RJ-
I taking up the self esteem debate with your colleague you may want to
take a look at Rich-Harris' "The Nurture Assumption" (Free Press, New
York, 1998). On page 339 she says in part:
"According to advice-givers, selfesteem is the most valuable thing a
parent can give a child. ... These writers may be putting the cart
before the horse - mistaking an effect for a cause. ... Feeling VERY
good about yourself may, in fact, be couterproductive. ...people with
high self-esteem are more apt to drive under the influence of alcohol or
exceed the speed limit. A study of college women found that those with
high self-esteem underestimated their chances of getting pregnant: they
considered unprotected sex to be less risky than did those with lower
self-esteem." Additionally, she cites studies which relate high levels
of self esteem to violence.
Well worth a read.
All best, -D.
********************************************************************
Don Allen email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dept. of Psychology voice: (604)-323-5871
Langara College fax: (604)-323-5555
100 W. 49th Ave.
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada, V5Y 2Z6
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On Fri, 25 Jun 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I am in need of information.
>
> What is self-esteem and what does it do?
>
> I am in a debate with a colleague who (w)hole-heartedly believes in the
> construct as in "the more you have, the better you are." I am
> skeptical...and maybe suffering from low self-esteem (whatever that is!).
>
> Thanks in Advance,
> RJ
>
