Rollo Reese May and his contributions to Existentialism ©

Rollo Reese May and his Contributions to Existentialism

JEANNETTE VILLATORO

Rollo Reese May studied psychoanalysis and contributed greatly to the cause. He made incredible strides in clinical psychology. As an existential psychologist, May uncovered what he believed to be the nature and causes of anxiety (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007). Furthermore, Rollo Reese May took existential psychology to new heights. His resonant biography outlines his tribulations that reflect on his grand choice of psychological pursuits and illustrates his miraculous ability to develop ideas that correlate with every human being and the discovery of self. Rollo Reese May broke through many barriers to achieve a respected standing in the field. It is through his many elaborate contributions to the discipline of psychology that May leaves his mark, particularly through his examination of authentic love, the importance of values, and the human dilemma.

Biography

Rollo Reese May was born in 1901 to an unpleasant home life. As the second child of six children, May experienced a lack of attention and a rather traumatic experience when his older sister became victim of psychotic episodes and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007). May’s parents were neither interested in intellectual matters nor did they encourage the pursuit of them. This negative attitude towards education provided a major deficit of intellectual stimulation in the home. In fact, May’s father contributed his sister’s schizophrenia to an unnecessary abundance of education. When considering the serious mental disturbances of his older sister, it can be quite obvious where the interest in psychology sparked within May. However, with the disapproving stigma of educational matters alive within his home, it is also evident that a journey in psychology was a hard-pressed path for May.

Despite obstacles presented before him, May went to school to engage in academia pertaining to the field of psychology. He desperately pursued the human condition and went on to fulfill much of his education. He even served as a minister in a religious congregation for nearly 2 years at which time he discovered some problematic issues within the church, not pertaining to religion but to the congregation at hand. He went on to muster his passion into reaching the depths of psychology that had yet been untouched, and this endeavor led him straight to clinical psychology and the study of existentialism. He wrote many books that incorporated religion and psychology that sparked some controversy because many professionals believed that religion had little place in psychology besides the wonderment of why human beings grasp the concept and how it relates to behavior and idealistic ways of life. However, May had the ability to infuse religious and psychological beliefs into a meaningful collaboration.

In the middle of his flourishing career and education, Rollo Reese May had a traumatic experience with tuberculosis and was even admitted to a sanitarium (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007). He came close to death and this proved to undoubtedly be a dark time in his life. Despite the serious nature of this experience and his declining health, it provided a clear desire to uncover the profundities of the mind and brought him closer to a new development called existential psychology.

May’s niche in the psychological field proved to be that of the deliverer of reachable concepts that could penetrate interested minds while also making a huge mark in the field of psychology amongst many educated individuals. Perhaps his most loved and greatest accomplishment was the array of books he produced on psychology that proved to be relatable to most people trying to discover the true meaning of life their own unique place within it. May eventually earned his PhD in clinical psychology, going on to teach at many top universities in addition to producing some of the most influential publications on existential psychology and what he coined the human dilemma.

Contributions to Existentialism

Rollo Reese May fought to enter the world of psychology. In the beginning when Freud ruled the realm of behavioral science and psychotherapy, there was a point to keep psychologists out of the field as remembered by Rollo Reese May (Rabinowitz, Good, Cozad, 1989). Swayed by strong contenders in the psychology of existentialism such as Soren Kierkegaard and Paul Tillich, Rollo Reese May took great interest in the proposed theories and leaped into a new development of human science. He invented captivating suppositions regarding the nature of love, the importance of values and the human dilemma.

Many psychologists and psychoanalysts aim to achieve a true implication of what love means to people and how it is applied to discern mating and behavior. Rollo Reese May had a relatively unique position on love in contrast to what others in his field presumed. May spoke of an authentic love that was an amalgamation of four other distinct types of love that he identified: sex, eros, philia, and agape (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007).

Sex, according to Rollo Reese May, is a biological drive that satisfies a basic need and triggers a person’s desire for an available object that would satisfy this basic yet fervent need (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007, p. 515). Eros is one’s desire to be connected to another person and have a unified existence together (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007). The relationship aspect of this type of love leads to a creative union that is the extension of mere sex. Another type of love that May classified is philia. This kind of love is more of a friendship but is very important to continue the previous two loves. This love deals with acceptance of one another, a strong connection, and all of the sacrifice of one’s self to allow the other partner to flourish. The last love in May’s assessment is that of agape in which there is “esteem for the other, the concern for the other’s welfare beyond any gain that on can get out of it” (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007, p. 517), as stated by Hergenhahn and Olson. Agapé is centered on unselfish and complete love with the giving of one’s self to the other. Only when these four loves are in place and actively utilized in a relationship is authentic love at work. May’s theory of love is a huge contribution to psychology and explains some basic concepts that have been visited by other psychologists but explained in simple and unattested terms by Rollo Reese May.

