noogenic

Noogenic is an adjective derived from noogenesis and used to describe phenomena related to the origin or development of the mind and, more commonly, to aspects of human life concerned with meaning, purpose, values, and spiritual or existential concerns. In this sense, noogenic contrasts with biological or biogenic factors that arise from physical needs or neurological processes.

Etymology and usage: the term blends Greek nous (mind) with genesis (origin). It is most prominent in existential psychology and philosophy, where it denotes mental- or meaning-focused dimensions of experience. In some contexts, noogenic is used to denote the “mind-origin” of motivation, rather than the “body-origin” of motivation.

In Viktor Frankl's logotherapy, noogenic drives refer to the human drive to find meaning. He contrasted these with biogenic drives, which satisfy biological needs such as hunger or safety. A noogenic crisis, then, is a crisis of meaning when a person feels that life has no purpose, often prompting existential reflection or search for values. The concept has been adopted and adapted by some psychologists and philosophers to discuss meaning-centered stress, motivation, or well-being, though it remains less widely standardized than more established constructs.

Limitations: the term is not uniformly defined outside specific frameworks, and empirical validation varies. Some scholars view it as useful for signaling meaning-related phenomena, while others criticize vagueness or overextension.

See also: logotherapy, Viktor Frankl, existential psychology, meaning in life, biogenic.