May - Existential Psychology

Question 1

What’s is May’s focus?

Answer 1

Existential psychology

Question 2

May: What are four existentialism beliefs?

Answer 2

1. Existence (growth) above essence (stagnation), ie: actions are more important than what ppl are.
2. People are subjective & objective – ie: thinking & acting.
3. Ppl search for meaning in their lives
4. We’re each responsible for who we are & become.

Existing submissive men rock.

Question 3

What does May mean by existence?

Answer 3

To emerge or become. Growth and change. Action.

Question 4

What does May mean by essence?

Answer 4

Static, immutable substance. A product.

Question 5

May: The unity of people and the world is expressed by what term?

Answer 5

Dasein or being-in-the-world

Question 6

May: What are the three modes of being-in-the-world?

Answer 6

1. Umwelt – relationship with objects/environment.
2. Mitwelt – relationship with world of people
3. Eigenwelt – Relationship with oneself.

Question 7

May: People are motivated to search for answers to important questions regarding ____.

Answer 7

The meaning of life.

Question 8

May: If you treat people as objects, you’re likely living in _____.

Answer 8

Umwelt

Question 9

May: Healthy people live in….?

Answer 9

Umwelt, Mitwelt, and Eigenwelt simultaneously.

Question 10

May: What is meant by non-being?

Answer 10

Awareness of the possibility of not being through death or loss of awareness (e.g. due to drugs, alcohol).

Question 11

To May, what causes anxiety?

Answer 11

1. Awareness of the possibility of nonbeing

2. Freedom and responsibility

Question 12

May: Anxiety and ___ each cannot exist with the other.

Answer 12

Freedom

Question 13

Normal (constructive) anxiety, according to May, is….?

Answer 13

Experienced by everyone and is proportionate to the threat.

Question 14

Describe neurotic anxiety, per May.

Answer 14

Disproportionate to the threat, involves repression, and is handled in a self-defeating manner.

Question 15

What causes guilt, according to May?

Answer 15

1. Separation from nature
2. Inability to anticipate needs of others
3. Denying or failing to fulfill own potentialities

Question 16

May: The structure giving meaning to experience and allowing people to make decisions for the future is ____.

Answer 16

Intentionality

Question 17

How does May define love?

Answer 17

Taking delight in the presence of the other person and affirming their value as much as one’s own.

Question 18

How does May define sex?

Answer 18

A basic form of love, and a biological function that seeks satisfaction through the release of sexual tension.

Question 19

May: ___ is a higher form of love, seeking an enduring union with a loved one.

Answer 19

Eros

Question 20

May: ____ is the form of love that seeks a nonsexual friendship.

Answer 20

Philia

Question 21

May: What is the highest form of love, altruistic and seeks nothing from the other?

Answer 21

Agape

Question 22

What are the four forms of love, according to May?

Answer 22

Sex, eros, philia, agape.

Question 23

What are two forms of freedom discussed by May?

Answer 23

Existential – freedom of action

Essential – freedom of being, of the conscious mind.

Question 24

May: Freedom and ____ are a paradox of life.

Answer 24

Destiny

Question 25

May: How is freedom gained?

Answer 25

Through confrontation with one’s destiny and through an understanding that death/nonbeing is possible at any moment.

Question 26

May: ___ ___ are belief systems, conscious and unconscious, that explain personal and social problems.

Answer 26

Cultural myths

Question 27

May: Three types of ontological guilt are…

Answer 27

1. Separation (from nature)
2. Inability to anticipate needs of others
3. Denying or failing to fulfill own potentialities

Question 28

May: Without ____ people couldn’t choose or act on their choice.

Answer 28

Intentionality

Question 29

May: ____ ____ are belief systems, both conscious and unconscious, that explain personal and social problems.

Answer 29

Cultural myths

Question 30

May: People have an equal degree of __ and __.

Answer 30

Freedom and responsibility.

Question 31

Summarize May’s Existential Psychology

Answer 31

• Ppl suffer GUILT from a) separation from the natural world b) inability to judge needs of others and c) denial of their own potentialities.
• They need Dasein – unity of self and world.
• Three modes of Dasein: a) Umwelt – relationship w/ things b) Mitwelt – w/ ppl c) Eigenwelt – w/ oneself.
• Intentionality gives meaning to experiences, allows ppl to make decisions for the future.
• Anxiety from awareness of poss. of nonbeing & when aware they are free to choose.
• Freedom is gained by facing one’s destiny and understanding nonbeing can happen anytime.

Question 32

May: What is essential freedom?

Answer 32

The freedom of being, thinking, planning, hoping.

Question 33

May: What is existential freedom?

Answer 33

Freedom of action, to move about, to pursue tangible goals.