Rollo May In Ten Minutes
Summary
TLDRIn this script, Rollo May's influential work in existential psychology is explored, emphasizing his integration of existential thought with psychotherapy. May, inspired by philosophers like Kierkegaard and Heidegger, advocates for a therapy that addresses the core of our existence, promoting a felt connection to reality and a commitment to authentic living. He critiques modern society's distorted views on freedom and responsibility, urging a reconnection with the depth of our lives and the mystery of being.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Existentialism was a predominantly European phenomenon, but Rollo May was a major advocate for integrating it into American psychology.
- 🧠 Rollo May's existential psychology was influenced by philosophers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Tillich, as well as by psychoanalytic thought.
- 🤝 Rollo May's work is often associated with humanistic psychology, though it retains a distinctly existential flavor.
- 🔍 His existential psychotherapy seeks change at the level of our relation to existence itself, rather than just modifying behaviors or cognitions.
- 🌿 Experiencing the reality of our existence, or the 'I am' experience, is crucial for substantive psychotherapeutic change.
- 🛋️ Existential psychotherapy aims to help individuals commit to a way of being, emphasizing passion and commitment over mere existence.
- 🔄 Rollo May critiques modern society's mechanized way of life and its alienating effects, advocating for a deeper connection to existence.
- 📉 He highlights the imbalance in our lives, focusing too much on doing and not enough on being, leading to a loss of existential depth.
- 💡 May discusses the 'distrust of freedom,' where societal structures limit our sense of personal liberty and responsibility.
- ⚖️ Conversely, he critiques the 'full freedom assumption,' where people desire absolute freedom without acknowledging real-world limitations.
- 🌟 Rollo May's work challenges individuals to reassume their relation to existence, both in personal and cultural contexts, to live a more balanced and meaningful life.
Q & A
What is existential psychology as formulated by Rollo May?
-Existential psychology, as formulated by Rollo May, is a branch of psychology that integrates existential philosophy. It seeks to understand human experiences and behavior in relation to the reality of our existence and being, emphasizing the importance of our relation to life and the whole pattern of our existence.
Which existential philosophers greatly influenced Rollo May's work?
-Rollo May was particularly influenced by Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Paul Tillich. He was also influenced to a lesser extent by Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and other existential thinkers.
How does Rollo May's work relate to humanistic psychology?
-Rollo May's work finds confluence with humanistic psychology, and he is often regarded as a humanistic psychologist. However, his work retains a distinctly existential flavor, focusing on the individual's experience and relation to existence.
What is the primary goal of existential psychotherapy according to Rollo May?
-The primary goal of existential psychotherapy, according to Rollo May, is to seek change at the level of our relation to existence itself. It aims to address the whole pattern of our lives rather than just modifying specific behaviors or cognitions.
What does Rollo May refer to as the 'I-am-experience'?
-The 'I-am-experience' is a term used by Rollo May to describe the experience of realizing the reality of our existence. It is a moment of profound awareness that forms the basis for any substantive psychotherapeutic change.
How does Rollo May view the role of commitment in existential psychotherapy?
-Rollo May views commitment as a crucial aspect of existential psychotherapy. He emphasizes the importance of taking a decisive stance in life and committing to a way of being, reflecting Kierkegaard's insistence on the primacy of passion and existential decisiveness.
What is the significance of 'authentic existence' in Rollo May's philosophy?
-Authentic existence, in Rollo May's philosophy, refers to living out our own most potentiality for being, embracing our deepest possibilities as distinct human beings. It is about living in a way that is true to our own existence and not merely deferring to societal norms.
How does Rollo May critique the mechanized way of life and its values?
-Rollo May critiques the mechanized way of life for fostering ontological repression, where people focus on being good producers and consumers and seek entertainment to avoid boredom, losing the sense of the real depth of their lives and their participation in the grand mystery of being.
What does Rollo May mean by 'epistemological loneliness'?
-Epistemological loneliness, as described by Rollo May, refers to the feeling of isolation that arises from the realization that much of what we know is not terribly relevant to our existence. It is the disconnect between the vast amount of information we consume and its actual significance to our lives.
