What is Low Self-Esteem?

Low self-esteem is a negative self-view, which is reflected in beliefs about oneself. Self-esteem originates within the mind but is reflected through emotions, body-state and behaviour. It may occur for several reasons including being a current symptom (of depression), a consequence of difficult circumstance, or an ongoing factor in a wide range of problems (depression, eating disorders etc).

In the case of low self-esteem as an ongoing factor, it can create a disposition for emotional disorders. The Sociometer Theory stat

es that self-esteem is a system that observes the extent a person is accepted and included by others (or the extent to which oneself if rejected and excluded by others). The self-esteem of an individual is constantly assessing and watching other people’s reactions to retrieve social information that relates to their exception from others.

If a person feels accepted and included in their social situations they develop higher trait self-esteem than those who perceive their environment as more rejecting and therefore develop lower trait self-esteem. Some psychological research into thought patterns has indicated that people with low and high self-esteem respond differently to information. For example, after a failure, people with low self-esteem concentrate on the negative outcome, blame themselves, and conclude harsh associations with themselves.

Low self-esteem has numerous negative effects which include:

· Depression

· Anxiety

· Maladjustment

· Weakening of societal ties

· Decrease of behaviour to social norms

· Increased delinquency/ anti-social behaviour

· Aggression

· Externalising blame

· Feelings of hostility/anger to other people

· Foretells future problems

There is strong evidence that people with low self-esteem externalise problems in order to protect themselves against feelings of inferiority and shame.

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