Rollo May In Ten Minutes

Summary

In 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.