"If you do not express your own original ideas, if you do not listen to your own being, you will have betrayed yourself."

-Rollo May-

Abraham Maslow

Rollo Reece May (April 21, 1909 - October 22, 1994) was an American psychologist known for his focus on existentialism. He is closely linked with humanistic psychology and existentialist philosophy, and, like Viktor Frankl, played a significant role in advancing existential psychotherapy.

Stages of development

Like Freud, Rollo May outlined developmental "stages," though they differ from Freud's rigid psychosexual stages. Instead, they represent key issues individuals face throughout life:

Innocence: The early stage of infancy before self-consciousness develops. An innocent acts based on instinctual needs, yet possesses a rudimentary will to fulfill those needs.
Rebellion: Characterized by a desire for freedom without fully grasping its accompanying responsibilities.
Ordinary: The stage where the adult ego learns responsibility but may find it burdensome, seeking solace in conformity and traditional values.
Creative: The authentic adult stage, where self-actualization occurs, transcending mere self-interest to embrace existential fulfillment.

These stages are not strictly age-dependent but reflect phases individuals may revisit throughout their lives, illustrating May's unique perspective on human development.

His Perspectives

Anxiety

In his book "The Meaning of Anxiety," Rollo May described anxiety as "the fear triggered by a threat to a value that a person sees as essential to their identity" (1967, p. 72). He quoted Kierkegaard, who called anxiety "the dizziness of freedom."
May's interest in anxiety stemmed from his time in a tuberculosis sanatorium, where he observed patients experiencing fear and isolation, which he linked to depersonalization. From this, May concluded that anxiety is crucial for personal growth—it's unavoidable and should be embraced to lead a dignified life. He believed anxiety motivates people to bravely exercise their freedom instead of conforming to comfort. May also suggested that transforming anxiety into fear could reduce its impact, as fear drives avoidance or desensitization to feared objects.

Love

May's views on love are explored in his book "Love and Will," where he delved into the complexities of human behavior regarding love and sex. He argued that society wrongly separates love and sex into distinct categories when they should be viewed as interconnected. May categorized love into five types:

Libido: Biological urge satisfied through sexual intercourse or other means of releasing sexual tension.
Eros: Psychological longing for procreation or creating lasting bonds through union with a loved one.
Philia: Close, non-sexual friendship between individuals.
Agape: Selfless love and concern for the welfare of others, often associated with the love of God for humanity.
Manic: Intense, emotionally driven love marked by fluctuating feelings, ranging from passionate highs to turbulent lows.
May also critiqued the "Sexual Revolution" of the 1960s, where he observed a shift towards exploring sexuality. He argued that the concept of "Free Sex" replaced traditional notions of "free love," and he emphasized that true love requires deliberate intention and consideration. May believed that yielding to sexual impulses did not equate to freedom; true freedom, he argued, came from resisting such impulses. He criticized the cultural impact of the Hippie counterculture and the commercialization of sex and pornography, which, in his view, contributed to a societal disconnect between love and sex. He lamented that modern society's focus on sexual freedom neglected important psychological aspects of human relationships, such as nurturing and caring for others.

Guilt

According to May, guilt arises when people ignore their potential, fail to recognize others' needs, or remain unaware of their interconnectedness with the world. Both anxiety and guilt involve existential concerns about one's existence. May described them as ontological, focusing on the nature of being rather than emotions arising from specific situations.
Feist outline May's three types of ontological guilt, each related to different modes of being: Umwelt, Mitwelt, and Eigenwelt. Umwelt guilt stems from losing touch with nature as society becomes more technologically advanced. Mitwelt guilt arises from failing to empathize with others, leading to feelings of inadequacy in relationships. Eigenwelt guilt is tied to denying or not fulfilling one's potential, affecting one's self-relationship. This form of guilt is universal because everyone struggles to fully realize their potential.

For contributions to psychology

Rollo May brought existentialism into psychology, which focuses positively on human potential and dreams but also acknowledges its limitations.
Rollo May helped people globally grasp the root causes of human suffering and crises by blending existentialism with humanism.
Rollo May concentrated on anxiety in his research, offering a new perspective: seeing it as a catalyst that aids better decision-making.

Publications

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