How does Rollo May analyze the distortion of freedom and responsibility in society?
-Rollo May identifies two primary distortions of freedom and responsibility: 'distrust of freedom,' where society assumes people are incapable of handling adult freedoms, and the 'full freedom assumption,' which promotes an infantile vision of absolute freedom without connection to others or the world's limitations.
What is the cultural challenge presented by Rollo May's work?
-The cultural challenge presented by Rollo May's work is to rebalance our lives by giving up some of our preoccupations and distractions, and to live a deep and abiding relation to the reality of existence itself, reassuming our relation to existence as a primary dynamic of our lives.
Outlines
📚 Integrating Existential Philosophy into Psychology
Rollo May, an American psychologist, is recognized for his efforts to blend existential philosophy with psychology. His existential psychology is influenced by a range of existential thinkers, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Tillich, with a lesser impact from Sartre and Camus. May's work also intersects with humanistic psychology, although it retains a unique existential quality. He critiques society and psychotherapy, advocating for change that is deeply connected to our existence. Existential psychotherapy, according to May, should not merely modify behaviors but should address our entire life pattern, fostering an 'I-am' experience that acknowledges the reality of our existence. This approach to therapy does not rely on specific techniques but on an attitude that can be applied to any therapeutic method.
🏭 Social Critique and the Misinterpretation of Freedom
In the second paragraph, Rollo May extends his existential psychology to include a social critique, particularly focusing on the alienating effects of industry and technology. He argues that our modern lifestyle leads to an ontological repression, causing us to lose touch with the depth of our lives and our role in the grand mystery of existence. May also discusses epistemological loneliness, where much of our knowledge is disconnected from our existential reality. He critiques the cultural distortions of freedom and responsibility, identifying a prevalent 'distrust of freedom' that infantilizes us, and a 'full freedom assumption' that promotes an unrealistic vision of absolute freedom. May's work calls for a reevaluation of our relationship with existence, urging a cultural and personal rebalancing that prioritizes our authentic engagement with life.
🌿 The Challenge to Embrace Existence and Responsibility
The final paragraph summarizes May's challenge to us: to shift our focus from our constant distractions and preoccupations to a deep and meaningful relationship with the reality of existence. May's work encourages us to reassess our priorities and to live in a way that is more connected to our true selves and the world around us. It is a call to action for both personal and cultural transformation, aiming for a more authentic and responsible way of living.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Existentialism
💡Rollo May
💡Existential Psychology
💡Humanistic Psychology
💡Existential Psychotherapy
💡I- Thou Experience
💡Alienation
💡Ontological Repression
💡Epistemological Loneliness
💡Freedom and Responsibility
💡Social Critique
Highlights
Rollo May is a key advocate for integrating existential philosophy into psychology.
May's work in existential psychology draws from a broad range of existentialist thinkers, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Tillich.
May was influenced by psychoanalytic thought and frequently explores the unconscious in his work.
May's work aligns with humanistic psychology, though it retains a distinct existential flavor.
Existential psychotherapy focuses on change in relation to the reality of our existence.
May argues that change lacking a connection to our existence is trivial.
Existential psychotherapy seeks change at the level of our relation to life and existence itself.
The 'I-am' experience, as described by May, is foundational for substantive psychotherapeutic change.
May emphasizes the importance of experiencing the reality of our existence to foster a deep connection to life.
Existential psychotherapy aims to help individuals commit to a way of being and take decisive stances in life.
May's work reflects Kierkegaard's emphasis on passion, commitment, and living with existential decisiveness.
Heidegger's analysis on living out our potentiality for being is a key influence on May's approach to existential psychotherapy.
Existential psychotherapy does not offer specific techniques but rather a particular attitude toward using techniques.
May's work contains a social critique of the mechanized way of life and the values that support it.
May examines the alienating effects of industry and technology on our sense of being and existence.
May discusses the cultural tendency to overemphasize doing over being, leading to a loss of connection with the depth of life.
May's social critique addresses the distortion of freedom and responsibility in modern society.
