Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T17:58:45.643Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Self-Esteem – a Psychiatric View

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

P. J. Robson
P. J. Robson*
Affiliation:
Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The literature relating to the acquisition, maintenance, and clinical significance of self-esteem reveals theoretical differences between earlier investigators. The nature of self-esteem remains controversial, and attention is drawn to some of the problems of construct validation and measurement. Despite the difficulties, self-esteem is a concept worthy of further pursuit. This will require a measuring instrument that captures the concept more effectively than those currently available.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 1 , July 1988 , pp. 6 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abloff, R. & Hewitt, J. (1985) Attraction to men and women varying in self esteem. Psychological Reports, 56, 615–618.Google Scholar
Abramson, L. Y., Seligman, M. E. P. & Teasdale, J. D. (1978) Learned helplessness in humans: critique and reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 49–74.Google Scholar
Adler, A. (1926) The Neurotic Constitution. New York: Dodd, Mead.Google Scholar
Altman, J. H. & Wittenborn, J. R. (1980) Depression-prone personality in women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 303–308.Google Scholar
Anderson, S. & Williams, M. (1985) Cognitive/affective reactions in the improvement of self-esteem. When thoughts and feelings make a difference. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49, 1086–1097.Google Scholar
Bagley, C. & Evan-Wong, L. (1975) Neuroticism and extraversion in responses to Coopersmith's Self Esteem Inventory. Psychological Reports, 36, 253–254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bagley, C., Verma, G. K., Mallick, K. & Young, L. (1979) Personality, Self-Esteem and Prejudice. Farnborough: Saxon House.Google Scholar
Bales, R. (1970) Personality and Interpersonal Behaviour. New York: Holt.Google Scholar
Bandura, A. (1977) Self efficacy: towards a unifying theory of behaviour change. Psychological Review, 84, 191–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beck, A. T. (1967) Depression: Clinical, Experimental and Therapeutic Aspects. New York: Harper and Row.Google Scholar
Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F. & Emery, G. (1979) Cognitive Therapy of Depression. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Becker, E. (1971) The Birth and Death of Meaning. London: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Bingham, W. C. (1983) Problems in the assessment of self-esteem. International Journal for Advancement in Counselling, 6, 17–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Block, J. & Thomas, H. (1955) Is satisfaction with self a measure of adjustment? Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51, 257–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonjean, C., Hill, R. & McLemore, S. D. (1967) Sociological Measurement: An Inventory of Scales and Indices. San Francisco: Chandler.Google Scholar
Boshier, R. (1969) A study of the relationship between self concept and conservatism. Journal of Social Psychology, 77, 139–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bower, G. H. & Gilligan, S. G. (1979) Remembering information related to oneself. Journal of Research in Personality, 13, 420–432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1973) Attachment and Loss. Vol. 2: Separation, Anxiety and Anger, pp. 366–410. London: Hogarth Press.Google Scholar
Bramel, D. (1963) Selection of a target for selective projection. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 66, 318–324.Google Scholar
Brehm, M. & Back, W. (1968) Self image and attitudes towards drugs. Journal of Personality, 36, 299–314.Google Scholar
Bridle, M. J. (1984) Comparison of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 4, 51–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brisset, D. (1972) Towards a classification of self esteem. Psychiatry, 35, 255–263.Google Scholar
Brockner, J. & Guare, J. (1983) Improving the performance of low self esteem individuals: an attributional approach. Academy of Management Journal, 16, 642–656.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brookover, W. B., Thomas, S. & Patterson, A. (1964) Self concept of ability and school achievement. Sociology and Education, 37, 271–279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, G. W. & Harris, T. (1978) Social Origins of Depression. London: Tavistock Publications.Google ScholarPubMed
