Value of self-esteem may be overrated

BOSTON, May 29 U.S. experts are debating whether making self-esteem a primary goal could remove the incentive for genuine self-improvement and encourage self-centeredness.

Some clinicians say that long-term studies provide sufficient evidence that self-esteem is a source of positivity, not just a by-product, but critics writing in the June issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter suggest that even when self-esteem is associated with something desirable, such as happiness, there is no proof of a causal link.

Constant attention to self-validation is not a road to good mental health, says Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.

"It's more likely that self-esteem will come as a result of accurate self-understanding, appreciation of one's genuine skills and the satisfaction of helping others," Miller said in a statement. Researchers are beginning to examine differences between explicit and implicit self-esteem. The explicit form is judged by what people say about ourselves, while implicit self-esteem is measured by automatic responses, such as how people associate words that have favorable or unfavorable connotations with ourselves, says Miller.

Copyright 2007 by UPI

More Health News click here