Rollo May

Date of Birth: April 21, 1909

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: October 22, 1994

Biography

Rollo May was an influential American existential psychologist who is often associated with humanistic psychology. He was born on April 21, 1909, in Ada, Ohio. May is best known for his work on the concepts of anxiety, love, and creativity. He believed that human beings could find meaning in life through their own experiences and choices, and his work emphasized the importance of confronting existential anxieties to achieve personal growth. May earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Columbia University in 1949. His dissertation, “The Meaning of Anxiety,” became a seminal work in the field. Throughout his career, he wrote numerous books, including “Man’s Search for Himself,” “Love and Will,” and “The Courage to Create,” which continue to be influential in the fields of psychology and psychotherapy. May’s approach was heavily influenced by existential philosophy, and he drew upon the works of philosophers such as Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche. He believed that confronting the inevitability of death and the inherent challenges of existence could lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

5 Interesting Facts about Rollo May

1. Rollo May was a close friend and collaborator with American humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers.

2. He contracted tuberculosis in the 1930s and spent several years in a sanatorium, which profoundly influenced his philosophical outlook and psychological theories.

3. May was one of the founding figures of the existential psychotherapy movement in the United States.

4. He was a prolific writer and his works have been translated into multiple languages, influencing psychologists and therapists worldwide.

5. Rollo May received the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Professional Contributions Award in 1971.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Rollo May

1. “The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.”

2. “Freedom is man’s capacity to take a hand in his own development. It is our capacity to mold ourselves.”

3. “Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.”

4. “The relationship is that state which allows us to be authentically ourselves.”

5. “The first step in the process of becoming is to destroy the myth that the self is a static entity.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Rollo May’s highest net worth achieved is not widely documented, as psychologists typically do not accumulate wealth in the way entertainers or business magnates do. His contributions were more intellectual and academic in nature.