The Ill-Effects of Low Self-Esteem - Research Paper Example

The Effects of Low Self-Esteem The ill-effects of low self-esteem are many and varied. As people with low self-esteem feel themselves to be inferior, incompetent and cherish a feeling of being unworthy, they fail to cope up with the challenges of every day life and prove themselves to be a failure in their career, profession, work place, social and interpersonal interactions. People with low self-esteem suffer from social anxiety, lack of confidence, and depression and these adversely affect their personal, social and professional life. Similarly, low self-esteem results in poor self-image, and plunges the individual into despair, negative self-concept and culminates in his/her destruction. There have been many researches and studies on the causes and ill effects of low self-esteem and scholars have come up with a number of problem solving techniques to foster high self-esteem in people who suffer from low self-esteem. This paper seeks to make a probe into the various adverse social, professional, personal and interpersonal effects of low-self esteem on individuals and in doing so the paper also tries to unearth the underlying causes that lead to one’s low self-esteem. The relation between low self-esteem and emotional and behavioural problems has long been established. As Kowalski & Leary (2004) point out people with high self-esteem are more likely to be socially accepted than those with comparatively low self esteem and this prompts people with low self-esteem to resort to dysfunctional ways to get social acceptance. For the authors, low self-esteem often results in social rejection and “not only does social rejection create a variety of psychological problems, but people who feel rejected are likely to resort to dysfunctional ways of seeking acceptance” (Kowalski & Leary, 2004, p. 117). These ‘dysfunctional ways of seeking acceptance’ lead to social and psychological problems in the lives of people with low self-esteem. The factors that cause low self-esteem in the individual can vary from peer rejection, psychological maladjustments, social exclusion, to depression that might have been experienced by the individual at some time in his past. Researches have underlined that low self-esteem can enhance the aggressive nature of individuals and that such people are more likely to be part of socially deviant groups. Kowalski & Leary make this clear when the authors conclude that people with low self esteem are more likely to indulge in aggression including domestic violence, child abuse, homicide, and other forms of harmful behaviour especially when they feel that their sense of inclusion or acceptance are in danger (Kowalski & Leary, 2004,p. 122). Very often, the aggressive nature of people with low self-esteem stem from frustration and depression as they fail to accomplish their aspirations and dreams due to poor self-concept, inferiority complex, and lack of confidence. Powell (2005), in this respect, throws light on the various personal and interpersonal problems that people with low self-esteem face in their lives. For him, low self-esteem can affect every area of one’s life-from one’s relationships and work to one’s health and well-being; similarly, people with low self-esteem fail to respect and value others just as they fail to respect and consider themselves as worthwhile (Powell, 2005, p. 20). In the same way, the author advocates that “people with low self-esteem are more likely to become addicted to tobacco, drugs, or alcohol” and that “self-esteem increases the risk of teenage pregnancy” as there are many girls who consider pregnancy as a means to enhance their ‘social status and living independently’ (Powell, 2005, p. 21). The ill effects o f low –self esteem in the work place prompts one to assume the relation between low –self esteem and unemployment among the youngsters in recent times. A person with the dilemma of low –self esteem is forced to withdraw from the job market because of sheer distrust in one’s abilities as it is hard for them to absorb confidence and competences that are required for the job. As Powell points out many surveys have shown the relation between low self- esteem and unemployment: “Surveys also show a link between low self-esteem and unemployment in young men. If these men feel they are unable to compete in the job market, unemployment may seem to be a safe option” (Powell, 2005, p. 21). People, having the problem of self esteem tend to acknowledge the fact that they are a misfit for the existing job market and as a result people with high self-esteem outshine and outperform when it comes to actual performance. Depression and other behavioural disorders that stem from low self-esteem prevent one’s interactive ability and this badly affects one’s personal and professional lives. People with low self-esteem are afraid of not having substance things and not living up to the prospects of someone else and this lead to various behavioural disorders such as aggressiveness, depression and disappointment. Jillian Powell rightly comments that;” Low self-esteem can sometimes be part of an illness called depression. We all feel sad at times, but when these feelings stay with us for a long time and nothing lifts our mood, we may be suffering from depression” (Powell, 2005, p. 26). Isolation in both personal and professional life is the after effects of this sort of depression and one can relate it to the setback of low- self esteem. Aggressiveness and lack of self-belief thwart a person to accept others and his/her low self esteem endows disappointment in one’s life and it is hard for a person with low self esteem to keep equilibrium in both personal and professional lives. One can regulate the skill of interaction and self governing only by developing high level of self esteem. In their joint venture Vohs, Baumeister and Loewenstein identified that people with high self-esteem are more comfortable in building up interpersonal relations; the study conducted by the authors showed that “high self-esteem people may be willing to take more interpersonal risks, insofar as initiating a new interaction involves some chance of rejection” (Vohs, Baumeister & Loewenstein, 2007, 159) whereas people with low self-esteem are governed by the fear of social rejection and ego threat. Very often low self-esteem people fail to respond to ego threat positively as they become too much of self-conscious, cherish inferiority complex, and downgrade their own self-appraisals. As Vohs et al (2007, p.172) have rightly pointed out low self-esteem not only induces ego threat and self-conscious emotions but it also increases the interdependence of the person and threatens his capability for positive social functioning. A series of studies