Mcleod: The Existential Self

The Existential Self According to McLeod (2008), the existential self is one of the most fundamental aspects of the concept of self because it not only describes an individual’s sense of distinction and separation from others, but also the awareness of the fidelity of the “self.” Put simply, McLeod (2008) states that the existential self, examines an individual’s perception of their own existence. Usually, the awareness of one’s own existence begins to set in between the first two to three months of a person’s life (McLeod, 2008). Time and space are some of the key elements that impact initial existential awareness by an individual. McLeod (2008) continues to state that children at the tender age of three months begin to realize that they exist as separate entities over time and space. This particular aspect of the “self” assumes that every person, whether small or big, young or old, is driven to discover who they are and therefore, use self-knowledge to make sense of the word in regards to the place they occupy and the role they play.
The Categorical Self The categorical self describes the second phase of the “self”, whereby besides being aware that he or she exists as …show more content…
By definition, self-esteem describes how much value a person places on themself (McLeod, 2008). As McLeod (2008) continues to state, self-esteem essentially denotes the degree to which we accept or approve of ourselves and by extension our actions and how others perceive them. To this effect, self-esteem as a basis for describing the “self” involves a conscious degree of evaluation that may result in either a positive or negative view of who we are. Self-esteem may be characterized as being either high or low. When it is high, the individual exudes self-acceptance, confidence, and optimism. On the other hand, when it is low, the individual exudes a lack of confidence, the need to look like other, excessive worry, and ultimately