Self-esteem refers to a person’s overall sense of his or her value or worth.
It can be
considered a sort of measure of how much a person “values, approves of, appreciates,
prizes, or likes him or herself” (Adler & Stewart, 2004).
According to self-esteem expert Morris Rosenberg, self-esteem is quite simply one’s
attitude toward oneself (1965). He described it as a “favourable or unfavourable
attitude toward the self”.
Various factors believed to influence our self-esteem include:
Genetics
Personality
Life experiences
Age
Health
Thoughts
Social circumstances
The reactions of others
Comparing the self to others
An important note is that self-esteem is not fixed. It is malleable and measurable,
meaning we can test for and improve upon it.
There are certain characteristics that distinguish how high someone’s self-esteem is.
Examples of these characteristics are being open to criticism, acknowledging
mistakes, being comfortable with giving and receiving compliments, and displaying a
harmony between what one says, does, looks, sounds, and moves. People with high
self-esteem are unafraid to show their curiosity, discuss their experiences, ideas, and
opportunities. They can also enjoy the humorous aspects of their lives and are
comfortable with social or personal assertiveness (Branden, 1992).
Although low self-esteem has received more attention than high self-esteem, the
positive psychology movement has brought high self-esteem into the spotlight. We
now know more about what high self-esteem looks like and how it can be cultivated.
We know that people with high self-esteem:
Appreciate themselves and other people.
Enjoy growing as a person and finding fulfillment and meaning in their lives.
Are able to dig deep within themselves and be creative.
Make their own decisions and conform to what others tell them to be and do
only when they agree.
See the word in realistic terms, accepting other people the way they are while
pushing them toward greater confidence and a more positive direction.
Can easily concentrate on solving problems in their lives.
Have loving and respectful relationships.
Know what their values are and live their lives accordingly.
Speak up and tell others their opinions, calmly and kindly, and share their
wants and needs with others.
Endeavor to make a constructive difference in other people’s lives (Smith &
Harte, n.d.).
We also know that there are some simple ways to tell if you have high self-esteem.
For example, you likely have high self-esteem if you:
Act assertively without experiencing any guilt, and feel at ease communicating
with others.
Avoid dwelling on the past and focus on the present moment.
Believe you are equal to everyone else, no better and no worse.
Reject the attempts of others to manipulate you.
Recognize and accept a wide range of feelings, both positive and negative, and
share them within your healthy relationships.
Enjoy a healthy balance of work, play, and relaxation.
Accept challenges and take risks in order to grow, and learn from your
mistakes when you fail.
Handle criticism without taking it personally, with the knowledge that you are
learning and growing and that your worth is not dependent on the opinions of
others.
Value yourself and communicate well with others, without fear of expressing
your likes, dislikes, and feelings.
Value others and accept them as they are without trying to change them (Self
Esteem Awareness, n.d.).
Based on these characteristics, we can come up with some good examples of what
high self-esteem looks like.
Done by
S.Abinaya
19bsy101
Psychology
