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Low
self-esteem is found in the criterion of 24 mental disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (O’Brien, Bartoletti & Leitzel, 2006). It is important to understand where
self-esteem stands today to provide the necessary help to someone who may be
in need.
There are
many theories and definitions of self-esteem that are currently being used in
research and therapy. The model of self-esteem that will be used is the
Two-Factor theory developed by Christopher Mruk (2006).
Mruk
defines self-esteem as “the lived status of one’s competence at dealing with
the challenges of living in a worth way over time” (p. 28, Mruk, 2006). The two factor theory developed by Mruk is built on worthiness and competence.
Competence is the action or behavior that a person exhibits when confronted
with different situations that challenge a person’s self-esteem. Competence
develops and matures as a person also matures. With greater knowledge, a
person is able to respond in a more thorough manner without causing harm to
their self-esteem. Former experiences influence how a person will respond or
behave to new experience developing a greater competence. The reaction a
person has towards a situation usually results in processing the situation
and putting a value on the behaviors. This is a person’s worthiness. Worthiness
is viewed as the value of self-esteem (low to high) and how a person
perceives their actions, such as “am I doing the right thing?” Self-esteem
increases and decreases based on the value placed on a person’s behavior. Worthiness
and competence work in a checks and balance system with each other.
Worthiness keeps a person’s behavior or competence in line and helps a person
to act in a way that will not harm their self-esteem. When a person acts in a
way that that causes harm their worthiness, this may lower a person’s
perceived self-esteem. There is an interaction between worthiness and
competence which results in four different types of self-esteem.The four components of self-esteem are
worthiness-base self esteem, low self-esteem, high self-esteem, and
competence-based self-esteem. Each component is also broken down into two
different levels.
 Worthiness-Based Self-Esteem is an unstable or
fragile self-esteem characterized by a low sense of competence compensated
for by focusing on worthiness. The two levels of worthiness-based self-esteem
are approval seeking and narcissistic. Approval seeking is contingent on
approval from others and sensitivity to criticism and rejection. People who
are in the approval seeking category seek out perfectionism to live up to
other’s idea of being perfect. Someone who is narcissistic tends to
exaggerate a sense of worthiness regardless of competence level and reactive
to criticism, they are vulnerable to defensive acting out. A person who is
narcissistic becomes defensive when others harm their self-concept.
Low Self-Esteem is a reduced level of self-esteem
characterized by a concern to avoid further loss of competence or worthiness.
The two levels in this quadrant are negativistic and classical low
self-esteem. People who are negativistic have a generally cautious style of
self-regulation and focus on protecting the current level of self-esteem
rather than losing. Those categorized as negativistic do not tend to have a
good outlook on situations or in life; they have bad luck all the time. Classical low self-esteem individuals have
an impaired functioning due to low sense of ability and worth, they are
vulnerable to depression and giving up easily.
High Self-Esteem is characterized as a relatively
stable self-esteem characterized by varying degrees of openness to
experience, optimism, and lack of defensiveness. The two levels are medium
self-esteem and authentic self-esteem. A person with medium self-esteem has a
stable sense of adequacy in terms of competence and worthiness. Authentic
self-esteem is a general sense of realistic competence and solid worthiness,
while actively concerned with living out positive and intrinsic values. This
is the highest level of true self-esteem.
Competence-Based Self-Esteem is an unstable or
fragile self-esteem characterized by low sense of worthiness compensated for
by focusing on competence. The two levels are success seeking and antisocial
self-esteem. Someone with success seeking self-esteem is contingent on
garnering success or achievements. They are anxious about and sensitive to
failure. People who fit this description, their self-esteem is contingent on the success they have made. Someone with
antisocial self-esteem has an exaggerated need for success or power,
vulnerable to aggressive acting out. These individuals are power driven with
do anything to be at the top.
Self-esteem
is stable throughout most of a person’s life span until something has
occurred to change a person’s level of self-esteem, positively or negatively.
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