SELF ESTEEM

Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to reflect a person's overall emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. It is a judgement of oneself as well as an attitude toward the self. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs (for example, "I am competent", "I am worthy") and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame.

Self-esteem is a disposition that a person has which represents their judgements of their own worthiness,  happiness. According to Branden, self-esteem is the sum of self-confidence (a feeling of personal capacity) and self-respect (a feeling of personal worth). It exists as a consequence of the implicit judgement that every person has of their ability to face life's challenges, to understand and solve problems, and their right to achieve happiness, and be given respect. Self-esteem is affected when individuals know or feel that people of higher authority is watching them . Individuals feel sad and/or distressed when they know their self is inconsistent with what the world expects as the model individual.

Types

Positive:

People with a healthy level of self-esteem

·         Firmly believe in certain values and principles, and are ready to defend them even when finding opposition, feeling secure enough to modify them in light of experience.

·         Are able to act according to what they think to be the best choice, trusting their own judgment, and not feeling guilty when others don't like their choice.

·         Do not lose time worrying excessively about what happened in the past, nor about what could happen in the future. They learn from the past and plan for the future, but live in the present intensely.

·         Fully trust in their capacity to solve problems, not hesitating after failures and difficulties. They ask others for help when they need it

·         Consider themselves equal in dignity to others, rather than inferior or superior, while accepting differences in certain talents, personal prestige or financial standing.

·         Take for granted that they are an interesting and valuable person for others, at least for those with whom they have a friendship.

·         Resist manipulation, collaborate with others only if it seems appropriate and convenient.

·         Admit and accept different internal feelings and drives, either positive or negative, revealing those drives to others only when they choose.

·         Are able to enjoy a great variety of activities.

·          Are sensitive to feelings and needs of others; respect generally accepted social rules, and claim no right or desire to prosper at others' expense.

·         Can work toward finding solutions and voice discontent without belittling themselves or others when challenges arise.

Low self-esteem

Low self-esteem can result from various factors, including genetic factors, physical appearance or weight, socioeconomic status, or peer pressure or bullying.

A person with low self-esteem may show some of the following characteristics:

    Heavy self-criticism and dissatisfaction.

    Hypersensitivity to criticism with resentment against critics and feelings of being attacked.

    Chronic indecision and an exaggerated fear of mistakes.

    Excessive will to please and unwillingness to displease any petitioner.

    Perfectionism, which can lead to frustration when perfection is not achieved.

    Neurotic guilt, dwelling on and exaggerating the magnitude of past mistakes.

    Floating hostility and general defensiveness and irritability without any proximate cause.

    Pessimism and a general negative outlook

    Envy, invidiousness, or general resentment

    Sees temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions

When given feedback, individuals with low self-esteem often take it personally, and can be devastated by it. Low self-esteem individuals are very critical of themselves and depend on the approval of others for their own evaluation of self-worthiness. They believe that a person's approval of them is dependent on their performance, whether it be academic, relationship, etc. People with low self-esteem view their likeability in terms of successes: others will accept them if they succeed but will not if they fail.

False stereotypes

Self-esteem as comfort

For a person with low self-esteem – or "wrong" self-esteem, according to Branden's terminology – any positive stimulus or incentive will make him feel comfortable, or, at most, better with respect to himself/herself for just some time. Therefore, possessions, sex, success, or physical appearance, by themselves, will produce comfort, or a false and ephemeral development of self-esteem, but they won't really strengthen confidence and respect to oneself.

Self-esteem and culture

Branden has claimed that "self-esteem can be better understood as a sort of spiritual achievement, that is, a victory in psyche's evolution" ] More recent studies demonstrate both a correlation between self-esteem and life satisfaction, and that such levels of correlation are to an extent culturally relative.

Importance   Abraham Maslow states that psychological health is not possible unless the essential core of the person is fundamentally accepted, loved and respected by others and by her or his self. Self-esteem allows people to face life with more confidence, benevolence and optimism, and thus easily reach their goals and self-actualize.