American Psychology Context (04:25)

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Rollo May discusses behaviorism and orthodox Freudianism that dominated before humanistic psychology developed. Together with colleagues, he founded the Humanist Association of Humanistic Psychologists. The Old Saybrook Conference identified a need for a new, human psychology approach to psychotherapy.

Focus on the Body (04:14)

May relates the epistemology of humanistic psychology to existential psychology. He became disillusioned by the movement's anti-intellectual direction and established a committee on humanistic psychology theory with like-minded colleagues.

Humanistic Psychology Theory Presuppositions (06:16)

Components include addressing the total human, including the mind and body; acknowledging subjectivity; psychologists confronting their own values; basing criteria on normal human beings; and including creativity, religion, desires, and meditation effects in psychology.

Psychology as a Science (02:18)

May hopes to apply humanistic psychology theory to social science. He discusses developing an epistemology for psychotherapy if it cannot become a humanistic science by American standards.

Future of Humanistic Psychology (02:39)

May urges colleagues to support the development of the form of science, art, or psychotherapy they believe in. He predicts an increasing interest in his field; behaviorism will decrease in significance as attitudes toward technology shift.

History vs. Technology (01:45)

May says that behavior modification psychology does not support a humanistic context. In constantly looking to the future, humans will lose consciousness.

Credits: Rollo May on Humanistic Psychology (00:39)

Credits: Rollo May on Humanistic Psychology