fei75766_ch11_345-376.indd 357  02/06/20 12:38 PM
Chapter 11    May: Existential Psychology357
usisaseparate individuality andhasnochoice buttolookattheworld through [our] 
owneyes” (p.54).
Thethird form ofontological guiltisassociated withourdenial ofourown
potentialities orwithourfailure tofulfill them. Inother words, thisguiltisgrounded 
inourrelationship withself(Eigenwelt ).Again, thisform ofguiltisuniversal, because 
none ofuscancompletely fulfill allourpotentials. Thisthird typeofguiltisreminis -
centofMaslow’s concept oftheJonah complex, orthefearofbeing ordoing one’s 
best(seeChapter 9).
Likeanxiety, ontological guiltcanhaveeither apositive oranegative effect on
personality. Wecanusethisguilttodevelop ahealthy sense ofhumility, toimprove 
ourrelations withothers, andtocreatively useourpotentialities. However, when we
refuse toaccept ontological guilt, itbecomes neurotic ormorbid. Neurotic guilt, like
neurotic anxiety, leads tononproductive orneurotic symptoms suchassexual impo -
tence, depression, cruelty toothers, orinability tomake achoice.
Intentionality
Theability tomake achoice implies some underlying structure upon which that
choice ismade. Thestructure thatgives meaning toexperience andallows people 
tomake decisions about thefuture iscalled intentionality (May, 1969b). Without 
intentionality, people could neither choose noractontheirchoice. Action implies 
intentionality, justasintentionality implies action; thetwoareinseparable. 
Mayusedtheterm“intentionality” tobridge thegapbetween thesubject and
theobject. Intentionality is“thestructure ofmeaning which makes itpossible for
us,subjects thatweare,toseeandunderstand theoutside world, objective thatitis.
Inintentionality, thedichotomy between subject andobject ispartially overcome” 
(May, 1969b, p.225).
Toillustrate howintentionality partially bridges thegapbetween subject and
object, May(1969b) usedasimple example ofaman(thesubject) seated athisdesk
observing apiece ofpaper (theobject). Themancanwrite onthepaper, folditinto
apaper airplane forhisgrandson, orsketch apicture onit.Inallthree instances, the
subject (man) andtheobject (paper) areidentical, buttheman’s actions depend on
hisintentions andonthemeaning hegives tohisexperience. Thatmeaning isafunc-
tionofbothhimself (subject) andhisenvironment (object).
Intentionality issometimes unconscious. Forexample, when Philip feltaduty
totakecareofNicole despite herunpredictable and“crazy” behavior, hedidnotsee
thathisactions wereinsome wayconnected tohisearly experiences withhisunpre -
dictable mother andhis“crazy” sister. Hewastrapped inhisunconscious belief that
unpredictable and“crazy” women must becared for,andthisintentionality made it
impossible forhimtodiscover newways ofrelating toNicole.
Care, Love, and Will
Philip hadahistory oftaking careofothers, especially women. Hehadgiven Nicole 
a“job” withhiscompany thatpermitted hertowork athome andearnenough 
money toliveon.Inaddition, aftersheended heraffair withCraig andgaveupherFinal PDF to printer