Home » ExchangeEveryDay » BURSTING THE SELF-ESTEEM BUBBLE



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
BURSTING THE SELF-ESTEEM BUBBLE
May 16, 2002

"Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon." —E.M. Forster



BURSTING THE SELF-ESTEEM BUBBLE

People with high self-esteem may be more of a threat to society than those with a lower sense of self-worth. Controversial study findings by Nicholas Emler, Ph.D. from the London School of Economics, reported in Psychology Today (March/April 2002) indicate that people with high self-esteem are more likely to be racist, violent and criminal. Emler reviewed seminal research on self-esteem as well as hundreds of study abstracts before concluding that low self-esteem increases the risk of eating disorders, suicide and depression, but it is not a factor in delinquency or substance abuse, nor is it a risk factor for poor academic performance.

Emler found that people with high self-esteem may have an unrealistic sense of themselves. "They expect to do well at things, discount failure, and feel beyond reproach." High self-esteem seems most dangerous when it colors racial and ethnic tolerance. "People with incredibly positive views of themselves feel anybody who differs from them is an insult," explains Emler. "They just don't like people who are different."



For other views on self-image, check out the Beginnings Workshop training kit, "Building Self-Image," at www.ChildCareExchange.com.

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.





Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.