Cognitive analysis of self-awareness of a healthy personality based on Viktor Frankl's theory: a case study of the novels of Savushun and Anna Karenina

Subject Areas : Comparative Literature Studies

Fatemeh Yahoseini Moosavi ¹ , Soheyla mousavisirjani ² , Afsaneh lotfiazimi ³

1 - PhD student in Persian language and literature, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate Professor , Department of Persian Language and Literature, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.(corresponding author)
3 - Assistant Professor Professor , Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2023-04-17 Accepted : 2023-04-17 Published : 2023-05-22

Keywords: self-awareness, Savushun, Viktor Frankl, meaning therapy, healthy personality, Anna Karenina,

Abstract :

 A healthy personality always seeks to find a purpose to give meaning to his life. In Viktor Frankl's theory of meaning therapy, the meaningfulness of a healthy human life is described in the light of the following characteristics: freedom of will and awakening, sense of responsibility, will directed towards meaning, love, wise tolerance of suffering, search for meaning, the answer to conscience and religious belief. Self-awareness, which means that a person is aware of himself, is one of the important components in Frankel's theory of meaning therapy. In meaning therapy, a person who is searching for meaning is faced with being responsible and aware. Novels such as Savushun Simin Daneshvar and Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy can examine the self-awareness of a healthy character and can be analyzed from a psychological point of view. In this research, by using the descriptive-analytical method, the psychological investigation of the novels of Savushun and Anna Karenina was done with an emphasis on Frankel's theory. And the question has been answered whether the characters of these novels have the characteristics of a healthy person according to Frankel or not. The findings of the research show that Yusuf (the main character of the novel) is a self-aware person in Savushun And self-awareness directly causes characteristics such as awakening, love, self-sufficiency, and responsible to appear in him. Zari (another main character of the novel) also comes to self-awareness after the events that happen to her, and the characteristics of a healthy personality appear in her. In Anna Karenina, Levin comes to self-knowledge as a result of events in his life together, and the traits of a healthy personality are manifested in him. Based on this and according to the basic issue of this research, it seems that the characteristics of the heroes of the novel are compatible with what Frankel defined (except for self-sufficiency). Of course, self-sufficiency can be considered a sub-component of responding to the call of conscience according to Frankel.