Self-esteem
is defined as how the way people evaluate themselves by comparing to others.
The earliest theories told that self-esteem is either a basic need or
motivation for humans, because they know well who they are and who they are
like. Abraham Maslow, American psychologist, in
Wikipedia.org states two
different forms of esteem: the need for respect from others and the need for
self-respect or inner self-esteem. Both of them are the reason why people have
self-esteem. Respect from others is the prominent reason of the most people
generally. If people get high respect, they will be difficult to be ignored,
ridiculed or teased. The need for either self-respect or inner self-esteem is
the next reason because people always want to be better than others. In this
case, there are two types of self esteem that people have: high self-esteem and
low self-esteem. Self-esteem gives people advantages and disadvantages in life.
Self-esteem
provides some advantages for people who can face self-esteem well in positive
evaluation, especially people with high self-esteem. The advantages are influencing
achievement and either serving a protective function or reducing anxiety about
life and death. First, achievement can be influenced by self-esteem. According to
Wikipedia.org Hagger (1998) explains that as a social psychological construct, self-esteem is
attractive because researchers have conceptualized it as an influential
predictor of relevant outcomes, such as academic achievement or exercise behaviour.
For example, students who have high self esteem will raise their hand for
asking or answering questions more regularly than students with low
self-esteem. Indirectly, they know well how far their ability, whether they do
better or worse than their classmates. Second, according to Terror Management
Theory in Wikipedia.org , self-esteem serves a protective function and reduces anxiety about
life and death. This advantage can be felt by people with high self-esteem
also. People in that category always face everything with positive way. They
hardly ever feel worried and afraid when socializing with others. Positive
thinking becomes the tenet that they hold rigidly. Therefore they will enjoy
their life and lose their anxiety about the death.
People
with low self-esteem will get disadvantages more than people with high
self-esteem. The disadvantages are leading to either dissatisfaction or frustration
and having pessimism and a general negative outlook. First, dissatisfaction and
frustration happen when people feel worse than others and when they cannot
reach what people with high self-esteem do. They will be satisfied, angry, and
blame themselves. Additionally, people with high self-esteem will be more
forgiving than people with low self-esteem. For being better than others,
people will do everything even if the harmful things. People have done
liposuction and plastic surgery to contribute their appearance. Most of them
think that appearance is the most important need to get high self-esteem. Second,
low self-esteem correlates with pessimism and general negative outlook. Pessimism
is when people tend to keep silent rather than showing their competence because
they cannot avoid fear and anxiety and do not have high self-confidence. The
Centre for Clinical Interventions in Wikipedia.org describes people with low self-esteem as having
“deep-seated, basic, negative beliefs about themselves and the kind of person
they are. These beliefs are often taken as facts or truths about their
identity.” People with low self-esteem cannot minimize their negative either
thinking or belief about themselves from their inner voice. Sometimes, inner
voice tells the truth of someone’s identity that gives more pressure and
depression.
In
conclusion, self esteem can be categorized by two types: low self-esteem and
high self-esteem. Both of them change ways of thinking
and view that people have then they realize it whether into positive or
negative respons. Self-esteem
depends on how favourable people evaluate themselves from others
and how people face their ambition from the inner voice.
References :
1. “Self-Esteem.”
Wikipedia Online. 24 Nov. 2002. Web.
10 Apr. 2015. <http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem>
2. “Self-Esteem
functions.” Wikipedia Online. 12 Jan.
2010. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem_functions
3. “Self-Esteem
Instability.” Wikipedia Online. <http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self- esteem_instability>
4. “Self-Esteem.”
CMHC UT Counseling and Menthal Health
Center DIVISION OF Student
Affairs. Texas. Un. UT Counseling and Menthal Health Center, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <http://cmhc.utexas.edu/selfesteem.html>
5. “How
to Develop Self-Esteem.” WikiHow.com. Wiki,
n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <http://m.wikihow.com/Develop-Self‐Esteem>
6. Maslow, A. H. (1987). Motivation and Personality
(Third ed.). New York: Harper & Row.
ISBN 0-06-041987-3.
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