Self-Esteem in the Growth and Development of an Individual - Literature review Example

Social Psychology – Self Esteem Introduction Self-esteem is a terminology that features prominently in fields of psychology and sociology; it is often used to reflect an individual’s general emotional evaluation that illustrates his worth. Self-esteem is often described as the judgment that an individual has on his overall attitudes and perspectives. The concept o self-esteem is essential in describing the specific beliefs and about an individual’s pride, shame, despair, triumph or his emotions. On the other hand, self-esteem or self-concept describes the thoughts that an individual has on his or herself. In this case, the concept can be defined as the negative or positive evaluations that an individual often makes on himself. In this case, the concept is brought out clearly as the important evaluative dimension of an individual; this includes feelings of pride, worthiness, discouragement and other normal emotions in the life of an individual. It is important to note that self-esteem is closely linked to the concept self-consciousness. According to the way self-esteem is applied in social psychology, it represents a disposition that is exhibited by an individual, showing his own judgments of himself in terms of his general worth and abilities. Literature Review Many researches have been conducted on the concept of self-esteem, indicating how effective the concept is in influencing an individual’s worth in the society. Many people have been affected by feelings of low self-image, just because they did not understand how to improve their self-image in public. According to Arens, Young & Hesselhorn (2013), self-esteem is very essential concept in the life of an individual. It determines the manner and extent to which he interacts with other people in his immediate environment. This is very important in achievement of set goals and objectives in the life of the particular individual. In this case, self-esteem has to be emphasized in people in their process of growth and development. This can be achieved through schools and the social institutions in which people meet to deliberate on various ideas. Self-esteem is an important concept as far as leadership development and skills in an individual are concerned. People that have strong self-worth are often good leaders; these people possess the needed skills to influence people in certain ways to achieve set goals and objectives. Arens, Young & Hesselhorn (2013) developed their research question on the perceived significance of self-esteem in the leadership aspects of people. It has used the primary research qualitative methods in analysing the influence of self-esteem in leadership and people management. According to the findings of this research, potential leaders are expected to who great sense of knowledge about their self-worth. It explains that people who have a strong sense of self-worth are good communicators, they easily cover up their weaknesses and are not easily brought down by them. In another instance Corte (2007) has made a research on the significance of self-esteem in people deemed to be alcohol depended. The research question in this study was centered on the perceived causes of dependence on alcohol by people. The research was conducted in a sample of alcoholics in various populations, this included those who prefer to take alcohol in socially designated placed like bars and those that prefer to take it from the comfort of their homes. Corte explains that some people are addicted to alcohol to the extent that they cannot function effectively unless they have taken it to certain levels (Corte 2007). In this research, the chief goals was to find out the real causes of this dependence despite the presence of various support systems in the society. This research has blended the qualitative and quantitative methodologies in reaching at its conclusions. According to the findings in this research, most of the people that have reached the dependency stage in alcoholism are often motivated by a low-esteem. It is this feeling that pushes them into alcoholism in order to cover up for the depression and other negative feelings they have for themselves. Alcoholics that have reached the dependence stage can only function effectively in the society after they are under the influence of alcohol. In most cases, they find the energy to communicate and interact with other people after the motivation and energies they receive from consuming the alcohol and other related substances. Lachowicz-Tabaczek, & Śniecińska (2011) have also made a tremendous contribution to the developments in the functions of self-esteem in people’s lives. In their research, Lachowicz-Tabaczek, & Śniecińska explain that self-esteem and self concept are essential in the achievement of an individuals goals and objectives in life. This is because, people are better placed to aggressive pursue their dreams depending on the internal energies they have. The internal energies that people have determine the extent to which they interact with other people. It is important to note that a person cannot live effectively as a lone ranger. In many instances, one has to meet other people, share ideas and concepts and deliberate on them (Lachowicz-Tabaczek, & Śniecińska 2011). The society has created various institutions in which people can interact and obtain support into various issues affecting their lives. It is expected that in the process of growth, people interact with these systems to find meaning for their lives (Lachowicz-Tabaczek, & Śniecińska 2011). The feeling of self-worth and conscious awareness about their abilities influences people to live with other people in the society. The school is an important system through which people learn how to interact with others. The society provides different systems through which people, can use to display their talents in leadership and other aspects of people management. This opportunities are important