Rollo May

Lifeofthecharacters

Toughchildhood

RoloMaywasborninAida,OhioonApril21,1909,andmovedtoMichiganwithhisfamilythereafterCityofMerion.HisfatheristhesecretaryoftheYMCA,andRolloMayneedstomovewiththefamilyfrequently.Later,hisparentsdivorced,andhismotheroftenranawayfromhome,didnottakecareofthechildren,andevenattributedherdaughter'smentalillnesstotoomucheducation.Astheeldestsonofthefamily,RolloMaytookontheburdenofthefamilyveryearlyandalsohadtotakecareofhersisterwhowassufferingfromschizophrenia.

Academiccareer

WhenhewasstudyingatMichiganStateCollege,hewasannoyedbyaradicalliterarypublicationeditedbyhimandtransferredtoOberlinCollegeinOhio.AfterreceivingaBachelorofArtsdegreefromtheschoolin1930,hetraveledtoEuropewithanartgrouptolearnpaintingandartfromvariouscountries.Afterthat,hetaughtEnglishforthreeyearsatAnatoliaCollegeinGreece.

Inthesummerof1932,RolloMayparticipatedinasummerseminarinthemountainsofVienna.ThepsychoanalystAdleracceptedmanypsychologicalideasabouthumannatureandbehavior..

In1933,RolloMayreturnedtotheUnitedStates.

From1934to1936,heworkedasastudentpsychologistatMichiganStateCollegeandeditedastudentmagazine.

HethenenteredtheUnitedTheologicalSeminaryinNewYorktostudytheologyandreceivedabachelor'sdegreeintheologyin1938.AtUnitedTheologicalSeminary,RolloMayalsomethismentorTillich,andforthefirsttimesystematicallystudiedexistentialphilosophy.

AftergraduatingfromUnitedTheologicalSeminaryinNewYork,RolloMaywasappointedasthepastoroftheCongregationalChurchandspenttwoyearsasapastorinMontclair,NewJersey.

In1939,RolloMaypublished"TheArtofCounseling:HowtoGiveandGetMentalHealth."

Intheearly1940s,RolloMaywenttotheCityCollegeofNewYorkasacounselor.Atthesametime,heenteredthefamousWhiteInstituteofPsychiatry,PsychologyandPsychoanalysisinNewYorktostudypsychoanalysis.

In1946,RolloMaybecameapracticingpsychotherapist.Priortothis,hehadenteredColumbiaUniversitytostudyforaPh.D.Butin1942,hecontractedtuberculosisandalmostdied.Hecompletedhisdoctoraldissertation"TheMeaningofAnxiety"withpersonalexperience.

In1949,hereceivedhisfirstdoctoratedegreeinclinicalpsychologyfromColumbiaUniversitywithhonors.

Academicresearch

Inthemid-1950s,RolloMayactivelyparticipatedinNewYorkStatelegislationandopposedtheAmericanMedicalAssociation’sattemptstotreatpsychotherapyasaspecialtyofmedicine.OnlytheMedicalAssociation’sOnlymemberscanhavethepracticequalifications.In1948,RolloMaybecameamemberoftheWhiteInstituteandwaspromotedtoaresearcherin1952;in1958,heservedasthedeanoftheInstitute.In1959,hebecamethesupervisorandtraininganalystoftheInstitute,andworkeduntilhisretirementin1974.

Inaddition,hehasbeenavisitingprofessoratHarvardUniversity(1964),PrincetonUniversity(1967),YaleUniversity(1972),BrooklynCollege(1974~1975),andaseniorscholaratNewYorkUniversity(1971)andaprofessorattheRegentCollegeoftheUniversityofCalifornia(1973).ServedinvariousacademicpositionssuchastheNewYorkPsychologicalSocietyandthePresidentoftheAmericanPsychoanalyticSociety.

In1975,RolloMaymovedtoCaliforniatocontinuehisprivateclinicalpracticeandworkforSaybrookInstituteandCaliforniaCollegeofOccupationalPsychology.In1987,theSaybrookInstituteestablishedtheRolloMayCentertoencourageresearcherstoconductresearchandpublishworksinthespiritofRolloMay.

