![]() It is from the prior experience of overcoming disappointments and adversities that we learn the importance of embracing the whole of life and believing that something good will happen only if we persist in our efforts. The above research program on generalized persistence has inadvertently provided behavioral mechanisms for Seligman’s (1990) learned optimism and Frankl’s basic formula for tragic optimism: to maintain hope in spite of tragic experiences, one must learn the courage and tenacity to strive for a future goal, no matter how bleak. ![]() Most of these studies have been summarized in Wong (1995). Through a long series of experiments in the 70s, involving both animals and humans, I discovered that organisms are more likely to persist in the face of repeated failure and less likely to become helpless if they have been inoculated with a mixture of positive and negative experiences, even when such inoculation was administered in a very young age. I discovered “hope” almost incidentally while studying frustration reactions and generalized persistence. The less traveled road to tragic optimism – a personal odyssey I begin with a brief account of my personal journey in search of optimism, then critique the current scene of positive psychology of optimism in American, and make a case for Frankl’s tragic optimism and meaning-based mature positive psychology. This chapter clarifies the nature of this kind of courageous hope and explains how we can cultivate it in the midst of adversities and tragedies, In this chapter, I want to show how Frankl’s concept of tragic optimism is essential to a full understanding of enduring hope and mature positive psychology.įrankl (1986) has shown that the greatest human triumph is achieved by the defiant human spirit, even when we are stripped to our naked existence and confronted with horrific death. For example, within the positive psychology movement, especially among those who research on hope and optimism, Viktor Frankl’s contributions are seldom acknowledged. However, like prophets in Biblical times, he is often misunderstood or dismissed. His voice is prophetic, because it heralds the current positive psychology movement, the resurgence of spirituality, and promises hope to a needy world threatened by global terrorism (Wong, 2001a, b) and the AIDS epidemic (Wong, 2003). Viktor Frankl, one of the most influential and enduring writers and psychotherapists of the 20th century, continues to speak to new generations. Finally, the presents TO as a prototype of mature positive psychology for the suffering humanity, based on Frankl’s logotherapy and tragic optimism. One of the findings based on the LAS is that TO contributes to post-traumatic growth. The chapter also explores supportive evidence and the adaptive consequences of TO, as measured by the Life Attitudes Scale (LAS). ![]() The rationale and evidence for the model are presented. Extending Frankl’s construct, Wong’s (2001) existential-humanistic model of TO postulates that the only kind of hope, which can stand the harsh blows of reality, needs to contain five key ingredients: (a) Acceptance of what cannot be changed, (b) Affirmation in the value and meaning of life, (c) Self-transcendence, (d) Faith in God and others, and (e) Courage to face adversity. Viktor Frankl’s (1985) tragic optimism (TO) posits that one can remain optimistic in spite of tragic experiences. The legacy of Viktor Frankl was assessed in terms of his prophet voice of hope and his contribution to positive psychology. 11th Biennial International Meaning Conference 2021.Existential Positive Psychology Bulletin.Research Institute on Flourishing and Suffering (RIFS).
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