fei75766_ch11_345-376.indd 371  02/06/20 12:38 PM
Chapter 11    May: Existential Psychology371
Critique of May
Existentialism ingeneral andMay’s psychology inparticular havebeen criticized as
being anti-intellectual andantitheoretical. Mayacknowledged theclaim thathisviews 
didnotconform tothetraditional concept oftheory, buthestaunchly defended his
psychology against thecharge ofbeing anti-intellectual orantiscientific. Hepointed 
tothesterility ofconventional scientific methods andtheirinability tounlock the
ontological character ofwilling, caring, andacting human beings. 
Mayheldthatanewscientific psychology must recognize suchhuman char-
acteristics asuniqueness, personal freedom, destiny, phenomenological experiences, 
andespecially ourcapacity torelate toourselves asbothobject andsubject. Anew
science ofhumans must alsoinclude ethics. “The actions ofliving, self-aware human 
beings arenever automatic, butinvolve some weighing ofconsequences, some poten -
tiality forgood orill”(May, 1967, p.199).
Until thisnewscience acquires greater maturity, wemust evaluate May’s views 
bythesame criteria usedforeachoftheother personality theorists. First, haveMay’s 
ideas generated scientific research ?Maydidnotformulate hisviews inatheoretical 
structure, andapaucity ofhypotheses issuggested byhiswritings. Some research, 
suchasJeffGreenberg andassociates’ investigations onterror management, relates 
generally totheexistential psychology, butthese studies donotspecifically flowfrom 
May’s theory. Onthisfirstcriterion ofauseful theory, therefore, May’s existential 
psychology receives averylowscore.
Second, canMay’s ideas beverified orfalsified ?Again, existential psychology 
ingeneral andMay’s theory inparticular must berated verylowonthiscriterion. The
theory istooamorphous tosuggest specific hypotheses thatcould either confirm or
disconfirm itsmajor concepts.
Third, doesMay’s philosophically oriented psychology helporganize what is 
currently known about human nature? Onthiscriterion, Maywould receive anaver-
agerating. Compared withmost theorists discussed inthisbook, Mayhasmore 
closely followed Gordon Allport’s dictum, “Donotforget what youhavedecided to
neglect” (Allport, 1968, p.23).Maydidnotforget thatheexcluded discourses on
developmental stages, basic motivational forces, andother factors thattendtoseg-
ment thehuman experience. May’s philosophical writings havereached deep into
thefarrecesses ofthehuman experience andhaveexplored aspects ofhumanity not
examined byother personality theorists. Hispopularity hasbeen dueinparttohis
ability totouch individual readers, toconnect withtheirhumanity. Although hisideas 
mayaffect people inways thatother theorists donot,hisuseofcertain concepts was
attimes inconsistent andconfusing. Moreover, hedecided toneglect several impor -
tanttopics inhuman personality: forexample, development, cognition, learning, and
motivation. 
Asapractical guide to action, May’s theory isquite weak. Although hepossessed 
akeenunderstanding ofhuman personality, Maygathered hisviews more from philo -
sophical thanfrom scientific sources. Infact,hehadnoobjection tobeing called a
philosopher andfrequently referred tohimself asaphilosopher-therapist.
Onthecriterion ofinternal consistency ,May’s existential psychology again falls
short. Heoffered avariety ofdefinitions forsuchconcepts asanxiety, guilt, intention -
ality, will,anddestiny. Unfortunately, henever presented operational definitions ofFinal PDF to printer