Self-esteem is a central concept in psychology because it explains the human behaviors, emotions, fears and feelings. Self-esteem can give us the strength to face life’s challenges. It is both the origin and the consequence of our actions and thoughts.
Developed by James Noley, the theory of self-esteem can be translated into the difference between what we are as an individual (social success, physical appearence) and what we would like to be.
It is constructed during the early childhood and the father, the mother and the way they educate their child plays a key role. It is then consolidated with life’s experiences and fortified if the child grow up in a steady environment where he feels safe and encouraged. On the contrary, self-esteem can lead him in ill-adapted behaviors which can create problems.
For instance, someone who has a very high self-esteem will be seen as haughty and too self-confident. It goes to the point where the individual can have a high-risk behavior because she thinks she can handle everything.
Someone who has a very low self-esteem can tend to self-criticize himself, creating a constant state of dissatisfaction, a hypersensitivity to other people’s criticisms, a guilt and ruminations or an irritability.
Self-esteem is measured by a Rosenberg’s scale of self-esteem in ten questions and on a score from 0 to 30 :
- I feel that I am a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others.
- I feel that I have a number of good qualities.
- All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure.
- I am able to do things as well as most other people.
- I feel I do not have much to be proud of.
- I take a positive attitude toward myself.
- On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.
- I wish I could have more respect for myself.
- I certainly feel useless at times.
- At times I think I am no good at all.
For items 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7, the individual can choose between ‘I strongly agree with this proposition’ (3 points), ‘agree’ (2), ‘disagree’ (1) or ‘strongly agree’ (0). For items 3, 5, 8, 9, and 10, he can choose between ‘strongly agree’ (0), ‘agree’ (1), ‘disagree’ (2) or ‘strongly disagree’ (3).
Scores between 15 and 25 are within normal range; scores below 15 suggest low self-esteem.
Having a too high or too low self-esteem can only be damaging, for it does not match reality. Therefore, the confrontation is often difficult, incomprehension and agressivity are symptoms. Self-acceptation requires objectivity and indulgence.
Elodie Cocodeau
Key words : self-esteem, behaviors, emotions.
Words I have learned :
Haughty : hautain
High-risk behavior : conduite à risque
Hypersensitivity : hypersensibilité
Scale : échelle
Bibliography :
C. André et F. Lelord : L’estime de soi. Odile Jacob, Paris, 1999.
Guédeney, N. (2011). Les racines de l’estime de soi : apports de la théorie de l’attachement. Devenir, vol. 23(2), 129-144. doi:10.3917/dev.112.0129.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.