Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In this article, the author refers to Rollo May’s critical position in psychology regarding the need of comprehending human experiences before explaining them. The author also shows how this position helps clarify the existential foundations theorists can use to understand both dysfunctional experiences and the constructive and healthy development of human potential. Furthermore, to be consistent with this perspective on human beings, the author offers an explanation pertinent to the existential foundations of psychotherapy generally. As a rule, to comprehend a person properly, we should start by grasping and clarifying the intentions, lived meaning, and values that a person tries to affirm or preserve in and through each daily experience. After we have clarified those aspects of the experience, we can then appropriately concern ourselves with searching for the causes of the experience by relating it to a theoretical standpoint.

Keywords

Rollo May comprehension existential psychotherapy existential psychology

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bilmes, M. ( 1978). Rollo May. In R. Valle & M. King (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology (pp. 54-60). Oxford , UK: Oxford University Press.

Bugental, J. ( 1996). Rollo May (1909-1994). American Psychologist , 51, 418-419.

Bugental, J. ( 1999). Psychotherapy isn’t what you think. Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker.

Kafka, F. ( 1985). Informe para una academia [Inform for an academy]. Madrid, Spain: Akal.

Kundera, M. ( 1992). La inmortalidad [The immortality]. Barcelona, Spain: RBA Editores.

May, R. ( 1958a). The origins and significance of the existential movement in psychology. In: R. May , E. Angel , & H. F. Ellenberger (Eds.), Existence: A new dimension in psychiatry and psychology (pp. 3-36). New York: Basic Books.

May, R. ( 1958b). Contributions of existential psychotherapy. In R. May , E. Angel , & H. F. Ellenberger (Eds.), Existence: A new dimension in psychiatry and psychology (pp. 37-91). New York: Basic Books.

May, R. ( 1967). Man’s search for himself. New York: Signet books by The New American Library. (Original work published 1953)

May, R. ( 1969a). Existential bases of therapy. In R. May (Ed.), Existential psychology (pp. 72-83). New York: Random House. (Original work published 1961)

10.

May, R. ( 1969b). The emergence of existential psychology. In R. May (Ed.), Existential psychology (pp. 1-48). New York: Random House. (Original work published 1961)

11.

May, R. ( 1983). The discovering of being. New York : W. W. Norton.

12.

May, R. ( 1985). My Quest for beauty. Dallas, TX: Saybrook Press.

13.

May, R. ( 1990a). On the phenomenological bases of therapy. In K. Hoeller (Ed.), Readings in existential psychology and psychiatry (pp. 49-61). A special issue from the Review of existential psychology and psychiatry, Vol. 20, Nos. 1-3.

14.

May, R. ( 1990b). Amor y Voluntad [Love and will]. Mexico: Gedisa.

15.

May, R. ( 1996). Psychology and the human dilemma. New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1967).

16.

May, R. ( 1999). Freedom and destiny. New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1981)

17.

May, R. , & Yalom, I. ( 2005). Existential psychotherapy. In R. Corsini & D. Wedding (Eds.), Current psychotherapies (pp. 269-298). Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

18.

Schneider, K. ( 1999). The heart of Rollo May. Review of Existential Psychology and Psychiatry, 24, 104-110.

19.

Schneider, K. , & May, R. ( 1995). The psychology of existence. New York : McGraw-Hill.

20.

Von Gebsattel, V.E. ( 1958). The world of compulsives. In R. May , E. Angel , & H. Ellenberger (Eds.), Existence (pp. 170-187). New York: Basic Books.

21.

Yalom, I. ( 1980). Existential psychotherapy. New York : Basic Books.