The discussion in Chapter 10 on self-esteem was very interesting to me. What I found most interesting was the idea that many people's idea that self-esteem as a way to motivate people is not necessarily true. Reeve discusses that there is no evidence that self-esteem causes anything at all. Self-esteem in caused by our past successes and failures (2009). The textbook author states that what really needs improving is people's skills for dealing with the world, not self-esteem. The causal relationship between self-esteem and things like achievement are not correlated in the way people assume. Increases in achievement cause higher self-esteem, not the other way around (Reeve, 2009).
Another point I found interesting was that boosting self-esteem has negative consequences such as increasing aggression and acts of violence when their favorable self-views are threatened. However, this finding has not stopped popular media from viewing self-esteem as a key to motivation. Reeve states, "The best conclusion to offer is that self-esteem is like happiness. Trying to be happy doesn't get you very far. Rather, happiness is a byproduct of life's satisfactions, triumphs and positive relationships." (Reeve, 2009, p.267).
With my new found outlook on self-esteem, I decided to try and find an article aimed at just this. I found an interesting article from the Mayo Clinic titled, "Self-esteem check: Too low, too high or just right?". The article discusses ways in which you can tell if you need to boost your self-esteem and ways to do it. It also discusses the benefits of having high self-esteem and the negative attributes associated with overly high self-esteem and low self-esteem. I found it very interesting that even the Mayo clinic bought into this idea that self-esteem is an important aspect of the person that it plyable and needs improvement in many.
The second page of the article offers characteristics of low self-esteem, some of which I find questionable. For instance, the fear of failure, I think that sometimes a person with a fear of failure may have high self-esteem but simply have a high need for achievement, therefore fearing failure at tasks in which they strive for. I feel like I personally have high self-esteem but possess some of the characteristics in which they state as predictors of low self-esteem. Overall, me even worrying about my self-esteem is based on my idea that self-esteem is very important with regards to my level of achievement and other factors that Reeve dispels.
I wonder what others have to say about the idea of self-esteem. Were you as surprised as I was with the information presented in chapter 10? Did you hold the opinion that high self-esteem caused factors such as high achievement and motivation? Also, do you possess any of the attributes described in the article as common characteristics of low self-esteem and still consider yourself someone with high self-esteem?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/self-esteem/MH00128/NSECTIONGROUP=2
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