Rollo May

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American existential psychologist

Rollo May (April 21, 1909 – October 22, 1994) was an American existential psychologist and author of the influential book Love and Will (1969). He is often associated with humanistic psychology, along with Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, but he also had a significant influence on existential psychotherapy.

Early Life and Education

Rollo May was born in Ada, Ohio. He attended Oberlin College where he earned a bachelor's degree in English. After graduation, he spent three years as a teacher in Greece, where he met Alfred Adler, who influenced his thinking. Upon returning to the United States, May enrolled at the Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He later received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Columbia University.

Career

May's career was marked by his efforts to integrate existential philosophy with psychotherapy. He was influenced by the works of Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Martin Heidegger. His approach emphasized the human experience of anxiety, freedom, and the search for meaning.

Major Works

• The Meaning of Anxiety (1950)
• Man's Search for Himself (1953)
• Love and Will (1969)
• The Courage to Create (1975)
• Freedom and Destiny (1981)
• The Discovery of Being (1983)

Contributions to Psychology

Rollo May is best known for his development of existential psychotherapy, which focuses on the individual's experience and the existential themes of anxiety, freedom, and meaning. He believed that anxiety is a natural part of the human condition and that confronting it can lead to personal growth. His work emphasized the importance of facing existential dilemmas and making authentic choices.

Personal Life

May was married twice and had two children. He struggled with tuberculosis in his early years, which influenced his views on suffering and the human condition. He passed away in Tiburon, California in 1994.

Legacy

Rollo May's work continues to influence contemporary psychology, particularly in the fields of existential therapy and humanistic psychology. His writings remain a significant resource for those interested in the existential aspects of human experience.

Related Pages

• Existential psychology
• Humanistic psychology
• Existential psychotherapy
• Søren Kierkegaard
• Friedrich Nietzsche
• Martin Heidegger
• Abraham Maslow
• Carl Rogers