logotherapy

Volume II of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis is intended for caregivers, practitioners, researchers, and students in the fields of logotherapy, mental health, education, workplace management, industrial psychology, and laypeople interested in finding meaning.

Charles McLafferty, Jr., Ph.D. has served on the faculties of the University of Virginia and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in which he integrated the principles of logotherapy and existential psychology. He has served as a reviewer for eight academic journals, and authored or coauthored articles in medical, psychological, educational, and business journals. Invited to speak internationally, his presentations put forth innovative and creative extensions of theories such as logotherapy, psychosynthesis, and perennial philosophy. As the founder and President of Purpose Research, he has edited and published more than a dozen books by authors who focus on logotherapy and existential analysis; ten of them edited or authored by Paul and Lilian Wong, Elisabeth Lukas, and Joseph Fabry. His long-term interest is in establishing the fact of the soul (noëtic dimension) in education, psychology, and human living.
Jay Levinson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Baltimore, Maryland. He has lectured internationally and served on the faculties of both the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He is the only person to publish research integrating the work of Dr. Viktor Frankl (meaning in life) and Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (meaning in death). He was privileged to serve as a special assistant, colleague, and friend to Dr. Frankl for over 20 years and edited his last book, Man’s Search for Ultimate Meaning. In addition, Existential Psychotherapy of Meaning, co-edited by Dr. Alexander Batthyány and Dr. Levinson, is a compilation of the next generation of work in logotherapy. Dr. Levinson was recently honored by the Vienna Institute of Logotherapy with its Lifetime Achievement Award and was made an Honorary Member of the Austrian Medical Society. In an effort to give back to his community, he has served on boards of several charitable foundations including the Vienna Institute of Logotherapy and was a founder of the Baltimore Ronald McDonald House.