Brown, G. W., Andrews, B., Harris, T., Adler, Z. & Bridge, L. (1986) Social support, self esteem and depression. Psychological Medicine, 16, 813–831.Google Scholar
Brown, J. A. C. (1961) Freud and the Post-Freudians. Harmondsworth: Pelican Books.Google Scholar
Butler, R. N. & Lewis, M. I. (1973) Aging and Mental Health: Positive Psychosocial Approaches. St Louis, Missouri: C. V. Mosby.Google Scholar
Campbell, A. (1981) The Sense of Weil-Being in America: Recent Patterns and Trends. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Campbell, D. T. & Fiske, D. W. (1959) Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait-multimethod matrix. Psychological Bulletin, 56, 81–105.Google Scholar
Cooley, C. H. (1902) Human Nature and the Social Order. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.Google Scholar
Coopersmith, S. (1967) The Antecedents of Self Esteem. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.Google Scholar
Daly, M. J. & Burton, R. L. (1983) Self esteem and irrational beliefs: an exploratory investigation with implications for counselling. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 30, 361–366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Demo, D. H. & Savin-Williams, R. C. (1983) Early adolescent self esteem as function of social class: Rosenberg and Pearlin revisited. American Journal of Sociology, 88, 763–774.Google Scholar
Ellison, C. W. (1983) Spiritual well-being: conceptualisation and measurement. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 4, 330–340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feather, N. T. (1982) Unemployment and its social correlates: a study of depressive symptoms, self esteem, Protestant ethic values, attributional style and apathy. Australian Journal of Psychology, 34, 309–323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feather, N. T. (1985) Masculinity, femininity, self esteem and subclinical depression. Sex-Roles, 12, 491–500.Google Scholar
Fennell, M. J. V. & Zimmer, F. T. (1987) In Clinical Psychology: Research and Developments (ed. Dent, H.), pp. 191–197. Beckenham: Croom Helm.Google Scholar
Fielstein, E., Klein, M. S., Fischer, M., Hanan, C., Koburger, P., Schneider, M. J. & Leitenberg, H. (1985) Self esteem and causal attributions for success and failure in children. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 381–398.Google Scholar
Fitts, W. H. (1972) The Self Concept and Psychopathology. Nashville: Dede Wallace Center (Monograph 4).Google Scholar
Fleming, J. S. & Courtney, B. E. (1984) The dimensionality of self esteem: II. Hierarchical facet model for revised measurement scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 404–421.Google Scholar
Frank, J. D. (1974) Persuasion and Healing. New York: Schocken Books.Google Scholar
Gardner, P. & Oei, T. P. (1981) Depression and self esteem: an investigation that used behavioural and cognitive approaches to the treatment of clinically depressed clients. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 37, 128–135.3.0.CO;2-1>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gauthier, J., Pellerin, D. & Renaud, P. (1983) The enhancement of self esteem: a comparison of two cognitive strategies. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 7, 389–398.Google Scholar
Goldberg, W. G. & Fitzpatrick, J. J. (1980) Movement therapy with the elderly. Nursing Research, 29, 339–346.Google Scholar
Gray-Little, B. & Appelbaum, M. I. (1979) Instrumentality effects in the assessment of racial differences in self esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1221–1229.Google Scholar
Harder, D. W. (1984) Character style of the defensively high self esteem man. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40, 26–35.Google Scholar
Hayakawa, S. (1963) Symbol, Status and Personality. New York: Brace & World.Google Scholar
Hoelter, J. W. (1983) Factorial invariance and self esteem: reassessing race and sex differences. Social Forces, 61, 834–846.Google Scholar
Hoge, D. R. & McCarthy, J. D. (1983) Issues of validity and reliability in the use of real-ideal discrepancy scores to measure self regard. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 1048–1055.Google Scholar
Hunter, K. I., Linn, M. W. & Harris, R. (1981) Characteristics of high and low self esteem in the elderly. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 14, 117–126.Google Scholar
Ingham, J. G., Kreitman, N. B., Miller, P. McC., Sashidharan, S. P. & Surtees, P. G. (1986) Self-esteem, vulnerability and psychiatric disorder in the community. British Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 375–385.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
James, W. (1890) The Principles of Psychology. London: MacMillan.Google Scholar
