Rollo May (1909-1994) was an influential American existential psychologist and author of several influential books in the field of psychology and philosophy. May’s work focused on the existential aspects of human nature, emphasizing the importance of making choices and engaging with life. His ideas have had a significant impact on modern psychology, particularly in the areas of psychotherapy and counseling.
May was born in Ada, Ohio and raised in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains. He received an undergraduate degree from Oberlin College in Ohio and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1940. After completing his doctoral work, May worked as a psychotherapist at the Austen Riggs Center in Massachusetts and began to develop his own theories about the human experience. He later moved to California to become a professor of psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno.
May is best known for his books The Meaning of Anxiety (1950) and Love and Will (1969). In The Meaning of Anxiety, he argued that anxiety was a normal and necessary part of life, and that it could be used to push people to make authentic choices. He believed that anxiety could lead to growth if it was addressed and worked through. In Love and Will, May argued that the ability to choose was the most important aspect of human existence and that the choices we make can have a profound impact on our lives.
May’s work has been incredibly influential in the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of psychotherapy and counseling. His ideas about anxiety and the importance of making choices have been incorporated into modern approaches to therapy. His work has also been influential in the field of philosophy, particularly in the areas of existentialism and phenomenology.
May, R. (1950). The meaning of anxiety. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
May, R. (1969). Love and will. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Good, T. L., & Kraus, P. (1995). Rollo May: Existential psychologist. American Psychologist, 50(9), 805-811. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.50.9.805