The Question That Makes us Human
The question “Why?” is one of the most fundamental cognitive processes in our lives. We seek meaning and wonder about the reasons behind things. Humans are creatures who question not only life itself but also the meaning of life; they do not merely think, but also consider what is meaningful and right. In psychology, this situation is explained through self-awareness and metacognitive capacity. Heidegger summarizes this situation as follows: “Humans are the only beings who question their existence.” This search has continued since the beginning of our history. This awareness not only makes us human but also makes us open to change. New questions and new answers emerge. Sometimes even unanswered questions can provide a different perspective. This process lasts a lifetime and we constantly struggle with it.
Even if we are not explicitly searching for meaning, humans still question meaning and life. According to developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, this search takes on a different quality in adolescence with the question, “Who am I?” According to Viktor Frankl, the most fundamental drive of humans is not “pleasure” (Freud) or “power” (Adler), but the desire to find meaning. According to Seligman, one of the founders of positive psychology, one of the most important components that increases life satisfaction is the sense of meaning. This search for meaning adds value both to the individual and to society. It is not when meaning is found, but when it is sought that it begins to add value to life. Perhaps meaning is not a phenomenon to be discovered, but something to be created.
The Psychological Cost of Knowing the Meaning
What happens if we understand the meaning of existence? The search for meaning is as continuous as life itself and just as in life, we can find ourselves in different meanings and perspectives. Because meaning adapts to people; it changes like people do. The effects and costs of the meaning of existence exist.
Meaning brings with it a sense of purpose. It can provide you with a framework in life. With this framework and purpose, humans develop. Therefore, individuals who can give meaning to their lives can become more resilient and purpose-driven psychologically.
According to self-determination theory, the concepts of belonging and autonomy are very important for healthy human development. This allows us to approach life more meaningfully and increases psychological resilience. Depression and anxiety levels may decrease.
However, searching for meaning can also create unease. People continue to question and doubt. In some individuals, this questioning can increase existential anxiety and identity crises. Existential anxiety is not pathological; it is a natural part of being human. Meaning adds awareness and this awareness is not always positive. Sometimes we have to face realities that are difficult to cope with.
Meaning may seem to rescue us from uncertainty, but the awareness that lies behind it actually brings more questioning, meaning and uncertainty together. The important thing is to accept this uncertainty and not define it as meaninglessness. Fighting anxiety can increase it even more. That is why Yalom says, don’t try to eliminate anxiety, but rather try to “make room” for it.
The future is uncertain and we build our future with these meanings.
Not Finding Meaning, But Creating it
Humans not only discover meaning, they also create it. Meaning sometimes transforms people not in the moment it is found, but in the process of searching for it.
Difficult memories and breakdowns sometimes create new meaning. As Erikson points out, these periods of breakdown become the processes that most shape and develop our identity by bringing the question “Who am I?” back to the forefront. In this process, new perspectives and a new identity can be gained. This is because as self-awareness increases, a more consistent identity becomes possible.
Meaninglessness and uncertainty can evoke many emotions. Engaging with these emotions without avoidance allows the person to develop a more mature, more authentic self. Constructing meaning facilitates regulating emotions, coping with stress and directing behavior.
Meaning should not categorize life and the individual’s identity. The path ahead and perhaps the path we have taken in the past may seem clearer, but this path may continue to change. With change, old thoughts may lose their meaning and in this case, cognitive restructuring can help the individual develop more functional ways of thinking.
People do not find meaning once and for all; they reproduce it along with the flow of life. Producing meaning can be more transformative than finding it. Even if humans do not reach a definitive conclusion, they rebuild and redefine themselves in this quest.
Perhaps the most meaningful aspect of existence is this: even if we cannot change the world, we have the power to change how we see it. And meaning is born precisely within this change, with our existence.
References
Adler, A. (1998). The Practice And Theory Of Individual Psychology. Routledge.
Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Meanings Of Life. Guilford Press.
Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2002). The pursuit of meaning. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook Of Positive Psychology (pp. 608–618). Oxford University Press.
Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive Therapy And The Emotional Disorders. International Universities Press.
Becker, E. (1973). The Denial Of Death. Free Press.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Erikson, E. H. (1994). Identity And The Life Cycle (2nd ed.). W. W. Norton.
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s Search For Meaning. Beacon Press.
Heidegger, M. (1962). Being And Time (J. Macquarrie & E. Robinson, Trans.). Harper & Row.
Heine, S. J., Proulx, T., & Vohs, K. D. (2006). The meaning maintenance model. Personality And Social Psychology Review, 10(2), 88–110.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish. Free Press.
Steger, M. F., et al. (2006). The Meaning In Life Questionnaire.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth. Psychological Inquiry.
Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. Basic Books.