The self-esteem movement began in the 1980s to boost children’s self-image, but there are different levels of self-esteem. Low self-esteem can lead to negative consequences, but artificially high self-esteem can lead to depression. Some argue that teaching motivation, dedication, and perseverance is more important than focusing solely on self-esteem.
The self-esteem movement originated in the 1980s as a way to strengthen children’s self-image. Self-esteem is defined as a positive image of oneself and one’s abilities, related to self-esteem and the promotion of self-confidence. The self-esteem movement is a nurturing and teaching method that promotes pointing out the positive things a child does to build her self-esteem and motivate her toward her goals.
Self-esteem is not an all-or-nothing concept; instead, there are different levels of self-esteem. People with low self-esteem feel like bad people or are not ready to face life. People with high self-esteem feel good about themselves and their ability to handle various situations. Those in the middle of the self-esteem scale suffer from some insecurity and go back and forth between high and low self-esteem.
The self-esteem movement operates on the basic principle that low self-esteem causes decreased motivation, decreased productivity, and increased social and social problems. Corresponding evidence suggests a link between low self-esteem and increased risk of violence, drug addiction and alcohol abuse. By boosting self-esteem early in life, proponents of the self-esteem movement feel that the negative consequences of low self-esteem can be avoided.
A good deal of self-esteem is necessary for a person’s continued success and happiness, but evidence suggests that artificially high self-esteem can lead to depression and a general decrease in a sense of self-worth. Self-esteem building exercises may be necessary, but only in moderation. Some feel that teaching self-esteem should be secondary to other self-esteem-building techniques.
Not everyone believes that the self-esteem movement and methods are valid. An equal amount of research shows that high self-esteem can lead to the same pitfalls as low self-esteem. Teaching self-esteem to the exclusion of other traits can negatively impact a person’s ability to self-soothe and comfort themselves after a setback or trauma because external validation is needed. By taking efforts to boost self-esteem too far, it is possible for individuals to develop narcissism.
Those who argue against the self-esteem movement feel that the effects of the movement are more negative than positive. Instead of focusing on self-esteem, detractors of the movement believe children should be taught motivation, dedication and perseverance. By learning these skills, they can feel good instead of relying on outside sources to boost self-esteem.
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