fei75766_ch11_345-376.indd 346  02/06/20 12:38 PM
Part III    Humanistic/Existential Theories346
Twicemarried, twice divorced, Philip wasstruggling through yetanother dif-
ficult relationship—this timewithNicole, awriter inhermid-40s. Philip could 
offer Nicole bothloveandfinancial security, buttheir relationship didnotseem to
beworking.
Sixmonths afterPhilip metNicole, thetwospent anidyllic summer together at
hisretreat. Nicole’s twosmall sonswerewiththeirfather andPhilip’s three children 
werebythenyoung adults whocould careforthemselves. Atthebeginning ofthe
summer, Nicole talked about thepossibility ofmarriage, butPhilip replied thathewas
against it,citing histwoprevious unsuccessful marriages ashisreason. Aside from 
thisbriefdisagreement, thetimetheyspent together thatsummer wascompletely 
pleasurable. Their intellectual discussions weregratifying toPhilip andtheirlovemak -
ingwasthemost satisfying hehadeverexperienced, often bordering onecstasy. 
Attheendofthisromantic summer, Nicole returned home alone toputher
children inschool. Thedayaftershearrived home, Philip telephoned her,butsome -
howhervoice seemed strange. Thenextmorning hecalled again andgotthefeeling 
thatsomeone elsewaswithNicole. Thatafternoon hecalled several more times but
keptgetting abusysignal. When hefinally gotthrough, heasked herifsomeone had
been withherthatmorning. Without hesitation, Nicole reported thatCraig, anold
friend from hercollege days, wasstaying withherandthatshehadfallen inlovewith
him.Moreover, sheplanned tomarry Craig attheendofthemonth andmove to
another partofthecountry.
Philip wasdevastated. Hefeltbetrayed andabandoned. Helostweight, resumed 
smoking, andsuffered from insomnia. When hesawNicole again, heexpressed his
anger ather“crazy” plan. Thisoutburst ofragewasrareforPhilip. Heseldom showed 
anger, perhaps forfearoflosing theoneheloved. Tocomplicate matters, Nicole said
shestillloved Philip, andshecontinued toseehimwhenever Craig wasnotavailable. 
Eventually, Nicole lostherinfatuation withCraig andtoldPhilip that,ashewell
knew, shecould never leave him.Thiscomment confused Philip because heknew no
suchthing. 
Overview of Existential Psychology
Wereturn toPhilip’s story atseveral points inthischapter. Butfirst,wepresent a
briefoverview ofexistential psychology.
Shortly afterWorld WarII,anewpsychology—existential psychology—began 
tospread from Europe totheUnited States. Existential psychology isrooted inthe
philosophy ofSøren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul 
Sartre, andother European philosophers. Thefirstexistential psychologists andpsy-
chiatrists werealsoEuropeans, andthese included Ludwig Binswanger, Medard Boss, 
Victor Frankl, andothers. 
Fornearly 50years, theforemost spokesperson forexistential psychology in
theUnited States wasRollo May. During hisyears asapsychotherapist, Mayevolved 
anewwayoflooking athuman beings. Hisapproach wasnotbased onanycontrolled 
scientific research butrather onclinical experience. Hesawpeople asliving inthe
world ofpresent experiences andultimately being responsible forwhotheybecome. 
May’s penetrating insights andprofound analyses ofthehuman condition made him
apopular writer among laypeople aswellasprofessional psychologists. Final PDF to printer