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Frankl noted that in the Nazi concentration camp where he was imprisoned, some prisoners who survived while others perished:

A) Had better physical health
B) Possessed a sense of purpose and meaning
C) Were more obedient to authorities
D) Avoided forming social connections

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

Survival in Nazi concentration camps, as noted by Viktor Frankl, was often linked to prisoners having a sense of purpose and meaning, rather than physical health or obedience. Spiritual resistance and the maintenance of personal integrity played a crucial role in enduring the traumatic experience.The correct option is b).

Step-by-step explanation:

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl observed that among the prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps, those who survived tended to possess a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, despite the harsh conditions. Frankl, himself a prisoner, noted that physical health alone did not determine survival; instead, it was the psychological resilience derived from finding meaning in suffering that allowed some prisoners to endure. Those who had a reason to keep living, which could come from a variety of personal or spiritual beliefs, were more likely to survive.

Inside the camps, prisoners were subjected to inhumane conditions, including forced labor, high mortality rates, starvation, and disease. Despite these atrocities, some prisoners engaged in acts of spiritual resistance, such as maintaining cultural activities and religious observances to preserve their dignity and humanity. This inner strength and defying the Nazis' attempts to break their spirit was a key factor differentiating those who could hold on to life a little longer.

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