Dr. Edith Eger Stands on the Shoulders of Viktor Frankl, both Figuratively and Philosophically. Her life and work exemplify the living application of Frankl’s core tenet: that meaning can be found in every moment, especially amidst suffering
"This paper explores the profound influence of Viktor Frankl, the founder of logotherapy and Holocaust survivor, on Dr. Edith Eger, also a Holocaust survivor and acclaimed psychologist. It investigates how Frankl's philosophy of finding meaning in suffering deeply informed Eger's therapeutic approach, writings, and personal journey of healing. Drawing from primary texts, including Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and Eger's The Choice and The Gift, this report illustrates how Frankl's existential humanism shaped Eger's methodology, enabling her to integrate trauma, resilience, and hope in psychotherapy. The discussion expands to consider clinical, cultural, and philosophical implications, offering insights into how their combined legacy continues to shape modern psychotherapy and trauma recovery.
1. Introduction
Viktor Frankl and Edith Eger are two towering figures in the field of psychology whose lives were marked by the horrors of the Holocaust. Their survival and subsequent contributions to the understanding of trauma, resilience, and meaning in life form a legacy that continues to influence therapeutic practice worldwide. While Frankl is best known for his development of logotherapy, Eger has become an influential voice in trauma recovery, explicitly acknowledging Frankl's impact on her thinking and practice. This paper examines the direct and philosophical influence Frankl had on Eger's personal and professional life, highlighting their shared emphasis on human freedom, responsibility, and the pursuit of meaning amidst suffering.
2. Viktor Frankl: Background and Philosophy
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor. His seminal work, Man's Search for Meaning (Frankl, 2006), chronicles his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and presents his psychological framework of logotherapy. Central to Frankl's thought is the idea that life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones, and that the human drive is not pleasure (as Freud argued) or power (as Adler proposed), but the pursuit of meaning.
Logotherapy is predicated on three main principles:
- Life has meaning under all circumstances.
- Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning.
- We have the freedom to find meaning in what we do, what we experience, or at least in the attitude we take toward suffering.
Frankl emphasized that while suffering is an inevitable part of life, individuals can choose their response and, through this, find a higher purpose. He drew from personal experience, arguing that even in Auschwitz, one could retain dignity by choosing their attitude, holding on to spiritual freedom when all else was stripped away.
3. Edith Eger: Biography and Professional Work
Dr. Edith Eger was born in 1927 in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. At age 16, she and her family were deported to Auschwitz. Her parents were killed upon arrival, and Eger endured unimaginable suffering in the concentration camps, including forced labor and the infamous cruelty of Dr. Josef Mengele. Surviving the camps, she emigrated to the United States, earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and began practicing as a psychotherapist.
Eger has written two bestselling books, The Choice (Eger, 2017) and The Gift (Eger, 2020), which detail her personal story and therapeutic insights. Her work emphasizes forgiveness, resilience, and the ability to reclaim agency in the aftermath of trauma. Eger developed a therapeutic approach that combines cognitive-behavioral methods with existential principles, particularly influenced by Frankl.
4. Meeting of Minds: Frankl and Eger
Although they did not work directly together, Eger acknowledges Frankl as a spiritual and intellectual mentor. She often cites Man's Search for Meaning as a foundational text in her recovery and professional development. Eger’s writing and therapy are deeply rooted in Frankl’s existential principles, particularly the emphasis on finding meaning in suffering.
Eger met Frankl later in life and held him in the highest regard. In interviews and writings, she notes that Frankl’s survival and psychological outlook mirrored her own journey from victim to survivor to healer. She considered him a role model, whose philosophy validated her belief that even the most horrific suffering could be transcended through meaning-making.
5. Frankl’s Philosophical Imprint on Eger’s Work
5.1 Meaning in Suffering
Eger’s central message mirrors Frankl’s logotherapeutic principle: we cannot change the past, but we can choose how we respond to it. In The Choice, she recounts her own suffering and how she learned to reframe her experiences not as permanent wounds but as sources of strength. This cognitive reframing is quintessentially Franklian.
Frankl wrote, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves” (Frankl, 2006, p. 112). Eger echoes this when she writes, “Suffering is universal. But victimhood is optional” (Eger, 2017, p. 105).
5.2 The Power of Choice
Frankl’s notion of inner freedom—the idea that one can choose their attitude in any given circumstance—is deeply embedded in Eger’s therapeutic message. The title of her first book, The Choice, is a direct homage to this principle. Eger encourages clients to recognize their agency, to step out of the role of victim, and to make choices that empower them (Eger, 2017).
