Cyprus Mental Health Institute Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology 1302-7840 2667-8225 2 3 Turkish 2 N N Y 2020 12 01 Full Length Paper Meaning ın/of Life: Discovery, Invention or Both? Turkish Y 180 186 Pınar Dursun Turkish Afyon Kocatepe University, Department of Psychology Turkey/Country> pdursun@aku.edu.tr Y 0000-0002-1451-0998 Pınar Alyağut Turkish Afyon Kocatepe University, Department of Philosophy Turkey N 0000-0002-9903-9831 10.35365/ctjpp.20.02.25 Recently, endless questions about the meaning in/of life have become a growing theoretical research topic especially within the contribution of positive psychology. Research findings suggest that experiencing meaning in life contributes significantly to psychological resilience, well-being, and health. While some people do not hesitate to look for more, even if there is meaning in their lives, some people do not even bother to bring this question to mind. In this paper, our aim is to discuss whether meaningful life can be achieved through a discovery or an invention with two leading perspectives-Frankl and Baumeister- and with recent empirical findings especially on traumatic events. First, Frankl believed that in any case, an individual should try to protect his honor and should discover a deeper meaning under the suffering. On the other hand, Baumeister suggested that there is no hidden or broad meaning in life independent from the person. Meaning can only be constructed by the individual by the satisfaction of four criteria that culture presents. Nevertheless, recent empirical research especially on resilience and trauma literature has revealed that a meaningful life can be achieved through the interplay of these two systems/processes-discovery and invention- especially in dealing with trauma. In conclusion, meaning of life can be characterized by a “degree” matter rather than “all-or-none” and the construction or discovery of life are complementary processes. English Meaning Of Life, Meaning In Life, Meaning, Logotherapy, Existential Psychology http://www.ktppdergisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Meaning-in_of-Life-Discovery-Invention-or-Both.pdf http://www.ktppdergisi.com/yasamda-anlam-kesif-icat-ya-da-her-ikisi_abstract_tr/ http://www.ktppdergisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Meaning-in_of-Life-Discovery-Invention-or-Both.pdf English References 185 186