Rollo May existentialism

Existentialism

A philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom, personal responsibility, and the search for meaning in life, asserting that people define themselves through their choices and actions.

Balance of freedom and responsibility in Existentialism

Self-awareness leads to freedom, but it also brings responsibility and anxiety.

Existence Over Essence (You Are What You Do)

people are constantly 'becoming' rather than being fixed, unchanging entities.

- Essence refers to something's inherent nature—like saying a chair is always just a chair.

No Subject vs. Object Split (Live, Don't Just Think or Be Used)

you're not just a passive observer of life (subject) or a cog in a machine (object)

The Search for Meaning (Life's Big Questions)

Who am I? What is my purpose? Is life worth living?

- these questions drive our actions and decisions

-doesn't offer a single answer but encourages people to actively find their own meaning instead of just adopting what society or religion dictates.

Radical Responsibility (No Excuses, You Shape Your Life )

Individuals cannot blame external factors for their identity; they are responsible for their own choices.

Anti-Theory Vibes (Experience Over Labels)

Existentialists are skeptical of rigid theories that categorize people, arguing that this strips experiences of authenticity.

Dasein (Being-in-the-World)

Emphasizes the unity between individuals and their environment, rejecting the notion of existing separately from the world.

Nonbeing

Avoiding this reality through addiction, conformity, while confronting it allows for a more authentic and fulfilling existence.

confronting reality

It allows for a more authentic and fulfilling existence.

ANXIETY

Arises from the freedom and responsibility that come with self-awareness.

NORMAL ANXIETY

a natural and necessary part of growth and change, proportionate to the situation, not repressed, and consciously dealt with.

NEUROTIC ANXIETY

excessive, repressed, and leads to psychological conflict and avoidance. Stems from rigid beliefs and unresolved childhood experiences.

GUILT

arises when individuals deny their potential, misunderstand others, or become disconnected from nature

separation guilt (Umwelt)

arises from our increasing disconnection from nature and the natural world

Relational Guilt (Mitwelt)

comes from our inability to fully understand or meet the needs of others

Self-Related Guilt (Eigenwelt)

stems from failing to realize or fulfill our own potential. It occurs when we deny our abilities, avoid growth, or fear achieving our best, similar to Maslow's concept of the Jonah Complex (fear of success).

INTENTIONALITY

The structure that gives meaning to experience and allows people to make decisions about the future

relationship between subject and object

Intentionality bridges the gap between subject and object, allowing for understanding of the outside world.

CARE

A state in which something does matter.

LOVE

delight in the presence of the other person and an affirming of [that person's] value and development as much as one's own

What is the relationship between care and love according to May?

Without care, there can be no love; only empty sentimentality or transient sexual arousal.

difference between 'will' and 'wish' as defined by May?

'Will' requires self-consciousness and implies choice, while 'wish' does not. 'Wish' provides warmth and imagination, whereas 'will' offers self-direction and maturity.

UNION OF LOVE AND WILL

Love has become associated with sensual love or sex, whereas will has come to mean a dogged determination or will power.

SEX

it still remains the power of procreation, the drive which perpetuates the race, the source at once of the human being's most intense pleasure and his [or her] most pervasive anxiety.

EROS

psychological desire that seeks procreation or creation through an enduring union with a loved one.

- takes wings from human imagination and is forever transcending all techniques, giving the laugh to all the 'how to' books by gaily swinging into orbit above our mechanical rules

Eros seek in a relationship

An enduring union with the other person that brings delight and passion, broadening and deepening both partners.

PHILIA

An intimate, nonsexual friendship that does not require actions for the beloved, only acceptance and enjoyment.

AGAPE

defined as esteem for the other and concern for their welfare, is essential for both Philia and Eros.

characterizes Agape love

It is altruistic, undeserved, unconditional, and does not depend on the behaviors or characteristics of the other person.

FREEDOM & DESTINY

A blend of the four forms of love requires both self-assertion and an affirmation of the other person.

FREEDOM DEFINED

Freedom is the individual's capacity to know that he is the determined one" the word 'determined' in this definition is synonymous with what May would later call destiny

EXISTENTIAL FREEDOM

should not be identified with existential philosophy. It is the freedom of action-the freedom of doing.

ESSENTIAL FREEDOM

freedom to act, to move around does not ensure essential freedom: that is, freedom of being.

DESTINY

the design of the universe speaking through the design of each one of us

- We cannot erase our destiny, "but we can choose how we shall respond, how we shall live out our talents which confront us"

two forms of freedom recognized by May

Freedom of doing and freedom of being.

our response to destiny

We cannot erase our destiny, but we can choose how we respond and live out our talents.

What does May say about the freedom of individuals in relation to their destiny?

The freedom of each person is proportional to the degree to which they confront and live in relation to their destiny.

May compare myths to structural elements in a house

Myths are like support beams in a house; they are not visible but hold everything together and provide meaning.

five existential crises identified by May in the Oedipus story

1) Birth,

2) Separation or exile from parents,

3) Sexual union with one parent and hostility toward the other,

4) Assertion of independence and search for identity,

5) Death.

primary feelings of malaise in modern times

Apathy and emptiness, rather than anxiety and guilt.

What does May say about alienation in modern Western societies?

Many people feel alienated from the world (Umwelt), from others (Mitwelt), and from themselves (Eigenwelt).

What influences shaped May's existential psychotherapy?

He was influenced by existential philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Martin Heidegger.

What is the goal of May's existential psychotherapy?

To confront the inherent challenges of human existence, leading to personal growth and authenticity.

What is the therapeutic approach of May's existential psychotherapy characterized by?

A deep, dialogical process where therapist and client collaboratively explore experiences, beliefs, and emotions.

What is the role of anxiety in May's existential psychotherapy?

Anxiety is not to be eliminated but understood in its origins and implications for a more authentic existence.

What is phenomenological exploration in psychotherapy?

Encouraging clients to describe their experiences without preconceived interpretations for clearer understanding.

What does confronting existential realities involve?

Discussing themes like mortality, freedom, isolation, and meaning to help clients accept these aspects of life.

How does May suggest fostering creativity in therapy?

By utilizing creative expression as a means for clients to explore and articulate their inner experiences.