Self-esteem

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

Definition

The original definition of self-esteem as proposed by Nathaniel Branden in 1969 is, "the experience of being competent to cope with the basic challenges of life and being worthy of happiness". This two-factor approach, as some have also called it, provides a balanced definition that seems to be capable of dealing with limits of defining self-esteem primarily in terms of competence or worth alone.

Measurement

Self-esteem is typically assessed using self-report inventories. One of the most widely used instruments, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES) is a 10-item self-esteem scale scores that requires participants to indicate their level of agreement with a series of statements about themselves. An alternative measure, The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI), is used for children and adults.

Factors

Self-esteem can be impacted by various factors such as peer pressure, parenting, life experiences, age, health, thoughts, social circumstances, the reactions of others, and comparisons with others.

Effects

High self-esteem has a high correlation to happiness—but it does not guarantee it. Other factors include physical health, relationships, and employment.

See also

• Body image
• Confidence
• Emotional competence
• Identity (social science)
• Self-concept
• Self-efficacy
• Self-knowledge (psychology)
• Self-love
• Self-worth

External links

• Psychology Today: Self Esteem
• Verywell Mind: What is Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem Resources
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