MEANING IN MEANINGLESSNESS: UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ENCOUNTER WITH NIHILISM
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Keywords
snowball sampling, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Semi-Structured Interviews, Existential Crisis, Nihilistic Philosophy.
Abstract
Using a phenomenological framework, this research methodically examines the complex lived experiences and coping strategies of university students who actively engage with nihilistic philosophy. Through the snowball sampling technique, seven participants were recruited from different universities of Lahore, and semi-structured In-depth Interviews were done to explore the in-depth experiences of nihilistic students. A complex network of experiences is revealed by the interpretative phenomenological analysis, which can be divided into six distinct themes that include religious and spiritual beliefs, the essence of existence, social and interpersonal dynamics, psychological well-being, and perception of death. Additionally, the study pinpoints three basic coping strategies: recognizing the healthy and unhealthy mechanisms and the impact of innate personality traits. These are crucial tools that help students navigate existential crises resulting from their philosophical perspective. The identified patterns provide a thorough comprehension of the complex relationship between nihilistic philosophy and the various aspects of university students' lives. This emphasizes how crucial it is to understand these experiences and coping mechanisms in order to modify educational and psychological support interventions.
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Saman Amin
BS student, Department of Psychology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore,
Amber Baseer
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore
Uzma Ilyas
Principle Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore,
Irfan Ahmad
BS student, Department of Psychology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore