Blackwell Reference Online

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An evaluation of the self , or feelings of self-worth and self-respect ( Rosenberg, 1979 ). Self-esteem may be either global (referring to the self as a whole, or in general) or specific (referring to some particular aspect of the self, such as one's athletic prowess, or physical appearance); it may also be a stable trait or a temporary state. Self-esteem is more stable (i.e., less variable over time) for some individuals than others. Global self-esteem and specific self-evaluations have been of interest to psychologists since William James (1890). Some of the major questions regarding self-esteem concern where it comes from (i.e., how people arrive at self-evaluations); how the self-concepts of high and low self-esteem people differ; how self-esteem is maintained, enhanced, or protected; what other variables (e.g., behaviors, adjustment variables) self-esteem is related to; and how to measure self-esteem. The vast majority of people in Western cultures tend to have high self-esteem (i.e., they score above the midpoint of the scale on most measures of self-esteem). Both classic and contemporary writings about the self assume that people have a need for self-esteem and are thereby motivated to maintain a positive self-view. High self-esteem may contribute to overall psychological well-being and functioning because the optimism, feelings of control over events, and positive self-views ... log in or subscribe to read full text