13: May - Existential Psychology / The Defterolepto Man

Question 1

in May’s theory, the part of our lives that is determined for us, our “raw materials” for life

Answer 1

destiny

Question 2

in May’s theory, facing one’s anxiety and rising above it - parallel to “authenticity”

Answer 2

courage

Question 3

first stage of development in May’s theory - premoral, pre-self-conscious, pre-egoic, infancy, only doing what you must do

Answer 3

time of innocence

Question 4

second stage of development in May’s theory - developing ego and self-consciousness in childhood/adolescence by means of contrasting with adults, desiring freedom though not yet understanding it

Answer 4

time of rebellion

Question 5

third stage of development in May’s theory - conventional adult ego, seek refuge in conformity and traditional values

Answer 5

ordinary consciousness of self

Question 6

fourth stage of development in May’s theory - existential stage, authentic adult, beyond ego, self-actualizing, accepts destiny and faces anxiety with courage

Answer 6

creative consciousness of self

Question 7

in May’s theory, “the apprehension cued off by a threat to some value which the individual holds essential to his existence as a self”

Answer 7

anxiety

Question 8

May’s first book, based on readings of Kierkegaard, which explores anxiety

Answer 8

The Meaning of Anxiety

Question 9

May’s book containing most of his unique/original ideas (daimons)

Answer 9

Love and Will

Question 10

basic motivational construct in May’s theory, composed of a collection of specific motives called daimons

Answer 10

the daimonic

Question 11

Greek word meaning “little god” that can represent lower needs (food, sex) or higher needs (love) with the ability to “take over” someone

Answer 11

daimons

Question 12

a daimon need “taking over” an individual - balance among needs is disrupted, making the daimon “evil”

Answer 12

daimonic possession

Question 13

daimon representing love, need to “become one” with another person

Answer 13

eros

Question 14

daimon representing the ability to organize oneself in order to achieve one’s goals, ability to make wishes come true

Answer 14

will

Question 15

manifestations of daimons which are “playful imaginings of possibilities”, require will to come true

Answer 15

wishes

Question 16

a term for May’s first personality type - all will but no love, exceptional self-discipline but no wishes to act upon, perfectionistic (“anal”) but empty

Answer 16

neo-Puritan

Question 17

a term for May’s second personality type - all wishes but no will, filled with dreams/desires but no self-discipline to see them through, become dependent and conformist

Answer 17

infantile

Question 18

a term for May’s third personality type - a balance of daimons, uniting love and will

Answer 18

creative

Question 19

May’s final book which explores myths and the loss of values in the 20th century

Answer 19

The Cry for Myth

Question 20

stories that help us to make sense of our lives and serve as “guiding narratives” - resemble Jung’s archetypes

Answer 20

myths

Question 21

existentialist term derived from Greek words meaning “second/minute”

Answer 21

the Defterolepto man

Question 22

first aspect of life in existentialism - our past

Answer 22

what we were

Question 23

second aspect of life in existentialism - our dreams, desires, wishes

Answer 23

what we will be

Question 24

third aspect of life in existentialism - our current selves (the Defterolepto man lives in the present, not pushed by the past nor pulled by the future)

Answer 24

what we are

Question 25

first mode of living in the “now” - living our lives with respect for the universe, nature, biology

Answer 25

Umwelt

Question 26

second mode of living in the “now” - living with respect for others, humanity, humanizing your fellow man

Answer 26

Mitwelt

Question 27

third mode of living in the “now” - living with respect for ourselves, self-acceptance

Answer 27

Eigenwelt

Question 28

who we are at any given time - static

Answer 28

essence

Question 29

the fluid process of growth and change within our lives - valued by existentialists

Answer 29

existence

Question 30

painful feeling that emanates from a realistic threat to our established values

Answer 30

normal anxiety

Question 31

painful feeling produced by an excessive reaction to a threat to our values

Answer 31

neurotic anxiety

Question 32

existentialist term that refers to both the slow inherent process of dying and the process of denying/ignoring who you are (alcoholism, drug addiction, hate, depression, emptiness)

Answer 32

non-being

Question 33

guilt caused by removing ourselves from nature through overreliance on technology (most common in industrialized societies)

Answer 33

Umwelt guilt

Question 34

guilt caused by being unable to meet the needs of others, which we always are on some level

Answer 34

Mitwelt guilt

Question 35

guilt caused by denying our potentials and our failure to meet those potentials

Answer 35

Eigenwelt guilt

Question 36

structure of our lives which gives meaning to experience and allows people to make decisions about the future - positive force when rooted in reality, neurotic force when not

Answer 36

intentionality

Question 37

first type of love - altruistic esteem for others’ welfare

Answer 37

Agape love

Question 38

second type of love - a platonic friendship between two people, acceptance of another person

Answer 38

Philia love

Question 39

third type of love - psychological desire for procreation through an enduring union with a loved one

Answer 39

Eros love

Question 40

fourth type of love - biological function to remove sexual tension, nothing else

Answer 40

sexual love

Question 41

freedom to take action, to do something

Answer 41

existential freedom

Question 42

freedom to be who we are, to exist, to know ourselves

Answer 42

essential freedom