During the early 1980s, California assemblyman John Vasconcellos set up a Task Force on Self-Esteem to explore how the state of California could better improve the self-esteem of its citizens. In doing so, they focused on a number of state issues, including crime, pollution, teen pregnancy, and school underachievement. In addition, the group created programs to boost the self-esteem of students.
Self-esteem is the belief that you are worthy of being liked and admired. Typically, people with high self-esteem have positive attitudes toward themselves and other people, and believe that they can handle both the good and bad aspects of life. In contrast, people with low self-esteem tend to be negative, self-critical, and worry about the future. A high level of self-esteem also increases people's motivation, which can lead to positive outcomes. However, high self-esteem can also lead to failure, which is why it's so important to understand the difference between realistic self-esteem and unrealistic self-esteem.
Self-esteem also plays a role in Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Maslow suggested that an individual needs both self-respect and appreciation from others in order to achieve self-actualization. In addition, individuals need to develop a stable sense of care from their parents, which is a foundation for a positive self-image. Self-esteem also plays a role in a person's decision-making process. People with high self-esteem are more likely to take risks, pursue career and sex goals, and defend victims. On the other hand, people with low self-esteem are more likely to give up on their dreams.
Researchers have found several different ways to measure self-esteem. They have found that people are more likely to be interested in positive self-images than in negative ones, and that they are also faster at categorizing positive words than negative words. While these studies were done with different methods, the results have been consistent. Despite the differences, all studies have found that people with high self-esteem have positive attitudes and behaviors toward themselves and others.
Researchers have also found that people with low self-esteem are more likely than people with high self-esteem to pursue unrealistic goals, experiment with sex, and defend themselves against bullies. Those with high self-esteem are also more likely to believe that they can improve their own behavior, and may take on challenges to improve their life. However, raising self-esteem doesn't necessarily make people better at school, nor does it improve their relationships with others. Moreover, raising self-esteem may also backfire by creating a conceit and creating narcissism.
Finally, researchers have found that a person's self-esteem can be affected by discrimination. Studies have shown that people who are more prejudiced tend to have lower self-esteem. In addition, racism is thought to have a negative effect on self-esteem.
There are several ways to measure self-esteem, but the best method is to look at the person's life. Researchers have found that people tend to have higher self-esteem when they have good relationships with their parents, and when they have good jobs and are able to contribute to society.