Jones, E. E., Berglas, S., Rhodewalt, F. & Skelton, J. (1981) Effects of strategic self presentations on subsequent self esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41, 407–421.Google Scholar
Juhasz, A. M. (1985) Measuring self esteem in early adolescents. Adolescence, 20, 877–887.Google Scholar
Kahle, L. R., Kulka, R. A. & Klingel, D. M. (1980) Low adolescent self esteem leads to multiple interpersonal problems: a test of social adaptation theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 496–502.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kaplan, H. (1975) Self Attitudes and Deviant Behaviour. California: Goodyear.Google Scholar
Keller, B. G. & Bishop, R. C. (1985) Self esteem as source of raters' bias in peer evaluation. Psychological Reports, 56, 995–1000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koffman, S. & Lipps, H. M. (1980) Sex differences in self esteem and performance expectancies in married couples. Social Behaviour and Personality, 8, 57–63.Google Scholar
Korman, A. (1966) Self esteem variable in vocational choice. Journal of Applied Psychology, 50, 479–486.Google Scholar
Korman, A. 1968) Task success, task popularity and self esteem as influences on task liking. Journal of Applied Psycholgy, 52, 484–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawson, J. S., Marshall, W. L. & McGrath, P. (1979) The Social Self-Esteem Inventory. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 39, 803–811.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lefevre, E. R. & West, M. L. (1981) Assertiveness: correlations with self esteem, locus of control, interpersonal anxiety, fear of disapproval and depression. Psychiatric Journal of the University of Ottawa, 6, 247–251.Google Scholar
Lewin, K., Dembo, T., Festinger, L. & Sears, P. S. (1944) Level of aspiration. In Personality and the Behavioural Disorders (ed. Hunt, J. McV.) Vol. 1. New York: Ronald Press.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P. M. (1974) A behavioural approach to depression. In The Psychology of Depression: Contemporary Theory and Research (eds Friedman, R. J. & Katz, M. M.). New York: John Wiley.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P. M., Steinmetz, J. L., Larson, D. W. & Franklin, J. (1981) Depression-related cognitions: antecedent or consequent? Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 90, 213–219.Google Scholar
Lloyd, C., Chang, A. F. & Powell, B. J. (1979) Relationship of different measures of self-esteem to locus of control. Psychological Reports, 45, 160–162.Google Scholar
Lowe, C. (1961) The self concept: fact or artifact? Psychological Bulletin, 58, 325–336.Google Scholar
Luck, P. W. & Heiss, J. (1972) Social determinants of self esteem in adult males. Sociology and Social Research, 57, 69–84.Google Scholar
Lundgren, D. C. (1978) Public esteem, self esteem and interpersonal stress. Social Psychology Quarterly, 41, 68–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Machover, K. (1949) Personality Projection in the Drawing of a Human Figure: A Method of Personality Investigation. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas.Google Scholar
MacLachlan, M. (1985) Psychometric contamination in correlational studies of depression and self esteem. IRCS Medical Science, 13, 443–444.Google Scholar
Maslow, A. (1954) Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper.Google Scholar
McCord, W. & McCord, J. (1960) Origins of Alcoholism. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
McDougall, W. (1928) An Outline of Psychology (4th edn). London: Methuen & Co. Ltd.Google Scholar
McFarland, C. & Ross, M. (1982) Impact of causal attributions on affective reactions to success and failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 937–946.Google Scholar
Mead, G. H. (1934) Mind, Self and Society, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Mendelson, M. (1967) Neurotic depressive reaction. In Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (eds Freeman, A. & Kaplan, H.). Battlemore: Williams & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Mussen, P. & Porter, L. (1959) Personal motivations and self conceptions associated with effectiveness and ineffectiveness in emergent groups. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 59, 23–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nehrke, M. F., Hulicka, I. M. & Morganti, J. B. (1980) Age differences in life satisfaction, locus of control and self concept. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 11, 25–33.Google Scholar
O'Malley, P. M. & Bachman, J. G. (1983) Self esteem: change and stability between ages 13 and 23. Developmental Psychology, 19, 257–268.Google Scholar
Padin, M. A., Lerner, R. M. & Spiro, A. (1981) Stability of body attitudes and self esteem in late adolescents. Adolescence, 16, 371–384.Google Scholar
Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J. & Holt, K. (1985) Maintaining consistency between self serving beliefs and available data: a bias in information evaluation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 11, 179–190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rampel, M. E. & Bingham, W. C. (1975) Building Self Esteem: A Necessary Process for Maximal Career Exploitation. Trenton, NJ: Dept of Education (Special Paper Series).Google Scholar
Reich, W. (1933) Character Analysis. London: Vision Press.Google Scholar
Richards, J. M. (1983) Validity of locus of control and self esteem measures in a national longitudinal study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 43, 897–905.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, C. R. (1951) Client-Centered Therapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.Google Scholar
Rogers, C. R. 1967) On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy (2nd edn). London: Constable & Co. Ltd.Google Scholar
Rogers, C. R. & Dymond, R. F. (1954) Psychotherapy and Personality Change. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, M. (1962) The association between self esteem and anxiety. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 1, 135–152.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, M. (1965) Society and the Adolescent Self Image. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Rubin, R. A. (1978) Stability of self esteem ratings and their relationship to academic achievement. Psychology in the Schools, 15, 431–433.3.0.CO;2-2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryden, M. B. (1978) An adult version of the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory: test-retest reliability and social desirability. Psychological Reports, 43, 1189–1190.Google Scholar
Savin-Williams, R. C. & Jaquish, G. A. (1981) The assessment of adolescent self esteem: a comparison of methods. Journal of Personality, 49, 324–336.Google Scholar
Shorkey, C. T. (1980) Sense of personal worth, self esteem and anomia of child abusing mothers and controls. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 36, 817–820.3.0.CO;2-H>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sigall, H. & Gould, R. (1977) The effects of self esteem and evaluator demandingness on effort expenditure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35, 12–20.Google Scholar
Sober-Ain, L. & Kidd, R. F. (1984) Fostering changes in self blamers' beliefs about causality. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 8, 121–137.Google Scholar
Spitzer, S. (1969) Test equivalence of unstructured self evaluation instruments. Sociological Quarterly, 10, 204–215.Google Scholar
Storr, A. (1979) The Art of Psychotherapy. London: Secker & Warburg.Google Scholar
Sullivan, H. S. (1953) The Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry. London: Tavistock Publications.Google Scholar
Swanson, H. R. & Weary, G. (1982) The acceptance of personality evaluations: constraints on consistency motivations. Journal of Personality Assessment, 46, 350–358.Google Scholar
Tiggeman, M. & Winefield, A. H. (1984) The effects of unemployment on the mood, self esteem, locus of control and depressive affect of school leavers. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 57, 33–42.Google Scholar
Van Tuinen, M. & Ramanaiah, N. V. (1979) A multimethod analysis of selected self esteem measures. Journal of Research in Personality, 13, 16–24.Google Scholar
Warr, P. & Jackson, P. (1983) Self esteem and unemployment among young workers. Le Travail Humain, 46, 355–366.Google Scholar
Wells, L. E. & Marwell, G. (1976) Self Esteem: Its Conceptualisation and Measurement. Sage Publications: Beverly Hills and London.Google Scholar
White, R. W. (1964) The Abnormal Personality. New York: Ronald.Google Scholar
Wilson, A. & Krane, R. (1980) Changes in self esteem and its effects on symptoms of depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4, 419–421.Google Scholar
Winters, K. C. & Neale, J. M. (1985) Mania and low self esteem. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 282–290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wylie, R. C. (1961) The Self Concept. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.Google Scholar
Wylie, R. C. (1974) The Self Concept, Vol. 1. A Review of Methodological Considerations and Measuring Instruments. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.Google Scholar
Wylie, R. C. (1979) The Self Concept, Vol. 2: Theory and Research on Selected Topics. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.Google Scholar
Ziller, R. C. (1973) The Social Self. New York: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.