Module 5 1C Flashcards
Humanistic and Existential Approaches: Rollo May
Existentialism: Focuses on human existence and meaning, reacting against positivism and determinism.
Post-WWII Influence: Emerged after WWII, emphasizing human potential and personal choice.
Human Essence: Defined by the ability to choose and redefine oneself.
Key Ideas:
Being-in-the-world: The self exists within and perceives the world.
Opposes Positivism: Rejects universal laws in favor of personal perspective.
Active Interpretation: Humans actively interpret their environment.
Rollo May: Existential psychologist and psychotherapist, focused on helping people live authentically.
Existential Quote: To understand existence, one must recognize the constant possibility of death.
Healthy Living (according to May):
Growth: Continually expand ways of “being-in-the-world.”
Challenge Destiny: Question predetermined paths.
Cherish Freedom: Embrace personal freedom.
Live Authentically: Be true to oneself and others.
Accept Death: Acknowledge death and live courageously in the present.
Existential Alienation: May saw this as “the illness of our time,” linked to psychological symptoms.
Manifestations of Alienation:
Separation from Nature (Umwelt): Alienation from the world of objects.
Lack of Meaningful Relationships (Mitwelt): Alienation from others.
Alienation from Authentic Self (Eigenwelt): Disconnect from one’s inner self.
Healthy People: Live in all three worlds (Umwelt, Mitwelt, Eigenwelt), adapting to nature, connecting with others, and understanding their personal experiences.
Need for Myths: May argued that in Western society, people lack myths, turning to cults, addiction, and pop culture for meaning.
Role of Myths:
Belief Systems: Myths provide explanations for personal and social issues.
Cultural Significance: Throughout history, myths have given meaning and identity within communities.
Psychological Growth: Myths help transcend the present, expand self-awareness, and address human crises.
Western Society: Denial of universal myths leads to alienation, apathy, and emptiness.
Growth & Anxiety: May believed growth involves the anxiety-driven surrender of past values (outdated ways of thinking or living).
Anxiety in Human Behavior:
Source of Anxiety: Driven by the fear that one’s existence or values could be destroyed.
Energy & Paralyzation: Anxiety can energize or cause panic and paralysis.
Types of Anxiety:
Neurotic Anxiety: Disproportionate reactions, often involving repression and inner conflict. Leads to nonproductive, self-defeating behavior.
Normal Anxiety: Proportional to growth or change, and can be confronted constructively.
Love & Humanity: May saw love as recognizing another’s humanity and supporting their growth.
Modern Society: Love is superficial, and will is self-serving; they need to be united in relationships.
Four Forms of Love:
Sex: Biological release.
Eros: Desire for enduring love and creation.
Philia: Nonsexual friendship.
Agape: Altruistic care for others.
Healthy Relationships: Blend all four forms of love.
Freedom & Destiny: Healthy individuals balance freedom and destiny (e.g., death’s uncertainty, childhood influences).
Two Freedoms:
Existential: Freedom to act.
Essential: Freedom of conscious awareness.
Freedom, Responsibility, Destiny: Linked—freedom grows with self-awareness and responsibility, but causes anxiety. Confronting destiny leads to greater freedom.
May’s View on Therapy:
Therapists should guide clients, expand their consciousness, and help them live authentically.
Apathy & Emptiness: Many clients feel directionless, leading to limited growth.
Therapy Goal: Help clients live fully, make choices, and be responsible.
No “Gimmicks”: Focus on building relationships, not just symptoms or techniques.
Lack of Empirical Research: Theories by Maslow, Rogers, and May haven’t led to much empirical research.
Positive Psychology: Significant work in positive psychology has explored existential and humanistic themes in personality.
Example Measures: see
