Self-esteem is? The concept of self in psychology Defining self-esteem is not easy, as it is a rather broad concept that has generated many theories and studies about it.
However we can try to provide you with synthetic definitions that are generally shared by most.
Consideration that an individual has of himself. The self-evaluation that underlies self-esteem can manifest itself as overestimation or underestimation depending on the consideration that each can have of himself, compared to others or to the situation in which he finds himself. (Encyclopedia Treccani)
Set of evaluative judgments that the individual gives of himself (Battistelli, 1994).
Self-esteem is, elements
In particular, there are three elements that are always associated with the definition of self-esteem and they are the following:
- The presence in the individual of a system that allows self-observation and therefore self-knowledge
- The evaluative aspect that allows a general judgment of oneself
- The affective aspect that allows you to evaluate and consider the descriptive elements in a positive or negative way.
Levels of self-esteem
In particular, there are three elements that are always associated with the definition of self-esteem and they are the following:
High self-esteem
- More positive
- Less exposure to the criticisms of others
- Greater autonomy of judgment and action
- Error seen not as an impediment, defeat but as an opportunity for learn and improve
- Self-acceptance
Average self-esteem
- Greater inclination to conformism and anxiety to be accepted, to please, to confirm
Low self-esteem
- Insecurity, reluctance to intercourse interpersonal, embarrassment, susceptibility to criticism … not feeling sufficiently sure of his own value and qualities, he avoids choosing and acting for one excessive fear of making mistakes
- Uncertainty and difficulty in disconnecting from the problematic situation to look for a solution
- When it experiences a failure suffers the most, associating the incident exclusively with a lack of it
- When it experiences a success it tends to devalue it, diminish it
