Deck 12: Case Studies 21-22 George Kelly: Contributions

Question 1

Define May's four types of love.Which type of love best illustrates Jillian's relationship with Erin? With her brother? With Anana? With her baby?

Answer 1

Sex is the biological urge that goes by the same name.Eros is a tender union with another, which can also be sexual in nature.Philia is brotherly love or friendship.Agape' is an unselfish giving of oneself, without concern about what you will get back in the relationship.Eros probably best illustrates Jillian's relationship with Erin even though theirs was not a sexual relationship.Although the physical act was absent, Jillian was physically attracted to Erin.At the same time though, the relationship was more than sexual.Philia best illustrates Jillian's relationship with her brother.Eros also best illustrates Jillian's relationship with Anana.Agape' probably best illustrates Jillian's upcoming relationship with her baby.Good parents typically give unconditional love to their children without concern for getting something back.*Author's note: There are many theories as to the cause of homosexuality.Some embrace physical causes, others environmental.Right now there appears to be more support for the physical causes (e.g., genetics, brain differences) than for environmental causes.At least, that is where a lot of research is being conducted, as you may have heard about in the mass media, but there is no definitive explanation.For the sake of learning some of May's concepts, assume that the cause is physical.

Question 2

What is the primary task of the therapist, according to May? Find an example that illustrates it in the case.

Answer 2

The therapist should help the client expand his/her consciousness according to May.The role of the therapist is to help the client become aware of their potentials and act on them.In this case, the client helps Camille become aware of her inadequate relationship with her parents, that it is possible for her to date, and possibly marry and have children.The therapist also helps Camille to act on this knowledge by providing suggestions on how to meet people and supporting those decisions.

Question 3

How is May's concept of the human dilemma different from Fromm's concept with the same name?

Answer 3

For May, the human dilemma is the idea that we can see ourselves both subjectively and objectively.For Fromm, the human dilemma was the idea that we are both separate from nature and we are aware of that separateness.Both concepts are similar in that they suggest that we can experience events both subjectively and objectively.They are both different however, in that Fromm's is more specific.

Question 4

What is neurotic anxiety, according to May? Find an example of it in the case.

Question 5

Use May's concepts of responsibility and authenticity to explain Jillian's decisions to come out, to have a child, and to get married.

Question 6

Compare and contrast Rogers's concept of congruency and May's concept authenticity.

Question 7

Application Questions
Using May's existential analytic theory, analyze Jillian's behavior by answering the following questions.
What is May's concept of the human dilemma? Find an example of it in the case study.

Question 8

Using May's existential analytic theory, analyze Camille's behavior by answering the following questions.
Use May's three modes of existence and his concept of alienation to explain Camille's lack of relationships.

Question 9

Using May's existential analytic theory, analyze Camille's behavior by answering the following questions.
Use May's concepts of responsibility and authenticity to explain Camille's decisions to get therapy and join a dating service.

Question 10

Compare and contrast Fromm's concept of the human dilemma to that of May.

Question 11

How can behaviorism explain Camille's social phobia?

Question 12

Compare and contrast May's concept of alienation with Rogers's concepts of conditions of worth and incongruence.

Question 13

Assume that homosexuality has a physical cause*.Use the three modes of existence and the concept of alienation to explain Jillian's experience with her sexual orientation.