May identifies 'distrust of freedom' as a prevalent cultural distortion, undermining personal liberty and responsibility.
The 'full freedom assumption' is another distortion May critiques, representing an infantile and unrealistic vision of freedom.
May's work challenges us to rebalance our lives by living in deep relation to the reality of existence.
Transcripts
Rollo may in ten minutes although
existentialism was an overwhelmingly
European phenomenon there's probably
been no greater advocate for integrating
existential philosophy into psychology
than the American psychologist Rollo May
first let's characterize Rollo Mays work
in general terms in seeking to formulate
an existential psychology Rollo made
draws from the broad palette of
existential thought he's particularly
influenced by Soren Kierkegaard
Friedrich Nietzsche Martin Heidegger and
Paul Tillich and to a lesser extent by
jean-paul Sartre Albert Camus and
numerous others in addition like many of
the early existentially oriented
psychologists Rollo May is also greatly
influenced by his contact with
psychoanalytic thought and the
unconscious remains a recurrent motif in
his work Rollo mais work also finds
confluence with the movement of
humanistic psychology so much so that
he's often regarded as a humanistic
psychologist proper however his work
always retains a distinctly existential
flavor in terms of its concrete content
much of Rollo Mays work crystallizes in
the form of an existential informed
social critique however he's also
greatly interested in evolving
existential forms of psychotherapy so
what is existential psychotherapy like
existential philosophy existential
psychotherapy has to do with seeking
change in our lives in relation to the
reality of our existence or being in
fact from Rollo Mays point of view any
sort of change that lacks a felt
connection to the reality of our
existence is trivial at best this
contention of course already forms the
contours of a critique of much of
psychotherapy as we know it especially
the kinds of psychotherapy that would
content themselves with simply modifying
people's problematic behaviors or
rearranging people's cognitions or
affective reactions for Rollo may
psychotherapy must seek change at the
level of our relation to existence
itself at the level of our relation to
life consequently existential
psychotherapy seeks change in the entire
whole
allistic pattern or Gestalt of our lives
rather than in only one part but how do
we change at the level of our relation
to being for Rallo may this kind of
change requires that we actually
experience the reality of our existence
he calls this kind of experience and I
am experienced and it forms the basis of
any kind of substantive
psychotherapeutic change of course the I
M experience can take many forms
some of them filled with anxiety dread
anguish and the other difficult
sensations the existentialist explorer
however perhaps an easier way of getting
a sense for the I M experience would be
to think of times when you're really
relaxing when you're sitting on a porch
swing on a bright breezy day for
instance and as you let your normal
cares begin to drift away you might
begin to notice things that we're always
there but that you'd overlooked before
the smell of the breeze for instance or
the way the Sun feels on your skin and
as you settle down even more you might
have an extraordinary moment or you're
just dumbstruck by the reality of
existence itself that you exist or that
anything exists for that matter for
rollo may these kinds of experiences are
extremely important how we relate to the
reality of our lives so existential
psychotherapy attempts to honor and
foster them however existential
psychotherapy also aims at helping us
move toward taking a decisive concrete
stance in life toward committing to a
way of being here Rollo Mays work
reflects the Danish philosopher søren
kierkegaard insistence on the primacy of
passion and commitment on living with a
sense of existential decisiveness rather
than just going through the motions and
of all the ways that we can commit to a
way of being existential psychotherapy
places particularly
off entick existence here Rollo may
follows the German philosopher Martin
Heidegger 'he's analysis which indicates
that while most of the time we simply
defer to what they say we also have the
opportunity of glimpsing and living out
our own most potentiality for being in
other words living out our deepest
possibilities as the distinct
human beings we are however the reality
of our existence is that these sorts of
things don't simply happen in any
systematic way they don't come about
simply because we're following some
recipe or formula consequently
existential psychotherapy doesn't offer
many specific psycho therapeutic
techniques and procedures to bring them
about instead existential psychotherapy
offers a particular attitude toward
techniques rather than a body of
techniques per se in theory just about
any psycho therapeutic technique could
be used in an existential way even