conducted by Smith and Petty (1995) brought out the effects of negative and neutral moods in high and low self-esteem individuals. The findings of the study showed that there existed a clear interaction between self-esteem and mood condition. During the experimental study conducted by the researchers, “low self-esteem individuals showed mood-congruent recall; they recalled negative memories in the negative mood condition, and they recalled positive memories in the positive mood condition. High self-esteem participants, however, recalled positive memories in the negative mood condition” (Forgas, 2001, p. 387). The results of the study show that people with low self-esteem fail to view negative mood condition positively and it also show that individual difference in the level of self-esteem is reflected in the creation and measurement of mood congruency. Psychologists and the professionals of medical field have often documented the fact that low self esteem essentially stalks from the absence of self love and a discard of the self. The dilemma of low self esteem is intensely related with a person’s past experiences and proceedings. If a person failed to gain affirmation and consideration in his child hood or he/she feels refutation he/she would suffer from the adversities of low self esteem. The topic of ill effects of low self esteem has been paid serious attention among the professionals of psychology and behavioural science in recent times. Guilt feeling is often considered as a major significant effect of low self esteem. Adversities of self esteem constitute worry and regression in their daily life. People having this behavioural disorder frequently think that imperfections in their behaviour are unmovable. Tangney and Dearing, in this respect, state that “blaming the self for significant failures or transgressions poses a threat to our self –image” (Tangney & Dearing, 2002, p. 56). Thus one can reach the inference that frequent deterioration of self esteem pave the way for inferiority complex and other psychological problems in both the personal as well the social life of a person. Uncertainty and trepidation contribute never ending adversities in a person’s life and both these factors have a visible connection with low self esteem. Their naked fear affects even themselves because of the averting of other people whose value and impression are relevant. Fear and uncertainty that stem from low self-esteem make a person less confident and this can result in instant failure and organizational faults in work field. These people habitually sow the signs of over consciousness and suspicion in their professional life. Brian Luke Seaward’s words promote relevant ideas about the relation between low self esteem and fear in militant’s life. Fear for rejection and fear of failure are related with low self esteem and one can show his/her agreement in author’s opinion about the ill effects of low self esteem. The author asserts that “fear of rejection is also associated with low self –worth, but this fear involves your perception of how other perceives and accept you, while fear of failure is based solely on self acceptance” (Seaward, 2006, p. 121). Fear of failure, fear of rejection and fear about self confidence often force the people in to the gutters of self shame and other types of communication exertions. Constant fears about other’s conceptions make a person more egocentric and they think that keeping secrets about themselves is something disgust and awful. Psychiatrists and medical professionals permit the reader to take delivery of the fact that self shame hinders the smooth functioning of a person’s work field. One can never feel comfort that people are being truthful or straight forward to us. Over expectation about unrealistic perfection is also considered as another ill effect of low self esteem. It is clear for a reader that a person having enough self esteem has the ability to accept others and he can prevail over practical problems in personal as well as professional life. To conclude, it can be stated that low self-esteem people fail to succeed in life until and unless they identify the factors that causes low self-esteem in themselves and, no doubt, one’s failure or success in life is determined by the way one finds solutions for these problems. Lack of positive self- esteem can adversely affect one’s studies, performance in co-curricular activities, social interaction, interpersonal communications, and professional life. Therefore, it is necessary that people with low self-esteem believe in themselves, rely more on their strengths than weaknesses and develop a positive self-image which will make them more confidant and enthusiastic in facing the realities of life. It necessitates conscious efforts from the part of the individual to overcome his/her low self-esteem and to develop high self-esteem in life. For Achi Amaechi, “high Self Esteem is knowing who we are and living in harmony with ourselves without needing to have the approval of others. Really, other people’s opinion about yourself does not have to be your reality” (Amaechi 2007). Therefore, it is imperative that people with low self-esteem look introspectively, identify their acute problems and resort to problem solving techniques. As William G. Huitt rightly suggests, “problem solving is a process in which we perceive and resolve a gap between a present situation and a desired goal, with the path to the goal blocked by known or unknown obstacles” (Huitt 1992). Thus it was essential for people with low self-esteem to locate those ‘known or unknown obstacles’ that hinder them from exercising high level of self-esteem. References Amaechi, Achi. (1 Jun. 2007). "Definition of Self Esteem." Definition of Self Esteem. EzineArticles.com. Retrieved 18 May 2010 from: . Forgas, J.P (2001). Handbook of Affect and Social Cognition. Reprint Edition: Routledge. Huitt, William G. Problem solving and decision making: Consideration of individual differences using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Journal of Psychological Type, 24. 1992. Retrieved 18 May 2010 from: . Kowalski, R.M & Leary, M.R. (2004). The Interface of Social and Clinical Psychology: Key Readings. Illustrated Edition: Psychology Press. Powell, Jillian. (2005). Self-Esteem: It's your Health. Illustrated Edition: Black Rabbit Books. Seaward, B.L. (2006). Managing stress: principles and strategies for health and wellbeing. Vol 1. 5th Illustrated Edition: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Tangney, J.P & Dearing, R.L. (2002). Shame and guilt. Illustrated Edition: Guilford Press. Vohs, KD., Baumeister, RF & Loewenstein, G. (2007). Do emotions help or hurt decision making?: a Hedgefoxian perspective. Illustrated Edition: Russell Sage Foundation. Read More