What Is Self-Esteem

What Is Self-Esteem Theories Developmental Psychology Print Signs of Healthy and Low Self-Esteem By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 14, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 30, 2019 More in Theories Developmental Psychology Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Personality Psychology Social Psychology Biological Psychology Psychosocial Psychology In This Article Table of Contents Expand Definition Why Self-Esteem Is Important Theories Influences Signs of Healthy Self-Esteem Signs of Low Self-Esteem View All Back To Top We all know that self-esteem sometimes referred to as self-worth or self-respect, can be an important part of success. Too little self-esteem can leave people feeling defeated or depressed. It can also lead people to make bad choices, fall into destructive relationships, or fail to live up to their full potential. A grandiose sense of self-esteem, as exhibited in narcissistic personality disorder, can certainly be off-putting to others and can even damage personal relationships. Self-esteem levels at the extreme high and low ends of the spectrum can be harmful, so ideally, its best to strike a balance somewhere in the middle. A realistic yet positive view of yourself is generally considered the ideal. But what exactly is self-esteem? Where does it come from and what influence does it really have on our lives? Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin What Is Self-Esteem? In psychology, the term self-esteem is used to describe a persons overall sense of self-worth or personal value. In other words, how much you appreciate and like yourself. Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends to be stable and enduring.Self-esteem can involve a variety of beliefs about yourself, such as the appraisal of your own appearance, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. Why Self-Esteem Is Important Self-esteem can play a significant role in your motivation and success throughout your life. Low self-esteem may hold you back from succeeding at school or work because you dont believe yourself to be capable of success. By contrast, having a healthy self-esteem can help you achieve because you navigate life with a positive, assertive attitude and believe you can accomplish your goals. Self-Esteem Theories Many theorists have written on the dynamics involved in self-esteem. The need for self-esteem plays an important role in psychologist Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs, which depicts self-esteem as one of the basic human motivations.?? Maslow suggested that people need both esteem from other people as well as inner self-respect. Both of these needs must be fulfilled in order for an individual to grow as a person and achieve self-actualization. It is important to note that self-esteem is a concept distinct from self-efficacy, which involves how well you believe youll handle future actions, performance, or abilities. Factors That Influence Self-Esteem As you might imagine, there are different factors that can influence self-esteem. Genetic factors that help shape overall personality can play a role, but it is often our experiences that form the basis for overall self-esteem. Those who consistently receive overly critical or negative assessments from caregivers, family members, and friends, for example, will likely experience problems with low self-esteem.?? Additionally, your inner thinking, age, any potential illnesses, disabilities, or physical limitations, and your job can affect your self-esteem.   Signs of Healthy Self-Esteem You probably have a good sense of who you are if you exhibit the following signs:   ConfidenceAbility to say noPositive outlookAbility to see overall strengths and weaknesses and accept themNegative experiences dont impact overall perspectiveAbility to express your needs Signs of Low Self-Esteem You may need to work on how you perceive yourself if you exhibit any of these signs of poor self-esteem:   Negative outlookLack of confidenceInability to express your needsFocus on your weaknessesExcessive feelings of shame, depression, or anxietyBelief that others are better than youTrouble accepting positive feedbackIntense fear of failure