What is Self-Esteem?

By Kelly Machan, M.A., and Karin S. Ryan, M.A.

Self-Esteem: What is it?

  • There are two interrelated aspects:
    • A sense of personal efficacy (self-efficacy) or confidence in a person's ability to think and act
    • A sense of personal worth (self-respect) or an affirmative attitude towards a person's right to live and to be happy
      • In the most succinct terms, self-esteem is the disposition to experience oneself as competent to cope with the challenges of life and to be deserving of happiness. (Branden, 1990)
    • From an intuitive sense we know that high self-esteem means that we appreciate ourselves and our inherent worth
    • More specifically, it means we have a positive attitude, we evaluate ourselves highly, we are convinced of our own abilities and we see ourselves as competent and powerful; in control of our own lives and able to do what we want. In addition, we compare ourselves favorably with others
    • We also know what it means to experience diminished self-esteem--self-depreciation, helplessness, powerlessness and depression (Mecca, Smelser & Vasconcellos, 1989)

Self-Esteem: Why is it important?

  • A strong self-esteem can help a person become what they are capable of becoming (full potential)
  • When people are at their "peak performance," they believe in themselves (have high self-efficacy) and believe they can accomplish almost anything, thus, they are expressing a self-esteem which motivates, excites and empowers them
  • A high self-esteem protects against the downturns in the roller coaster of life.
    • Rejections, disappointments and failure are a part of daily life. High esteem can assist a person in "weathering the storm," to look beyond immediate downward dips
  • People need to believe that they have the capacity to achieve what they need and want to
  • Individuals need to believe that they are deserving of happiness and joy in life
  • When people lack self-esteem they are probably less effective and creative than they would be if they possessed high self-esteem
  • Self-esteem impacts career planning, goal setting, and decision making

Self-Esteem: What does it look like?

  • Positive/High Self-Esteem
    • Tries new things, confident, assertive, mistakes not personal or global, optimistic
  • Negative/Low Self-Esteem
    • Self critical, socially uncomfortable, underestimates abilities, gives up, avoids new experiences, sees mistakes as failure, taken advantage of, "negative Nelly"

Barriers to positive self-esteem

  • Unhealthy environments
  • Challenges to our identity or values
  • Unrealistic expectations
  • Negative and self-critical thinking
  • Anxiety and/or depression

Ways to enhance self-esteem

  • Participate in activities you enjoy & feel skilled at
  • Set realistic expectations
  • Surround yourself with positive, supportive people
  • Challenge negative thoughts with reality/facts
  • Remember your successes
  • Get support through resources!!!

© All staff articles are used by permission of the respective author(s). Copyright belongs to the University Life Café. No part of this may be used without authorization.