techniques such as behavior modification
however in practice it's probably much
more common to use a technique such as
Rogerian psychotherapy with its
reflective punctuation of the subtle
intimations of being contained in the
clients speech of course as we noted
earlier another big theme that emerges
in Rollo Mae's work is a kind of social
critique in this regard Rollo Mae's work
follows the larger trajectory of
existential thought which often contains
an implicit critique of our mechanized
way of life and the values that
undergird it in particular Rollo Mae
examines the alienating effects of
Industry and technology on our lives for
Rollo may we live in times that foster a
kind of ontological repression in our
frenetic efforts to be good producers
and consumers on one hand and to be
entertained and avoid boredom on the
other we tend to lose the sense for the
real depth of our lives we lose the
sense for being participants in the
grand mystery of being along with the
kind of empowerment that can come with
that realization in essence we tend to
place too much emphasis on doing so that
we forget about being a kind of
systematic imbalance that runs
throughout much of our modern world
Rollo may similarly speaks of a kind of
epistemological loneliness that runs
through our times our epistemological
loneliness is that at the end of the day
much of what we know isn't terribly
relevant to our existence as such in
reality most of it doesn't actually
benefit us where we live and breathe for
in
think of the fraction of things you
learned in all your years of school that
really moved you at the level of who and
what you are for most of us it's
probably a small ratio or consider the
mass of information you know about
commercial products or old Seinfeld
episodes or how to operate computers and
then wonder about how much of it really
matters to your soul but perhaps a more
trenchant part of rolla may social
critique has to do with the meaning of
freedom and responsibility according to
his analysis we typically distort the
meanings of freedom and responsibility
in one of two primary ways he calls one
of these highly prevalent distortions
distrust of freedom and has to do with
our world's tendency to assume that
we're incapable of handling adult
freedoms and responsibilities for
instance consider our culture's
prohibition of drug use isn't the
underlying assumption here that without
the mechanisms of law enforcement we
would be incapable of deciding for
ourselves whether to become say heroin
addicts but isn't the obvious reality
that those of us who are bent on
becoming heroin addicts do so every day
quite irrespective of the law and those
of us who have no interest in it aren't
about to do it regardless of its
legality so then what is the war on
drugs really about following Rollo Mays
analysis of the distrust of freedom
perhaps the war on drugs is really a war
on our sense of personal liberty and our
responsibility for our own well-being or
consider the ongoing proliferation of
kindly warning labels designed to
protect us from ourselves again could it
be that what's really going on here is
an attempt to undercut our sense of
personal agency and responsibility for
ourselves mostly by insinuating that we
really need that kind of advice for
Rollo may all of these are instances of
a pervasive pattern of distrust of
freedom that runs through our cultural
terrain however the other principle
distortion of freedom runs in the exact
opposite direction and Rollo may calls
it the full freedom assumption basically
the full freedom assumption is the the
idea that we are
or at least should be free in an
absolute sense with no real connection
to the people around us or to the
limitations imposed on us by the larger
world one place to glimpse this is in
the relatively recent spate of
advertisements that plays on people's
investment in this kind of absolute
vision of freedom for Rollo Mae this
represents an infantile distortion of
freedom one that's fundamentally at odds
with the existential reality we inhabit
in essence our culture embodies and
propagates a fundamental distortion of
the meaning of freedom by preferring us
a vision that oscillates between polar
extremes of distrusting freedom on one
hand and pining for a dishonest
infantile vision of it on the other
what's missing in this of course is the
reality of freedom and responsibility as
we experience them all in all Rollo
Mae's work represents a powerful
exhortation for us to reassume our
relation to existence as one of the
primary dynamics of our lives this is
true both within the domain of
psychology and psychotherapy as well as
in the area of our culture more
generally in this regard Rollo Mae's
work presents us with an exciting
personal and cultural challenge to
rebalance our lives by giving up some
measure of our perennial preoccupations
and distractions and to begin to live a
deep and abiding relation to the reality
of existence itself and that's Rollo Mae
in ten minutes
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