When and where was Rollo May born?
Rollo Reece May entered the world on the 21st of April 1909 in Ada, Ohio. He was the first son and second eldest of six children born to Matie Boughton and Earl Tittle May.
Questions about Rollo May
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What education did Rollo May complete before earning his PhD?
Rollo May received a bachelor's degree in English from Oberlin College after being expelled from Michigan State University. He earned a BD from Union Theological Seminary in 1938 and completed his PhD in clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1949.
Which books did Rollo May publish during his career?
Rollo May published The Meaning of Anxiety in 1950, Love and Will in 1969, Power and Innocence in 1972, The Courage to Create in 1975, Freedom and Destiny in 1981, The Discovery of Being in 1983, My Quest for Beauty in 1985, and The Cry for Myth in 1991.
How did tuberculosis affect Rollo May's psychological theories?
A tuberculosis diagnosis in 1942 forced Rollo May into a sanatorium for eighteen months where he observed patients exhibiting fear linked to depersonalization. This illness profoundly shaped his understanding of anxiety and isolation leading him to conclude that anxiety is essential for individual growth.
Who were the key figures influencing Rollo May's work on existential therapy?
Viktor Frankl stood alongside Rollo May as a major proponent of existential psychotherapy while Paul Tillich served as a close friend who significantly influenced his work. Otto Rank was considered by May to be the most important precursor of existential therapy and Abraham Maslow provided a good base for his studies as an existentialist humanist.