Man’s Search for Meaning: Pathos 1 key example

In addition to logos and ethos, Frankl often uses the third mode of persuasion, pathos (appeal to sympathy), in order to validate his views on the psychology of prisoners and on logotherapy. Most instances of pathos occur in the form of personal anecdotes, which provide intimate examples of his scientific observations. 

One such example of Frankl’s pathos appeal is at the very beginning of Part I, when he introduces the first stage of the prisoners’ psychological reactions: shock. Rather than, for example, cite empirical evidence supporting the view that prisoners struggle to comprehend their new situations, he includes an example from his own life:

The symptom that characterizes the first phase is shock. Under certain conditions shock may even precede the prisoner’s formal admission to the camp. I shall give as an example the circumstances of my own admission.

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