OnOctober22,1994,RolloMaindiedofvariousdiseasesathishomeinCalifornia.RolloMayhassuccessivelyreceivedmorethantenhonorarydoctoratedegreesandvariousawards.HeisparticularlyproudofreceivingtheChristopherMedaltwice,aswellastheOutstandingContributionAwardforClinicalPsychologyScienceandProfessionfromtheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationandtheAmericanPsychologicalFoundation.AwardedtheMedalforLifetimeAchievementinPsychology.

In1996,theHumanisticPsychologyBranchoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationestablishedtheRolloMayAward.

Marriagelife

RoloMayandFlorencedeVriesmarriedin1938anddivorced30yearslater.Thetwohaveonesonandtwodaughters.ThesonRobertRollowasthedirectorofpsychologicalcounselingatAmherstCollege.ThedaughtersCarolynJaneandAllegraAnnearetwins.Theformerisasocialworkertherapistandpainter.Thelatterisadocumentarycreator.

RoloMay’ssecondwifewasIngridShorer.Theymarriedin1971anddivorcedin1981.

In1988,hemarriedhisthirdwife,GeorgiaMillerJohnson.GeorgiaisaJungiananalyticalpsychotherapist.

Academicsystem

Analysisview

ThecoreofRolloMay’sviewofhumanexistenceisthesenseofexistence.Hebelievesthatthedifferencebetweenhumanbeingsandanimalsisthathehasasenseofself-existenceandcanbeawareofhisownexistence.Thisisthesenseofexistence.

Theexistenceofmanintheworldmeans:

(1)Manandtheworldareaninseparablewhole.

(2)Humanexistenceisalwaysrealistic,individualandchanging.

(3)People'sexistenceischosenbythemselves.

Theexistenceofhumanbeingsintheworldismanifestedinthreewaysofexistence.

(1)Existinthesurroundingworld.

(2)Existintheinterpersonalworld.

(3)Existintheegoworld(Eigenwelt).

Peoplecanbeinthesethreetypesofrelationshipsatthesametime.Forexample,whenpeoplehavedinner(thesurroundingworld),theyaretogetherwithothers(theinterpersonalworld),andtheyfeelphysicallyandmentallyhappy(theself-world).

RoloMaybelievesthathumanexistencehasthefollowingsixbasiccharacteristics:

(1)Self-core,whichmeansthatpeopletaketheiruniqueselfasthecore.

(2)Self-affirmationreferstothecourageofpeopletomaintaintheircore.

(3)Participationreferstoparticipatingintheworldonthebasisofmaintainingthecoreofoneself.

(4)Awarenessreferstothedirectfeelingsthatpeoplehavewhentheycomeintocontactwiththeworld.

(5)Self-awarenessreferstoaperson'suniqueawarenessphenomenon,whichistheabilityofapersontojumpoutandreflectonhimself.

(6)Anxietyreferstothepainfulemotionalexperiencethatariseswhenhumanexistenceisthreatened.

Personalityview

AccordingtoRolloMay,personalityreferstotheoverallexistenceofaperson,apersonoffleshandblood,thoughtandwill.Hebelievesthatthefourfactorsofhumanexistence,namelyfreedom,individuality,socialintegrationandreligioustension,constitutethebasiccomponentsofthepersonalitystructure.Freedomisthebasicconditionofpersonalityandthefoundationofhumanexistence.Individualityistheuniquenessthatdistinguishestheselffromothers,anditistheprerequisiteoftheself.Socialintegrationmeansthatindividualsparticipateinsocialactivitiesandconductinterpersonalcommunicationwhilemaintainingself-independence,andactonsocietywiththeirpersonalinfluence.Religioustensionisakindoftensionorimbalanceinthedevelopmentofpersonality,anditisthedrivingforceofpersonalitydevelopment.

RoloMayusesself-awarenessasacluetooutlinethefourstagesofpersonalitydevelopmentthroughthedegreetowhichpeoplegetridofdependenceandgradualdifferentiation.

Thefirststageistheinnocencestage,theinfantperiodbeforetheageoftwoorthree.Atthistime,theperson'sselfhasnotyetformed,andthebabyhasformeddependenceatthisstage,whichlaysthefoundationforsubsequentdevelopment.

