How important is self-esteem?, from the Harvard Mental Health Letter
Many regard heightened self-esteem as a worthy aim, but others worry that its significance and value are overrated, reports the June 2007 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.
Self-Esteem
There is convincing evidence that people with high self-esteem are happier, as well as more likely to undertake difficult tasks and persevere in the face of failure. Other studies have failed to confirm the virtues of high self-esteem. One way to understand the divergent views is to distinguish various kinds of self-esteem. Researchers are beginning to examine differences between explicit and implicit self-esteem. The explicit form is judged by what we say about ourselves, while implicit self-esteem is measured by automatic responses, such as how we associate words that have favorable or unfavorable connotations with ourselves.
When is it sensible to treat high self-esteem as a goal in itself? Critics suggest that even when self-esteem is associated with something desirable - for instance, happiness - there is no proof of a causal link. A genetic predisposition to feeling good might be the source of both happiness and high self-esteem. Making self-esteem the primary goal could remove an incentive for genuine self-improvement and encourage self-centeredness. However, other clinicians say that long-term studies provide sufficient evidence that self-esteem is a source of good things and not just a by-product.
It can hardly be harmful for therapists to encourage patients to take credit for their accomplishments. But constant attention to self-validation is not a road to good mental health. Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, says, "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."