In psychology, the term angst refers to a profound emotional condition that encompasses worry, anxiety, and existential dread. Most aligned with the roots of existential philosophy, and particularly with Kierkegaard and Heidegger, angst is the condition of having an uneasy awareness of the myriad of possibilities of life, and the uncomfortable relinquishment of freedom in human choice.
Unlike common, object-bound fear, angst is mostly abstract like anxiety concerning the future, one’s identity, or personal meaning. For example, existential angst is the type of angst a young adult may suffer when they are cynical about the worth of their life and are contemplating their career choices.
Within clinical psychology, the term is used more broadly to define a diffuse state of anxiety and restlessness. Some theorists provide a more optimistic view about the phenomenon of angst, characterizing it as the motivation toward self-reflection, personal growth, and the quest for life ‘authenticity’. Currently, the focus of angst research is primarily on its excessive manifestation in the form of an anxiety disorder. Culturally, it has and continues to present as a primary phenomenon for adolescents and young adults, characterized by uncertainty and identity formation.