Rollo May: Existential Psychology Flashcards
Who is the founder of modern existentialism? (Rollo May)
Soren Kierkegaard
Rollo May birthdate and birthplace
April 21, 1909
Ada, Ohio but raised in Michigan
what is the german term for being-in-the-world (Rollo May)
Dasein
what do the hyphens in the term “being-in-the-world” imply? (Rollo May)
it implies a oneness of subject and object, of person, and of world.
how is alienation manifested? (Rollo May)
(1) separation from nature,
(2) lack of meaningful interpersonal relations, and
(3) alienation from one’s authentic self
what are the three simultaneous modes of being-in-the-world? (Rollo May)
Umwelt Mitwelt Eigenwelt
what is umwelt? (Rollo May)
relating with the environment around us
is the world of objects and things and would exist even if people had no awareness
we must learn to live in the world around us and to adjust to changes within this world (Rollo May)
umwelt
We must relate to people as people, not as things (Rollo May)
mitwelt
how can we differentiate umwelt and mitwelt (Rollo May)
It can be seen by contrasting sex with love. If a person uses another as an instrument for sexual gratification, then that person is living in Umwelt, at least in his or her relationship with that other person. However, love demands that one commit to the other person. Love means respect for the other person’s being-in-the-world, an unconditional acceptance of that person.
what theories mostly deal with Mitwelt? (Rollo May)
Sullivan’s Interpersonal Theory and Rogers Person-Centered Theory
what theory mostly deals with umwelt
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory
what are the five tenets of existentialism? (Rollo May)
first, existence takes precedence over essence
second, existentialists oppose the artificial split between subject and object
third, they stress people’s search for meaning in their lives
fourth, they insist that each of us are responsible for who we are and what we will become
fifth, they are anti-theoretical because they believe that theories tend to objectify people
refers to one’s relationship with oneself (ROLLO MAY)
EIGENWELT
what does it mean to live in Eigenwelt? (Rollo May)
To live in Eigenwelt means to be aware of oneself as a human being and to grasp who we are as we relate to the world of things and the world of people. What does this sunset mean to me? How is this other person a part of my life? What characteristics of mine allow me to love this person? How do I perceive this experience?
what does rollo may say about healthy people?
Healthy people live in Umwelt, Mitwelt, and Eigenwelt simultaneously
They adapt to the natural world, relate to others as humans, and have a
keen awareness of what all these experiences mean to them