in helping people realize their their innate talents and abilities, this leaving out their out their purposes. That that have good self-esteem and awareness about themselves are outgoing (Lachowicz-Tabaczek, & Śniecińska (2011). They do not fear to make mistakes and learn from them, additionally, they are strengthened by criticisms, whether it is made in the positive or negative dimension. The education system plays an important role in influencing an individual’s behavior and patterns in his immediate environment, this is according to the research on how self-esteem affects student performance by Patwardhan (2002). In this research, the research question employed centered in the specific influences of the school in shaping the life of learners. This includes the particular instances of academic performance and the aggressiveness of learners in their learning process. The findings of this research show that learners that have strong self-image often perform outstandingly in their educational activities. These learners are active in co-curricular activities and easy to associate with. (Patwardhan, V. (2002). On the other hand, those that have a poor self-image are often not aggressive and keep to themselves. Th teachers interviewed in the qualitative methods indicated that learners with low self-image are often hard to understand because they rarely come in the open to express their feelings. In the process of improving the students self-image, schools have created departments of guidance and counselling in order to listen to these students and devise ways of helping them. In another instance, self-esteem has been cited as an important tool that defines the manner in which young people interact and carry out their functions in their social environment. This is according to the research carried out by Verkuyten (2001). In research, Verkuyten explain that the adolescents’ ability to overcome youthful challenges in their relationship and carer aspects depends on their feeling and understandings of self-worth. The research findings in this study indicate that young adolescents with low self-esteem are often manipulated and abused in different ways. For instance, adolescent girls that are often sexually abused are those that rarely complain about issues affecting them in their lives. For this reason, some people lure them into sexual relationships without their concept just because they are rarely willing to talk and share their problems and challenges in life. This happens even for other challenges besides sexual manipulation. Young people with low self-steem are often easily influenced into drugs and other substances that are harmful to their lives. The only way for these people to find help is participating in various youthful programs by organisations, schools and other agencies that advocate for conscious youthful lives. Hypothesis of the unanswered questions According to the foregone discussion, self-esteem is essential in the growth and development of people in their social environment. Self-esteem defines that levels of interaction and the internal motivation that people have for carrying out their various functions in the society. This may mean that without proper self-image of oneself, many problems and challenges abound in the social environment. The human society comprises of various support systems that are essential in helping people build their motivation and self-image. It is through the interaction with these systems that people find the energy and motivation to work on their attitudes, perspectives and the general concept of self-esteem. From the findings in the researches conducted, the ability to learn and know how to manage self-image makes people become active and functional members of their respective social environments. However, many of the unanswered questions relating to self-esteem differ on the manner in which self-esteem and self-worth can be achieved by people attending and participating in various social activities like seminars and conferences or taking courses in colleges. On the other hand, some arguments on the same post that people acquire their self-image in their process of growth and development and that it comes automatically, such that they have to take the educational journey. Conclusion From the foregone discussion, self-esteem is essential in the growth and development of an individual. It determines how an individual carries out various activities towards attaining their goals and objectives. People that have a strong self-image are often aggressive in search for their goals and objectives in careers and education. Conversely, those that have low self-esteem face various challenges in the social interactions that affect the achievement of their dreams and life goals and objectives. Different systems exist to enhance people’s ability to have strong self-image and awareness; in addition, these support systems play a important role in ensuring that people develop the inner motivation to articulate various issues in their lives. References Arens, A., Yeung, A., & Hasselhorn, M. (2013). Native Language Self-Concept and Reading Self-Concept: Same or Different? The Journal of Experimental Education, 82(1), 1-24. Corte, C. (2007). Schema Model of the Self-Concept to Examine the Role of the Self-Concept in Alcohol Dependence and Recovery. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 13(1), 31-41 Lachowicz-Tabaczek, K., & Śniecińska, J. (2011). Self-concept and self-esteem: How the content of the self-concept reveals sources and functions of self-esteem. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 42(1), 24-35. Patwardhan, V. (2002). Self-Concept of Eritrean Students Exploring Self-Concept of Students: Links With Gender, Grade, And Future Identity. Ife Psychologia. 10(2), 1-19. Verkuyten, M. (2001). Global self-esteem, ethnic self-esteem, and family integrity: Turkish and Dutch early adolescents in The Netherlands. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 25(1), 357-366. Read More