The importance of values is one aspect of human life that continues to beguile many psychologists. The significance of what values mean to people is not the only concern in psychology, but also the determinants of how they effect behavior and shape personality. May defined values as the symbolism of experiences and the importance of them in our lives (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007). May concentrated his work strictly on existential psychology and the cause of anxiety. According to May, any threat to the development of values as guided by loved ones, experience, physical growth and nourishment is what begins the very hardships of anxiety (Greenberg, Koole, Pyszczynski, 2004). Because May believed that anxiety is the basis of most psychological neurosis and the outlook one has on the world, values and the threats against them pose the underlying contributions to anxiety. This can impair the ability to lead a healthy life unless one is able to recognize these distinctive threats and balance the different loves we encounter and cultivate.

His main contributions and beliefs in love and important values lead to the vary nature of May’s work. According to Rollo Reese May, “the human dilemma is that which arises out of a man's capacity to experience himself as both subject and object at the same time. Both are necessary-for the science of psychology, for therapy, and for gratifying living” (May, 1977, p. 8). Essentially, May rose to the occasion to incorporate all of the meaninful areas of one’s life and how they relate to the world and to themselves. Rollo Reese May believed that psychology and the individual life were important for one another to capture the true essence of why we are the way we are.

According to May, we cannot separate ourselves as subject or object. This is where the human dilemma lies in that we need both perspectives but can sometimes rely heavily on just one. When we look at ourselves as objects, we can analyze our strengths and weaknesses and indispensably we begin to appraise ourselves (Silvia, O’Brien, 2004). The problem with this scenario is that although we may have the opportunity to better ourselves, clearly in doing so we separate ourselves from our experiences (May, 1983). The more positive way to live is to have self-awareness and be able to interpret significant life experiences and apply them to a more constructive lifestyle (Silvia, O’Brien, 2004).

Among the foundation of his theory in existential psychology, May advanced the field with his numerous additives in behavioral science and his focus on anxiety. As described by Hergenhahn and Olson, he accepted modes of human existence that include our “interactions with the physical world, our interactions with other humans, and how one interacts with oneself” (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007, p. 523). May pressed the importance of therapy and how therapeutic endeavors alone can determine the prediction and control of behavior rather than relying on the more popular forms of objective psychology.

Critical Evaluation of Rollo Reese May

As with all psychologists and the theories they bore, criticism is abundant among the psychological and scientific community. It is important to see the justifications and the problematic aspects of each theory as to learn from them and build upon them. Rollo Reese May had an interesting position within the realm of personality theory that indeed brought some critiques to the forefront.

One of the strongest oppositions to May’s theory is that it is based more on philosophy than psychology (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007). It is assumed that conceptualizing values and commitments are left to theological research, but it is the existentialists that push these aspects of human personality into the study of psychology (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007). Moreover, Rollo Reese May’s usage of nebulous terminology made his theory a target for critics. Trying to concretely define such terms such as “freedom, responsibility, commitment, guilt, intentionality, love, and courage” can be an impossible task because meanings of these areas in life can be different for just about anyone (Hergenhahn, Olson, 2007, p. 523). Even with May’s argument that these concepts are every bit as significant a part of personality as society, culture and genetics, these elements do seem to muddy the waters of an already broad area of psychology.

One of the biggest threats to May’s theory is that of scientific research. With existentialism, there really is little room for empirical study or traditional methods of experimentation. May’s strong focus on existential psychotherapy and the conduction of free will pose an amazing quandary where proof is concerned. The problem lies within the fact that certain aspects that May was intrigued by and continued his study on were arguably subjective matters. However, with the near impossibility of proving his theory, one cannot dismiss the substance in which it held. Although some may contend that these aspects of free will and psychotherapy have triviality compared to viable, factual science, Rollo Reese May interjected that the study of human behavior has little room for concrete science and his method of psychology was by far the richest policy of inquiry.

Despite the rhetoric of May, his seemingly interchangeable views on broad subject matters and the inability to prove or disprove his claims, there is hardly a doubt that his relatable concepts on love and anxiety elicited incredible changes in the psychological field. Rollo Reese May brought a fundamental jolt to psychology by observing some neglected concepts such as determinism and identity; the key essential features that many believe are the main elements of the human psyche (Greenberg, Koole, Pyszczynski, 2004). It took prowess and courage to enter these aspects of personality because most psychologists ignored them for the purpose of being too vague and difficult to reach. When one dives into these matters that May was so passionate about, it becomes an engulfing task because each question develops into a new question and so on. There is no foreseeable end to the uncertainty of values, love and self-awareness. Yet May was unlike any other in that he strived to visit such magnified issues. Furthermore, his ability to connect to his audience through his creativity expressed in his many successfully published books claimed the attention of the very people psychology dared to analyze. Because of this, his readers were able to use May’s theory to personally test the ideas he presented in their own lives. The main objective in psychology is to introduce ideas that make sense. Although Rollo Reese May could not positively impose research to prove facts, he never let that shy him away from a study of existential psychotherapy nor his aim to otherwise prove his ideas through a simplistic and realistic fashion.