Thesecondstageofresistance,fromtheageoftwoorthreetoadolescence.Peopleatthistimemainlydevelopthemselvesandself-awarenessbyconfrontingtheworld.

Thethirdstageisthenormalstage,theperiodafteradolescence.Peopleatthistimecanrecognizetheirownmistakestoacertainextent.Mostpeopleintherealworldareinthisstage,andmanypsychologicalproblemsinsociallifearethereflectionofthisstage.

Thefourthstageisthecreativestage,theadultperiod.Theself-awarenessatthistimeiscreative,reachingthemostperfectstateofhumanexistence,andalsothehigheststageofpersonalitydevelopment.

Thematicview

Originalvitalityisadrivingforceoflove,acompletemotivationsystem,whichshowsdifferentdrivingindifferentindividualsstrength.RolloMaybelievesthatprimitivevitalityisthebasicprototypefunctioninhumanexperience,anditisaninternaldrivingforcethatcanpromotelifetoaffirmitself,confirmitself,maintainitself,anddevelopitself.

Loveisauniqueoriginalvitality,whichpromotestheconnectionbetweenpeopleandthelovedonesandbecomesone.Lovehasbothgoodandevilsides.Itcannotonlycreateharmoniousrelationships,butalsocauseinterpersonalhatredandconflict.RolloMayfurtherdistinguishesfourtypesoflove:

(1)Sex,referstophysicallove,whichissatisfiedthroughsexualactivityorotherreleasemethods;

(2)Eros,whichreferstoEros,isthepsychologicallovecombinedwiththeobject.Inthecombination,itcanproducereproductionandcreation;

(3)Philia,Referstobrotherlyloveorfriendshiplove;

(4)Fraternity,referstolovethatrespectsandcaresforthehappinessofotherswithoutwishingtogetanyreturnfromit.

ForRolloMay,perfectloveisthecombinationofthesefourtypesoflove.Unfortunately,modernsocietytendstoequatelovewithsex,andmodernpeoplesuccessfullyseparateandtechnicalizesex,whichleadstosexualindulgence.Behindtheproliferationofsex,loveissuppressed.Asaresult,peopleignoretheconnectionwithothers,ignoretheirownexistence,andappearindifferenceanddehumanization.

Anxiety:InRolloMay’sview,themostfundamentalvalueofanindividual’sexistenceasahumanbeingisthreatened,andhisownsafetyisthreatened.Theworriescausedbythisareanxiety.

Anxietyandfeararecloselyrelatedtovalue.

Fearisaresponsetoapartofoneselfbeingthreatened.Ofcourse,fearhasaspecificobject,butanxietydoesnot.

RoloMaydistinguishestwokindsofanxiety:normalanxietyandneuroticanxiety.

Normalanxietyispartofhumangrowth.Neuroticanxietyisaninappropriateresponsetoobjectivethreats.RolloMayoncepointedoutthatpathologicalobsessive-compulsivesymptomsactuallyprotectthefragileselffromanxiety.

Courage:Amongthecharacteristicsofexistence,self-affirmationreferstothecouragetomaintainthecoreofoneself.Therefore,courageisalsocloselyrelatedtohumanexistence.RolloMaypointedoutthatcourageisnotthecouragetofaceexternalthreats.Itisaninternalquality,awayandachanneltoconnectselfandpossibility.Theoppositeofcourageisnotcowardice,butlackofcourage.Aseriousprobleminmodernsocietyisthatpeopledonotconfinetheirownpotential,butbecausetheyareafraidofbeingisolated,theydisregardtheirpotentialandobeyothers.

Myth:Mythisthemainmediumtoconveythemeaningoflife.Throughstoriesandimages,mythscanprovidepeoplewithawaytolookattheworld,enablepeopletoexpresstheirownexperienceandtheworld,andenablepeopletoexperiencetheirownexistence.The"Bible"canguidepeople'slivesthroughtheworldofmeaningitpresents.ItisinthissensethatRolloMaybelievesthatmythologyisanarrativemodethatgivesmeaningtoourexistence,whichcangivepeoplemeaninginameaninglessworld.Hepointedoutthatthefunctionofmythistoprovideasenseofidentity,asenseofgroup,supportourmoralvalues,andprovideawaytolookatthemysteryofcreation.Therefore,animportanttaskinrebuildingvalues​​istoleadmodernpeopleforwardthroughgoodmyths.RolloMayespeciallyadvocatesencouragingpeopletousemythsthatstrengtheninterpersonalrelationships,whichcanpushpeopletocometogetherandrebuildsociety.

