Theories Developmental Psychology Signs of Healthy and Low Self-Esteem By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial process Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 14, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 30, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Definition Importance Theories Influences Signs of Healthy Self-Esteem Signs of Low Self-Esteem We all know that self-esteem (sometimes referred to as self-worth or self-respect) can be an important part of success. Too little self-esteem can leave people feeling defeated or depressed. It can also lead people to make bad choices, fall into destructive relationships, or fail to live up to their full potential. A grandiose sense of self-importance, on the other hand, can be off-putting to others and can even damage personal relationships. It can also be a sign of narcissistic personality disorder, a mental health disorder characterized by an excessive need for admiration and lack of empathy toward other people. Self-esteem levels at the extreme high and low ends of the spectrum can be harmful, so ideally, it's best to strike a balance somewhere in the middle. A realistic yet positive view of yourself is generally considered the ideal. But what exactly is self-esteem? Where does it come from and what influence does it really have on our lives? Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin What Is Self-Esteem? In psychology, the term self-esteem is used to describe a person's overall sense of self-worth or personal value. In other words, how much you appreciate and like yourself. It involves a variety of beliefs about yourself, such as the appraisal of your own appearance, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. Self-esteem often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends to be stable and enduring. Why Self-Esteem Is Important Self-esteem can play a significant role in your motivation and success throughout your life. Low self-esteem may hold you back from succeeding at school or work because you don't believe yourself to be capable of success. By contrast, having a healthy self-esteem can help you achieve because you navigate life with a positive, assertive attitude and believe you can accomplish your goals. Theories of Self-Esteem Many theorists have written on the dynamics involved in self-esteem. The need for self-esteem plays an important role in psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which depicts self-esteem as one of the basic human motivations. Maslow suggested that people need both esteem from other people as well as inner self-respect. Both of these needs must be fulfilled in order for an individual to grow as a person and achieve self-actualization. It is important to note that self-esteem is a concept distinct from self-efficacy, which involves how well you believe you'll handle future actions, performance, or abilities. Factors That Influence Self-Esteem As you might imagine, many factors influence self-esteem. Your inner thinking, age, any potential illnesses, disabilities, or physical limitations, and your job can affect your self-esteem. Additionally, genetic factors that help shape a person's personality can play a role, but it is often our experiences that form the basis for overall self-esteem. Those who consistently receive overly critical or negative assessments from family and friends, for example, will likely experience low self-esteem. Signs of Healthy Self-Esteem There are some simple ways to tell if you have healthy self-esteem. You probably have healthy self-esteem if you are more likely to: Avoid dwelling on past, negative experiencesExpress your needsFeel confidentHave a positive outlook on lifeSay "no" when you want toSee overall strengths and weaknesses and accept them Signs of Low Self-Esteem You may need to work on how you perceive yourself if you tend to experience these common problems caused by low self-esteem: You believe that others are better than youYou find it difficult expressing your needsYou focus on your weaknessesYou frequently experience feelings such as shame, depression, or anxietyYou have a negative outlook on lifeYou have an intense fear of failureYou have trouble accepting positive feedbackYou have trouble saying "no"You put other people's needs before your ownYou struggle with confidence Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kunc, N. (1992). The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In R. A. Villa, J. S. Thousand, W. Stainback, & S. Stainback (Eds.), Restructuring for caring and effective education: An administrative guide to creating heterogeneous schools (pp. 25-39). Baltimore, MD, England: Paul H. Brookes Publishing. Crocker J, Major B. Social stigma and self-esteem: The self-protective properties of stigma. Psychological Review. 1989;(4):608-630. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.96.4.608 Additional Reading Mayo Clinic. Self-Esteem Check: Too Low or Just Right? July 12, 2017. Maslow, AH. Motivation and Personality. 3rd ed. New York: Harper & Row; 1987.