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