High Self-Esteem: a Negative Impact on Students
High Self-Esteem: A Negative Impact on College Students
“You are special.” “You get an “A” for effort.” “Everyone is a winner.” The preceding phrases and many like them have been used in the recent decades in an attempt to boost self-esteem. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Columbia University, over 85% of American parents and nearly all parents surveyed in New York consider it important to reassure their children they are smart (Bronson. 1). But are 85% of adolescents truly smart? The American society has habitually accepted the constant praise as a means to ensure their youth do not sell themselves short. Due to the self-esteem movement, many guardians have made attempts to benefit their children’s future by patting their psyche. Anything potentially damaging to a child’s self-esteem has been dismissed.
The same mindset holds true throughout youth sporting events. Coaches want to eliminate competition; so that everyone can feel like a winner. Many leagues have steered away from championship trophies in order to award participant trophies to all who contribute. Although self esteem has long been believed to provide positive benefits, new research contradicts this attitude. In reality, undeserved self-esteem does quite the opposite. Studies have shown that high levels of self-esteem can adversely affect a child’s future relationships. In addition, ventures to correct disciplinary problems through positive reinforcement have provided unfavorable results. Despite previous debates on the constructive effects of unmerited praise, it is apparent that high levels of self-esteem can cause college students academic, social, and behavioral lives to suffer.
Understanding Self-Esteem Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to describe the overall self-appraisal of an individual’s own worth. In other words, it is either a favorable or unfavorable attitude towards oneself. The term has been very widely utilized throughout both
“You are special.” “You get an “A” for effort.” “Everyone is a winner.” The preceding phrases and many like them have been used in the recent decades in an attempt to boost self-esteem. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Columbia University, over 85% of American parents and nearly all parents surveyed in New York consider it important to reassure their children they are smart (Bronson. 1). But are 85% of adolescents truly smart? The American society has habitually accepted the constant praise as a means to ensure their youth do not sell themselves short. Due to the self-esteem movement, many guardians have made attempts to benefit their children’s future by patting their psyche. Anything potentially damaging to a child’s self-esteem has been dismissed.
The same mindset holds true throughout youth sporting events. Coaches want to eliminate competition; so that everyone can feel like a winner. Many leagues have steered away from championship trophies in order to award participant trophies to all who contribute. Although self esteem has long been believed to provide positive benefits, new research contradicts this attitude. In reality, undeserved self-esteem does quite the opposite. Studies have shown that high levels of self-esteem can adversely affect a child’s future relationships. In addition, ventures to correct disciplinary problems through positive reinforcement have provided unfavorable results. Despite previous debates on the constructive effects of unmerited praise, it is apparent that high levels of self-esteem can cause college students academic, social, and behavioral lives to suffer.
Understanding Self-Esteem Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to describe the overall self-appraisal of an individual’s own worth. In other words, it is either a favorable or unfavorable attitude towards oneself. The term has been very widely utilized throughout both