Cause of Poor Self-Esteem and Ways of Enhancing It

National Conference Partnerships for Reducing Youth Suicide.

7th 9th December 2005, Kilkenny Ormond Hotel, Irish Association of Suicidology.

Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is viewed as a communal problem for Irish people, who worry that inadequate self-esteem leads to various undesirable behaviours.

Human Beings

Capacity for self-reflection.

Good sense of self / self-esteem necessary for adaptive functioning.

Self as I (Butler, 2001)

Subjective knower of the self:

Continuity of self. Separateness of self (from others). Self-reflection.

Self as Me
Objective aspects of self:

Self-presentation to others. Measurement of self.

In general low self-esteem associated with:

1. 2.

3.
4.

Depression. Schizophrenia. Drug and alcohol abuse. Suicidal attempts.

In general low self-esteem associated with:

5. 6.

7.
8. 9.

Hopelessness. Academic failure. Excessive criticism by significant others. Physical sexual abuse. Lack of external support, praise, or kind word.

But Emler (2001, Review) found that low self-esteem in general not associated with:
1. 2.

More criminal behaviour. More use of illegal drugs, alcohol, smoking, or fail academically.

Emler N. (2001). Self-esteem: The costs and causes of low self-esteem. J. Rowntree Foundation: York Publishing Services Ltd.

Self
1.
2.

Self concept overarching view of self.

Self-esteem evaluative aspects.

3.
4.

Self-image characteristics available to individual.

Self-efficacy notion of self-competency.

Piers E. V., Herzberg D. S. (2002). Piers Harris Two: Childrens self-concepts Scale LACA: Western Psychological Services.
Coopersmith S. (1981). Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory Palo Alto: CA: Consulting Psychologist Press.

Harter S. (1985). Self-perception profile for children. Denver CO: University of Denver Press.
Harter S. (1988). Self-perception profile for adolescents. Denver CO: University of Denver Press. Butler R. J. (2001). The self-image profiles. London: The Psychological Corporation.

Childhood Factors and Self-esteem

Children who have a history of early separation from parents or threats of separation, fear of abandonment, are more likely to be depressed and have lower self-esteem. Children enmeshed with their parents have lower self-esteem.
Suicidal children have a poor self-image or poor sense of themselves and often see themselves as bad or hateful or the cause of family problems and feel the family would be better off if they were out of the way through suicide.

Suicidal Behaviour
Chronic stress erodes self-esteem and leads to a sense of hopelessness and then depression and suicidal ideas.

Hopelessness and Self-esteem

Suicidal children show considerable hopelessness, depression, low self-esteem, negative self evaluation, insomnia, decreased concentration, indecisiveness, lack of reactivity of mood, social withdrawal, irritability, temper tantrums, low energy, and school work not done.

Lack of confidentiality about a childs problems in school will lead to a devastating fall in self-esteem.
Breakdown of relationships lowers self-esteem often critically.

Adolescent conflicts, identity diffusion, body image problems can all interfere with self-esteem. Unpopular boys and girls clearly have lower self-esteem and a much increased risk of suicidal behaviour.

Fathers of Suicide Attempters

1.
2.

Low self-esteem.
More depression.

3.

More alcohol abuse.

Bullying Ireland versus Norway

Floccinaucinihilipilification the action or habit of estimating as worthless.

Persons with low self-esteem are negative about themselves and about everything.

Adolescents
Falling behind not suceeding:

Academically. Sports. Relationships (ASP or ADHD). Teasing, bullying, ostracisation.

Family Profile of Members who attempt Suicide

1.
2. 3. 4.

5.

Many members have low self-esteem. Poor family self-image. Isolated families. Inflexible family style. Much family depression.

Family Profile of Members who attempt Suicide

6.
7. 8. 9.

10.

Much family conflict. Much familyhopelessness. Much family aggression. Very poor family communication. Chaotic or authoritarian parenting.

Family Profile of Members who attempt Suicide

11.
12. 13.

Poor individuation of family members i.e. each member does not have a separate, self-image or identity. High negative expressed emotions leading to low self-esteem and stunting of emotional growth. Low levels of warmth and empathy.

Family Profile of Members who attempt Suicide

14.
15. 16.

Children idealisation of parents and turn negative feeling and hatred on themselves lower self-esteem even further. Self-blame by children for family problems further lowering self-esteem. Children feel the family would be better off without them.

Family Summary
1.
2. 3. 4.

5.
6.

A lack of generational boundaries. Severe marital conflict. Negative parental feelings projected into the child. A symbiotic parent / child relationships. An inflesible family system. Individuals feel and often are out of control.

James Joyce
Portrait of the artist as a young man school method of reduding self-esteem.

Undiagnosed ADHD
1.
2. 3. 4.