5.3 Responsibility and Authenticity
Like Frankl, Eger believes in radical responsibility: individuals must take ownership of their thoughts and actions, even amidst uncontrollable external events. Her therapy focuses on helping clients move from blame to self-empowerment. This mirrors Frankl’s idea that meaning is not given but must be discovered through authentic living and responsibility (Frankl, 2006).
5.4 Transcendence and the Human Spirit
Both Frankl and Eger highlight the transcendent dimension of the human spirit. Frankl’s logotherapy includes the concept of the "noƶlogical" dimension—where meaning, values, and the spiritual domain reside. Eger integrates this into her therapy by helping clients discover a sense of purpose that transcends pain. Her view that "we become stronger in the places that were broken" reflects the redemptive vision shared with Frankl (Eger, 2020).
6. Comparative Analysis: Frankl and Eger on Trauma and Healing
6.1 Similarities
- Both emphasize meaning-making in response to suffering.
- Both reject the victim identity as a permanent state.
- Both incorporate spiritual and existential dimensions into therapy.
- Both advocate for human freedom and choice, regardless of circumstance.
6.2 Differences
- Frankl’s work was more philosophical and abstract; Eger’s is more personal and emotionally accessible.
- Frankl focused on the philosophical foundation of meaning; Eger integrates this with trauma-informed therapy.
- Eger emphasizes emotional processing and somatic healing alongside existential insight.
7. Clinical Applications of Frankl’s Influence in Eger’s Therapy
Eger’s therapy sessions often start by helping clients confront the past, accept their pain, and then move toward a future defined by purpose. She uses storytelling and metaphor, often sharing her own journey, to model resilience. This method echoes Frankl’s own use of personal narrative in Man’s Search for Meaning (Frankl, 2006).
In practice, she helps clients:
- Reframe past trauma as a catalyst for growth.
- Identify self-limiting beliefs and transform them.
- Embrace forgiveness as a liberating force.
- Find personal meaning that guides future action.
8. Philosophical and Cultural Implications
The dialogue between Frankl and Eger’s work speaks to broader philosophical debates about freedom, responsibility, and the human condition. In a time where mental health narratives often emphasize diagnosis and pathology, Eger’s Franklian message of agency and meaning offers a counterbalance. Their work invites therapists and clients alike to reclaim their dignity and humanity.
Moreover, their shared Jewish heritage and Holocaust experience lend a cultural and historical weight to their psychology. Eger, like Frankl, transforms cultural trauma into universal lessons, showing how suffering can be a crucible for wisdom rather than destruction.
9. The Broader Legacy: Frankl and Eger’s Combined Influence
Together, Frankl and Eger have significantly contributed to trauma-informed existential therapy. Frankl laid the groundwork with logotherapy, offering a philosophical framework that values purpose over pathology. Eger extended this with modern therapeutic practices, making existential healing tangible and applicable in diverse clinical settings.
Their combined legacy is evident in modern psychology’s increasing recognition of the importance of meaning, narrative, and spirituality in mental health. Their work resonates with post-traumatic growth theory, positive psychology, and integrative psychotherapy. Therapists today continue to draw from their philosophies when working with clients facing grief, loss, PTSD, and existential despair.
10. Conclusion
Dr. Edith Eger stands on the shoulders of Viktor Frankl, both figuratively and philosophically. Her life and work exemplify the living application of Frankl’s core tenet: that meaning can be found in every moment, especially amidst suffering. By transforming her own trauma into a source of healing for others, Eger has extended Frankl’s logotherapy into the 21st century, offering a message of hope, resilience, and freedom.
The influence of Viktor Frankl on Edith Eger is not just an academic consideration; it is a profound lineage of psychological and spiritual insight, passed from one Holocaust survivor to another, and then to the world. Their shared belief in the power of meaning affirms that even in our darkest hours, the human spirit can shine." (Source: ChatGPT 2025)
References
Eger, E. (2017). The choice: Embrace the possible. Scribner.
Eger, E. (2020). The gift: 12 lessons to save your life. Scribner.
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man's search for meaning (4th ed.). Beacon Press. (Original work published 1946)
Marshall, M. (2020, August 15). Edith Eger: Holocaust survivor, therapist and author. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53770865
Pytell, T. (2015). Viktor Frankl's search for meaning: An emblematic 20th-century life. Berghahn Books.
Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2015). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice: Skills, strategies, and techniques (2nd ed.). Wiley.
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