Self-esteem

For the song by The Offspring, see Self Esteem (song). For the musician, see Self Esteem (musician).
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Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth, abilities, or morals. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame.[1] Smith and Mackie define it by saying "The self-concept is what we think about the self; self-esteem, is the positive or negative evaluations of the self, as in how we feel about it (see self)."[2]

The construct of self-esteem has been shown to be a desirable one in psychology, as it is associated with a variety of positive outcomes, such as academic achievement,[3][4] relationship satisfaction,[5] happiness,[6] and lower rates of criminal behavior. The benefits of high self-esteem are thought to include improved mental and physical health, and less anti-social behavior[7] while drawbacks of low self-esteem have been found to be anxiety, loneliness, and increased vulnerability to substance abuse.[8]

Self-esteem can apply to a specific attribute or globally. Psychologists usually regard self-esteem as an enduring personality characteristic (trait self-esteem), though normal, short-term variations (state self-esteem) also exist. Synonyms or near-synonyms of self-esteem include: self-worth,[9] self-regard,[10] self-respect,[11][12] and self-integrity.

  1. ^ Hewitt, John P. (2009). "The Social Construction of Self-Esteem". In Lopez, Shane J.; Snyder, C.R. (eds.). Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford University Press. pp. 217–224. ISBN 978-0195187243.
  2. ^ Smith, Eliot R.; Mackie, Diane M. (2007). Social Psychology (3rd ed.). Hove: Psychology Press. p. 107. ISBN 978-1841694085.
  3. ^ Marsh, H.W. (1990). "Causal ordering of academic self-concept and academic achievement: A multiwave, longitudinal path analysis". Journal of Educational Psychology. 82 (4): 646–656. doi:10.1037/0022-0663.82.4.646.
  4. ^ Urbina Robalino, Gisella del Rocio; Eugenio Piloso, Mery Aracely (2015). Efectos de la violencia intrafamiliar en el autoestima de los estudiantes de octavo y noveno año de la Escuela de educación básica 11 de Diciembre... (bachelor thesis) (in Spanish). Advised by S. Yagual. Ecuador: Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena.
  5. ^ Orth U.; Robins R.W. (2014). "The development of self-esteem". Current Directions in Psychological Science. 23 (5): 381–387. doi:10.1177/0963721414547414. S2CID 38796272.
  6. ^ Baumeister, R. F.; Campbell, J. D.; Krueger, J. I.; Vohs, K. D. (2003). "Does High Self-Esteem Cause Better Performance, Interpersonal Success, Happiness, or Healthier Lifestyles?". Psychological Science in the Public Interest. 4 (1): 1–44. doi:10.1111/1529-1006.01431. ISSN 1529-1006. PMID 26151640.
  7. ^ Orth, Ulrich; Robins, Richard W. (2022). "Is High Self-Esteem Beneficial? Revisiting a Classic Question". American Psychologist. 77 (1): 5–17. doi:10.1037/amp0000922. PMC 9306298. PMID 35357851.
  8. ^ "Self-Esteem". University of Texas Counselling and Medical Centre.
  9. ^ "self-worth: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language". Bartleby.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  10. ^ "self-regard: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language". Bartleby.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  11. ^ "self-respect: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language". Bartleby.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  12. ^ The Macquarie Dictionary. Compare Corsini, Raymond J. (1999). The Dictionary of Psychology. Philadelphia, Penn.: Psychology Press. ISBN 1-58391-028-X.