Understanding Self-Esteem and Its Theories

Self-Esteem

• Defined as the emotional component of self, composed of positive and negative self-evaluations.
• Influenced by culture.
• Plays a significant role in influencing behavior.
• Low and high self-esteem impacts how individuals deal with threats to their self.

The Need to Enhance Self-Esteem

• A fundamental need for humans due to our social nature.
• Driven by the desire for social connection and approval.
• Serves as a mechanism to avoid social rejection and maintain acceptance.
• A positive self-image correlates with happiness, health, productivity, and success.
• A negative self-image is linked to depression, pessimism, and failure.

Sociometer Theory

• Presents a mechanism in humans to detect acceptance and rejection from others.
• This mechanism translates these perceptions into high and low self-esteem.
• Acceptance results in high self-esteem.

Terror Management Theory

• Human's fear of death motivates the development of cultural worldviews to preserve self-esteem.
• People engage in self-protective responses to manage mortality anxieties.
• Examples include religious beliefs, societal contributions, and legacies.

Self-Discrepancy Theory

• Based on the mismatch between our actual self, ideal self, and ought self.
• Discrepancies between these self-guides affect emotional well-being and self-esteem.
• Larger discrepancies are associated with negative emotional states like disappointment, depression, shame, and guilt.

Self-Esteem: External and Internal Locus of Control

• Internally motivated actions produce more lasting impact compared to externally motivated ones.
• Internal locus of control is aligned with using self-affirmations to manage self-esteem.

Self-Affirmations

• Expressions of positivity towards the self.
• Characteristics:
  • Start with "I am"
  • Positive (avoid "not")
  • Short
  • Specific
  • Present tense
  • Contain a feeling word
  • About yourself

Self-Awareness Theory

• Individuals may become self-focused in certain situations.
• Increased self-awareness triggers comparisons between behaviour and personal standards.
• Negative discrepancies can result in reduced self-esteem.

Private vs Public Self-Consciousness

• Individuals differ in their level of self-focus, either privately or publicly.
• Privately self-conscious individuals focus on internal standards, while publicly self-conscious individuals align their behavior with social norms.

Self-Regulation Theory

• Refers to the process of controlling and altering thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and urges.
• Self-control is considered a limited resource that can be depleted by usage.

Self-Enhancement Theory

• People cope with their flaws and uncertainties through a tendency to hold themselves in high regard.
• This is referred to as implicit egotism.