Therapeuticconcept

RoloMaybelievesthattheprimarypurposeofpsychotherapyisnottoeliminatesymptoms,buttoenablepatientstorediscoverandrecognizetheirexistence.Thepsychotherapisthasadualtask,ontheonehandtounderstandthepatient’ssymptoms,ontheotherhandtofurtherunderstandthepatient’sworldandrecognizehisexistence.

RoloMaysummarizedthebasicprinciplesofpsychotherapyintofourpoints:

(1)Theprincipleofunderstandingreferstothetherapist’sunderstandingofthepatient’sworld,whichisthebasisoftreatment.

(2)Theprincipleofexperiencemeansthatthetherapistshouldpromotethepatient’sexperienceofhisownexistence,whichisthekeytotreatment.

(3)Theprincipleofpresence,thetherapistshouldeliminatepreconceptionsandenterthefieldofrelationshipwiththepatient.

(4)Theprincipleofactionreferstopromotingpatientstodevotethemselvestoactualactionsonthebasisofchoices.Hebelievesthatexistingpsychotherapytechniquesshouldbeflexibleandversatile,andchangewithpatientsandtreatmentstages.Ataspecificmoment,theuseofspecifictechniquesshouldrelyonthedisclosureandclarificationofthepatient'sexistence.

RoloMaydividespsychotherapyintothreestages:

(1)Thedesirestageoccursatthelevelofawareness.Thetherapisthelpsthepatient,sothattheyhavetheabilitytogenerateaspirations,togainemotionalvitalityandsincerity.

(2)Thewillstageoccursatthelevelofself-awareness.Thepsychotherapistpromotesthepatient'sintentiontogenerateself-awarenessbasedonawareness.Forexample,ifyouexperiencetheblueskyatthelevelofawareness,youwillrealizeIamapersonlivinginsuchaworld.

(3)Atthestageofdeterminationandresponsibility,thepsychotherapisturgesthepatienttocreateamodeofactionandsurvivalfromthefirsttwolevels,soastoassumeresponsibilityandmovetowardsself-realization,integrationandmaturity.

AcademicContributions

PioneeringAmericanExistentialPsychology

RoloMaypassedthe1958"Existence:NewDirectionsinPsychiatryandPsychology"ThisbookintroducesEuropeanexistentialpsychologyandexistentialpsychotherapytotheUnitedStates.ThisbookmarksthecompletionofthelocalizationofAmericanexistentialpsychology.

From1958to1959,RolloMayorganizedtwosymposiumsonexistentialpsychology.

ThefirstsymposiumlaterformedtheAmericanCollegeofPsychotherapists;

ThesecondtimewasaspecialtopiconexistentialpsychologyheldattheCincinnatiAnnualMeetingoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationin1959ThisisthefirsttimethatexistentialpsychologyhasappearedontheofficialagendaoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation.TheproceedingsofthisconferencewereeditedbyRolloMayandpublishedunderthenameofExistentialPsychology,whichpromotedthefurtherdevelopmentofAmericanExistentialPsychology.In1959,hebegantoeditthemimeographed"InvestigationofExistence"magazine,whichwaslaterchangedto"ReviewofExistentialPsychologyandPsychiatry"andbecametheofficialjournaloftheSocietyofExistentialPsychologyandPsychiatry.ItispreciselybecauseoftheseworksthatRolloMayisknownasthefatherofAmericanexistentialpsychology.HealsoinfluencedmanyscholarsandpromotedthedevelopmentanddeepeningofAmericanexistentialpsychology.ItisonthebasisofBurgenthal,Yalom,andSchneiderthattheyhavepushedAmericanexistentialpsychologytoadeeperlevel.

