What Is the Definition of Self-Esteem?

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Having a positive sense of self-worth may affect your motivation, mental health, and general quality of life. Self-esteem that is either excessively high or too low, on the other hand, maybe troublesome. Understanding your own degree of self-esteem may assist you in finding the appropriate balance for you.

Having a positive sense of self-worth may affect your motivation, mental health, and general quality of life. Self-esteem that is either excessively high or too low, on the other hand, may be troublesome. Understanding your own degree of self-esteem may assist you in finding the appropriate balance for you.

What Is the Definition of Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem is a psychological word that refers to a person's total subjective feeling of personal worth or value. To put it another way, self-esteem may be described as how much you value and like yourself regardless of the situation. Many things influence your self-esteem, including:

 

• Self-confidence

 

• A sense of safety

 

• Identity

 

• A feeling of kinship

 

• A sense of mastery

 

Self-worth, self-regard, and self-respect are other words that are often used interchangeably with self-esteem.

Self-esteem is lowest in childhood and rises during adolescence and adulthood, ultimately reaching a rather stable and long-lasting level. As a result, self-esteem resembles the consistency of personality characteristics across time. 1

 

The Importance of Self-Esteem

 

Your decision-making process, relationships, emotional health, and general well-being are all influenced by your self-esteem. It also affects motivation, since individuals who have a healthy, positive self-image are more aware of their capabilities and may be motivated to take on new tasks. People who have a good sense of self-worth:

 

• Have a solid grasp of their abilities

 

• They can have good connections with others because they have healthy relationships with themselves.

 

• Have reasonable and realistic expectations of oneself and one's skills.

 

• Are aware of their needs and are able to communicate them

 

People with poor self-esteem are less confident in their skills and may have doubts about their decision-making ability. They may lack motivation to attempt new activities because they doubt their ability to achieve their objectives. Low self-esteem may make it difficult to form connections and communicate one's needs. They may also have poor self-esteem and believe they are unlovable and worthless.

 

People with excessively high self-esteem may overestimate their talents and believe they are entitled to success, even if they lack the tools to back up their confidence. Because they are so focused on viewing themselves as flawless, they may struggle with interpersonal problems and prevent themselves from self-improvement.

 

Theories

 

Many theorists have written on the dynamics that play a role in self-esteem growth. Self-esteem is a key component in psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which portrays esteem as one of the most fundamental human drives.

 

Maslow proposed that humans must have both external and internal self-respect in order to develop esteem. Both of these requirements must be met in order for a person to mature and achieve self-actualization.

 

It's essential to distinguish self-esteem from self-efficacy, which refers to how confident you are in your ability to manage future actions, performance, or skills.

 

Self-Esteem Influencing Factors

 

Self-esteem is influenced by a variety of variables. The following factors may have an effect on your self-esteem:

 

• Age

 

• Disability

 

• Genetics

 

• Illness

 

• Physical attributes

 

• Social and economic circumstances2

 

• Patterns of thought

 

Self-esteem has been proven to be negatively affected by racism and prejudice.

 

3 Life experiences are considered to be the most significant element, although genetic characteristics that help form a person's personality may also play a role.

 

Our experiences often serve as the foundation for our general self-esteem. Those who, for example, get excessively critical or negative feedback from family and friends are prone to have poor self-esteem. Those who get unconditional positive attention, as Carl Rogers defined it, are more likely to have good self-esteem.

 

Self-Esteem that is Healthy

 

There are a few easy methods to determine whether you have a healthy sense of self-worth. If you can say yes to the following questions, you probably have a good sense of self-esteem:

 

• Try not to think about the bad things that happened in the past.

 

• Believe that you are on par with everyone else, no better or worse.

 

• Be clear about your requirements.

 

• Have self-assurance

 

• Have a good attitude about life

 

• If you don't want to do anything, say no.

 

• Recognize and accept your overall strengths and shortcomings.

 

Because you can navigate life knowing that you are capable of achieving anything you put your mind to, having a high self-esteem may help inspire you to achieve your objectives. You may also establish appropriate boundaries in relationships and maintain a good connection with yourself and others if you have a strong self-esteem.

 

Self-Esteem Issues

 

Low self-esteem may show itself in a number of ways. If you have a poor sense of self-worth:

 

• You may think that others are superior than you.

 

• It may be tough for you to communicate your requirements.

 

• You may concentrate on your flaws.

 

• You may have a lot of dread, self-doubt, and anxiety.

 

• You may have a pessimistic perspective on life and a sense of powerlessness.4

 

• You may be terrified of failing.

 

• You may find it difficult to accept good comments.

 

• You may find it difficult to say no and establish boundaries.

 

• You may prioritise the needs of others above your own.

 

• You may be lacking in self-assurance.

 

Low self-esteem may contribute to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. It may also be tough for you to achieve your objectives and maintain good relationships. Low self-esteem has a negative effect on your quality of life and raises your chances of having suicidal thoughts. 5

Excessive Self-Confidence

Overly high self-esteem is often confused with narcissism, although there are several key differences between the two. Individuals with narcissistic characteristics may seem to have high self-esteem, yet their self-esteem is inherently unstable, fluctuating depending on the circumstances. 6 Those having a high sense of self-worth:

• You may be obsessed with being flawless.

• It's possible that you'll be obsessed with being correct all of the time.

 

• They may think they can't fail.

 

• They may think they are more capable or superior than others.

 

• Possibility of expressing big thoughts

 

• They may excessively exaggerate their talents and capabilities.

 

When self-esteem is too high, it may lead to interpersonal issues, social difficulties, and an unwillingness to take criticism.

How to Boost Your Self-Esteem:

 

There are, fortunately, measures you may do to alleviate self-esteem issues. You may increase your self-esteem by doing the following steps:

 

• Be more conscious of negative ideas. Recognize the erroneous beliefs that are affecting your self-esteem.

• Disrupt negative thought habits. Try replacing negative ideas with more realistic and/or positive ones when you catch yourself thinking negatively.

• Talk to yourself in a positive manner. Recite positive affirmations aloud to yourself. 

• Develop self-compassion. Practice forgiving yourself for your errors in the past and moving ahead by embracing all aspects of your personality.

Low self-esteem may lead to or be a sign of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Consult a doctor or therapist about treatment options, which may include psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. 

The Verywell Mind Podcast can help you. 

This edition of The Verywell Mind Podcast, hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, features IT Cosmetics creator Jamie Kern Lima and discusses methods for learning to really believe in oneself 

Now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and RSS

Verywell's Message

While certain variables that contribute to poor self-esteem, such as genetics, early childhood experiences, and personality characteristics, cannot be altered, there are actions you can take to feel more safe and appreciated. Keep in mind that no one is less deserving than the next. Maintaining a good sense of self-esteem may be easier if you keep this in mind.