Views of Meaning in Life: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Francophone and American Cultures

The concept of meaning in life is existential in nature; essential to being human yet elusive at times. As Frankl (1959) wrote, “Man’s search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life…This meaning is unique and specific in that it must and can be fulfilled by him alone” (p. 121). Grasping what, exactly, it is composed of can be challenging. Moreover, the question of the universality of what goes into each individual’s meaning in life likely connects with culture. Culture is an inherent part of being human, and it has considerable impact on development. Thus, could there be differences in what people experience as adding meaning in life, as well as the process of searching for and discovering this meaning