Promotedhumanisticpsychology

RoloMayactivelyparticipatedintheactivitiesofhumanisticpsychologyandpromotedthedevelopmentofhumanisticpsychology.In1963,heparticipatedintheinauguralmeetingoftheAmericanSocietyofPsychologyheldinPhiladelphia,markingthebirthofhumanisticpsychology.In1964,heparticipatedintheHumanisticPsychologyConferenceheldinSaybrook,Connecticut,markingthathumanisticpsychologywasrecognizedbytheAmericanpsychologycommunity.HehasmadeseverecriticismsofthebehavioristSkinner'senvironmentaldeterminismandmechanicaldeterminism,andhealsodisagreeswithFreud'sinstinctualdeterminismandgeneralitytheoryofpsychoanalysis,andtransformedpsychoanalysisintoexistentialanalysis.Healsopromotedthehealthydevelopmentofhumanisticpsychologybyarguingwithotherhumanisticpsychologists(Rogers).Inhislateryears,RolloMayalsowarnedagainstthetranspersonalpsychologysplitfromhumanisticpsychology,guidingthedevelopmentdirectionofthedisciplineinthedecadestocome.

Inventedexistentialpsychotherapy

RoloMayformedhisownuniquethoughtinthepracticeofpsychotherapy,whichisexistentialpsychotherapy.Itaimstohelppatientsrecognizeandexperiencetheirownexistence,tostrengthentheirself-awareness,tohelppatientsself-developmentandself-realization,andtoattachimportancetotheinteractionbetweenpsychotherapistsandpatientsandtheflexibilityoftreatmentmethods.Itespeciallyemphasizesimprovingpeople'scourageandsenseofresponsibilitytofacereality,andconnectspsychotherapywithmajorissuessuchasthemeaningoflife.RolloMayisthepioneerofAmericanexistentialpsychotherapy.Afterhim,Burgenthal,Schneiderandothershavemadefurtherdevelopments,makingexistentialpsychotherapyanimportantpartofhumanisticpsychotherapy.Atpresent,psychotherapy,togetherwithvisitor-centeredtherapyandGestalttherapy,havebecomethethreemostimportantmethodsinthefieldofhumanisticpsychotherapy.

PersonalWorks

RoloMayhasarichlife,hewroteabout20monographs,amongwhich"LoveandWill"hasbeentranslatedintomanylanguages​​andwidelyusedintheworldspread.Anotherbook,"Existence:ANewConceptinPsychiatryandPsychology",isconsideredtheauthoritativebookofAmericanexistentialpsychology.

Mainworks

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Characterevaluation

GuoBenyucommentedthatwhatRolloMayexaminedinhisworkswasthedilemmaofhumanexistenceinthemiddleofthe20thcentury.Aftermorethanhalfacenturyhaspassed,people'slivingconditionshavenotbeenfundamentallychanged,andevenworsened.Thecompetitioninsocietyisbecomingmoreandmorefierce,people'slifeisgettingfasterandfaster,thepressureonindividualsisalsoincreasing,andinneranxiety,emptiness,loneliness,etc.arebecomingmoreandmoreserious.Whilepeopleacceptallkindsofnewthingsinsociety,theirownexperienceisincreasinglybeingsealedup.Comparedwithhalfacenturyago,peopleseemtobefartherawayfromtheirownexistence.Inthissense,RolloMayisaprophet.

YeHaoshengbelievesthatbycombiningthebasicprinciplesofexistentialphilosophywiththetheoryofpsychoanalysis,hehasplayedanimportantroleinpromotingthetransitionfrompsychoanalysistohumanism.

PsychologistHendlincriticizedRolloMayfornotcarefullyexaminingtherelevantliteratureinthefieldoftranspersonalpsychologysinceMaslowandSutic,completelydisregardingthetheory,researchandpracticeinthisfieldinthepast20years.

TheAmerican-centeredpsychologistBurgenthalcommentedthatRolloMayisamythical,hallucinogenicanddedicatedperson,whoexploredthefieldsofourartandpsychologicalscience"—,Yougavethestudyofthehumansoul'"(through)clearlyexpressingyourviewsonlove,will,andcourageandenrichingyourconceptstobecomearespectablesuccessortoJames.