An Enlightenment of Personal Struggle

Rollo Reese May was quoted as saying, “we should be concerned with serenity, with loving people, and with serving” (cited from Rabinowitz, Good, Cozad, 1989, p. 439). This encompasses everything that May stood for. He was a deep-down humanist that believed in getting to the foundation of someone’s character before picking at the consequences on the surface. The human dilemma was indeed the root of all problems and if probed correctly, could set someone free. May was gloriously able to deliver a sure statement of what existential psychology was made up of when he said, “the microcosm of conscious is where the macrocosm of the universe is known. It is the fearful joy, the blessing, and the curse of man that he can be conscious of himself and his world” (May, 1969, p. 324). It is not underestimated the predicament existential psychology is faced with in that one question leads to a quandary of others in which none can be empirically supported. It is the sure nature of these delirious endeavors into the mind that many psychotherapists wish to prolong. Other psychological quests related to the objective approach are no less needed in the field, yet it is important to compliment these more common theories with the powerful punch of May’s psychological philosophies.

Personally, I am compelled by May’s theory because of my inclination to wonder about the more heavy matters of life. After diagnosing my own array of issues and how anxiety obviously affects my everyday life, I started to investigate the very principles that May suggested were causal of such dilemmas. I realized that I might not be balancing all of the constituents of authentic love that May brought into light. In order to truly be happy, one must have all aspects of relationships open for development so that they can honor one’s needs and wants. Anxiety has a major role in my life and as I looked into the existential theory that May cultivated, it became clear that I needed to grasp my identity better. I wear many hats as wife, mother, daughter, friend, and student, sister and sometimes activist. What seems to be missing is my true concept of identity and self-actualization. The avenues in life I choose to visit must foremost be the destination I choose only after it flatters my intended purposes for myself. This is what I gained from May’s theory, and it appealed to me in such a way that empirical research couldn’t penetrate. I know his theory is substantial because it relates directly to myself and I think that ability of relation his theory promises is the underlying magic that May conveys with his principles and ideals.

When taking into account the pros and cons of the theories that Rollo Reese May introduced, it is clear that his contributions are great. He expanded the theory of existentialism in ways that continue to beguile and inspire new research. Despite his unscientific approach to psychology, May broadened many views and dared to answer the deeper questions of life. By doing so, he impacted the field with an untouchable vigor and even went on to touch those that knew little of psychology with his books. Rollo Reese May uncovered what he believed to be the basic components of authentic love, how the importance of values in one’s life can impede or develop one’s personality and the nature of anxiety and how it relates to the downfall of the progression of human beings. Through his continued study of psychotherapy, May unleashed a kind of psychology that triggers one’s inner-self and allows them to reach into the future with the treasure trove of tools that May offered through his diligent hard work and fervor.







References

Greenberg, J., Koole, S., & Pyszczynski, T. (2004). Handbook of experimental existential
psychology. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

These authors give a much-needed perspective on existential psychology and how it applies to the self. This book offers a variety of reflections on the works of Rollo Reese May and how experimentation and existentialism can be applied together.

Hergenhahn, B.R., Olson, M. (2007). An Introduction to theories of personality (seventh
edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

These authors provide an in-depth look into the life and work of Rollo Reese May. This textbook gives information on several theoretical concepts that May developed with a major concentration on his contribution to existentialism.

May, R. (1983). The Discovery of being. New York, NY: W.W. Nortan & Company, Ltd.

This particular work by Rollo Reese May illustrates the paradox between societal demands and inner conception. It helps to shape the views of May into an intellectual standard of managing the world to better suit our individual needs. It also delves into productive counseling.

May, R. (1977). The Meaning of anxiety. New York, NY: W.W. Nortan & Company,
Ltd.

This is one of the publications by Rollo Reese May in which he describes how anxiety works in the lives of humans and existential psychology. He further explains the roles of society and politics and incorporates these aspects of human life with his theories. He explores how the stresses of life impinge upon the need to confront anxiety and deal with it properly.
Rabinowitz, F., Good, G., & Cozad, L. (1989). Rollo may: a man of meaning and myth.

Journal of Counseling and Development, 67(8), Retrieved from
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1583205&sid=2&Fmt=6&clientId=74379&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

These authors have a particularly valuable perspective on the Rollo Reese May because they interviewed him personally for the purpose of this article. This article provides insight on May’s views on the counseling profession and his concerns about society and how they effect personal human development.

Silvia, P., & O'Brien, M. (2004). Self-awareness and constructive functioning: "revisiting
the human dilemma". Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(4), Retrieved
from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=688722991&sid=2&Fmt=4&clientId= 74379&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

These authors clearly incorporate the theory of Rollo Reese May into self-awareness. This article demonstrates the usefulness of Rollo Reese May and his contribution to the theory of the human dilemma and creative achievement.