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| "Pride" (1556) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder |
And yet, some studies suggest that Americans in particular tend to overestimate the value of high self-confidence and self-esteem (click here to read more about such study).
What do you think? Do Americans tend to flatter themselves more than they should? Or is building someone's self-esteem a necessary element to igniting ambitions and inspiring hard work?
The video below, an interview with Yale Law School professor Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom, offers some insight into the perspective of a mother who asks questions about the best way to boosting a child's "real" self-esteem.
In my personal experience, I have found that we often confuse the concepts of confidence and self-esteem with pride and perhaps narcissism. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an individual who believes in their ability to do a task and are not afraid to try new things or make mistakes and own up to them. In my opinion, it is when someone is unable to account for their mistakes or try and pass off blame to someone else that they cross the line from self-confidence into hubris which is destructive to the individual and is sadly rampant in this nation. Therefore, I believe we as U.S. citizens still believe that self-confidence and self-esteem are important but those ideals have become confused with characteristics that are hurtful to both the individual and to their peers and it is imperative to know the difference between that which is good and that which is harmful.
ReplyDelete-Dylan West
Dylan, I absolutely agree, and in fact have often thought about how easy it is to misunderstand, misinterpret, and misappropriate personal self-esteem. Thank you for your comments.
DeleteI agree with Dylan in the sense that we often confuse confidence and self-esteem with an overabundance of pride. It is necessary for us to all have confidence and self-esteem. These traits assist us in our everyday tasks and not to second guess every move we make. They also give us the spark and ambition to attempt new activities that we would not normally be involved in. A severe lack in confidence and self-esteem can hinder you living your life. This is how we become self-conscious about our bodies and actions or even depressed. However, an excessive amount of these traits is where we fail, too much can turn harmful. When our high self-esteem or confidence hurts someone else we have gone too far.
ReplyDelete-Alex Porter
Americans mistake the value of high self-confidence and self-esteem more than they overestimate it. As Dylan suggested there is a fine line between being self-confident and being obnoxious and narcissistic. I would say that that American tend to flatter themselves as much as they should with one problem; they flatter themselves in public. Believing in yourself and broadcasting that belief to the public are two different things. I would say it's necessary to build someones self esteem to invite ambitions and inspire hard work but if you build self-esteem with the wood you took from other's self-esteem you are merely sacrificing someone else's self-esteem for your own.
ReplyDelete