CHAPTER 14 MAY'S EXISTENTIAL-ANALYTIC THEORY

Existential-Analytic Theory Theoretical approach to understanding human personality that combines elements of existential philosophy with Freudian concepts.

Existential-Analytic Theory (cont.) Existentialism - study of ontology (the nature of being). Being - many definitions; one used by May emphasizes our struggle through the use of conscious, decision-making to realize our potentials. Three Modes of Being-in-the-World. –umwelt - biological or natural environment in which human beings exist. –mitwelt - world of interrelationships. –eigenwelt - unique presence in human beings of self-awareness and self-relatedness.

Disintegration of Values in Modern Society Reasons for Disintegration –change from healthy competitive attitude to hyper-competitive one. indiscriminate pursuit of material possessions, status, and prestige. –loss of our belief in the efficacy of reason. –loss of our sense of dignity and self-worth. –loss of our sense of relatedness to nature. –loss of our ability to relate to each other in a mature, loving way.

Disintegration of Values in Modern Society (cont.) Consequences of Disintegration –feelings of emptiness and isolation from one another. –feelings of powerlessness. –feelings of loneliness. –feelings of anxiety and avoidance of taking responsibility for our actions. normal anxiety - painful feeling that emanates from a realistic threat to our established values. –neurotic anxiety - painful feeling that is produced by an excessive reaction to a threat to our values.

Freeing Ourselves from Neurotic Anxiety Expansion of Consciousness –leads to more spontaneity, creativity, and responsible decision- making.

Personality Development Need to break our physical and psychological dependence on our parents or parental substitutes. –Evolution of our consciousness as we break these ties innocence - no consciousness of self. rebellion. ordinary consciousness of self - some awareness of prejudices and limitations. creative consciousness of self - transcendence of the usual or ordinary limits of consciousness.

Therapeutic Assessment Techniques No primary focus on techniques; focus instead on the person's attitudes, the special meanings of his or her existence.

Theory's Implications for Therapy Goal of Therapy –to understand the person as a being-in-the-world. –to make lonely and empty people more aware of themselves and their potential for growth through an expansion of consciousness.

Evaluative Comments Comprehensiveness - broad in scope when compared to other humanistic positions. Precision and Testability - imprecise and very difficult to test adequately. Parsimony - fails to meet the parsimony criterion; too many redundant concepts. Empirical Validity - little empirical support. Heuristic Value - theory is proving to be stimulating to scholars in the humanistic psychology movement and to members of the public, but not to researchers within mainstream psychology. Applied Value - considerable influence on professionals in areas such as education, pastoral counseling, family life, and religion.