5.

Poor attention and concentration. Poor organisation. Loses things. Distractible. Hyperactive impulsive.

Undiagnosed Aspergers syndrome

1.
2. 3. 4.

Loner. Eccentric. Bullied. Poor social know-how.

Capacity for Self-esteem Regulation:

1.
2.

Internal dialogue teach.

Talking to friends teach social skills.

3.

Self-esteem can be enhanced through group work and social skills training and problem solving skills work.

Developing Good Internal Objects

Good internal objects lead to good self-esteem. Teachers can be part of these internal objects.
The enhancement of self-esteem is regarded as a pivotal factor in childrens psychological development. A good teacher at times needs a blind eye and a deaf ear.

Self-esteem Improved By:

1.
2.

Good peer skills.

Sensitive teachers.

3.
4.

Sensitive parents.
Success of any kind.

Self-esteem Improved By:

5.
6.

Nothing succeeds like success.

Sporting or success in any field.

7.

Healthy schools.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for negative thinking.

Negative voices from the past.

The aim of treatment is to modify the childs negative perception of themselves and to increase self-esteem.
Trust is critical. The childs view of the world as hopeless has to be challenged but one has to be honest with the patient and consistent in ones actions and statements. Children are more at risk of suicidal behaviour when they have experienced a loss, where their selfesteem has fallen, where they feel themselves out of control, and feel their school life is out of control.

Therapy for Low Self-esteem:

1.
2.

Self-monitoring.
Identifying negative thoughts and feelings.

3.
4.

Learning how to control these internal critical attitudes.

Exercises to practice newly acquired skills.

1.
2.

Adolescent gang activity way of increasing self-esteem.

James joyce group re-grouped after beating and went to headmaster. Youth culture can play a protective role acting as a source of self-esteem and playing a critical part in the development of self-identity.

3.

Criticisms of the Self-esteem Movement

Boosting peoples sense of self-worth has become a national preoccupation. Yet surprisingly research shows that such efforts are of little value in fostering academic progress or preventing undesirable behaviour.

Scientific Americian, January 2005.

Criticisms of the Self-esteem Movement

Vasconcellos a Californian politician claimed that raising selfesteem in young people would reduce crime, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, school under achievement, pollution, and balance the state budget i.e. persons with high self-esteem earn more money and pay more taxes.

Criticisms of the Self-esteem Movement

Some findings even suggest that artificially boosting self-esteem may lower subsequent academic performance. Dont forget the 3 Rs back to basics.

Scientific American, January 2005.

Criticisms of the Self-esteem Movement

Two groups of students studied. One group were told that their grades were very good and their self-esteem was boosted.
A second group got a message instilling a sense of personal responsibility for their academic performance. The group whose self-esteem was boosted dropped their grades by 50% while those who were told that it was their responsibility to get better grades improved their grades.

Criticisms of the Self-esteem Movement

Persons with high self-esteem are less inhibited, more willing to disregard risks and more prone to engage in sex. At the same time bad sexual experiences and unwanted pregnancies appear to lower self-esteem.
A study of 2000 students in New Zealand found no correlation between self-esteem measured between the ages of 9 and 13 and drinking or drug use at 15.

Genuine Finding
People with high self-esteem tend to show more initiative and appear to be significantly happier than others.

Bullies, contrary to popular perception, do not typically suffer from low self-esteem. Neither do those who become sexually active at an early age, nor do those prone to abusing alcohol or illicit drugs.

Raising self-esteem is not likely to boost performance in school or on the job.

Low self-esteem can contribute to illicit drug use. Declining levels of academic motivation cause self-esteem to drop, which in turn led to marijuana use. Thrill seeking or novelty seeking are factors in drinking and drug abuse.
Any theory which explains everything like self-esteem explains nothing.

1.

When self-esteem measured by external raters high selfesteem was associated with ability to initiate new social contacts and friendships.
It was not associated by them being better at asserting themselves and response to objectional behaviours by others and they were also not better at providing emotional support and even better at managing interpersonal conflicts.

2.

Former teachers didnt always spend their time building selfesteem and spent it encouraging personal responsibility and performing better. They werent all wrong. Dont throw the baby out with the bath water.

Many geniuses that I studied experienced low self-esteem and it didnt prevent them from producing creative work of genius.

It is probably negative for schools to boost self-esteem at the expense of good teaching.
Self-esteem junkies. No link between physical attractiveness and measures of selfesteem.

Controversies in the self-esteem arena.

Back to basics.

Nothing succeeds like success.

Giving children meaningful success experiences.

Praise has to be earned. Praise is only effective when it is given for genuine achievement. For a child with special needs this may be a very small improvement but is nevertheless real. Praise given willy-nilly is not helpful and is probably damaging.