| Self-Esteem: Facts, Myths, Challenges, Alternatives |
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The Centre for Confidence in Glasgow promotes high aspirations and
confidence in young people living in areas of high deprivation. At a conference
in March 2010, Dr Carol Craig, Director of the Centre, gave a presentation on
the pitfalls of trying to promote self-esteem in the wrong way and the
advantages of encouraging self-efficacy.
Common definitions of self-esteem relate to the emotional judgments people
make about their worth as an individual, irrespective of their achievements or
social position. Advocates claim that boosting self-esteem will have strongly a
beneficial effect on things such as: academic performance, bullying and
violence, drug/alcohol consumption, unemployment, mental health.... However
recent research in the United States and the UK has shown that attempting to
boost self-esteem does not improve academic achievement and can reduce
young people's resilience, mental well-being and life skills. Focusing on
self-esteem can easily encourage young people to believe that the most
important thing in life is how they feel about themselves. But as Professor
Albert Bandura said: "Ordinary realities are strewm with impediments,
adversities, setbacks, frustrations and inequities. People must, therefore,
have a robust sense of efficacy to sustain the perseverant effort needed to
succeed".
A good way to improve self-efficacy is by using Carol Dweck's Growth
Mindset in the classroom, as many EAZ schools are now doing. See "Carol
Dweck's Self-Theories" in the drop down menu.
Click on the link below to see a PowerPoint of Carol
Craig's recent presentation.
Self Efficacy
confidence in young people living in areas of high deprivation. At a conference
in March 2010, Dr Carol Craig, Director of the Centre, gave a presentation on
the pitfalls of trying to promote self-esteem in the wrong way and the
advantages of encouraging self-efficacy.
Common definitions of self-esteem relate to the emotional judgments people
make about their worth as an individual, irrespective of their achievements or
social position. Advocates claim that boosting self-esteem will have strongly a
beneficial effect on things such as: academic performance, bullying and
violence, drug/alcohol consumption, unemployment, mental health.... However
recent research in the United States and the UK has shown that attempting to
boost self-esteem does not improve academic achievement and can reduce
young people's resilience, mental well-being and life skills. Focusing on
self-esteem can easily encourage young people to believe that the most
important thing in life is how they feel about themselves. But as Professor
Albert Bandura said: "Ordinary realities are strewm with impediments,
adversities, setbacks, frustrations and inequities. People must, therefore,
have a robust sense of efficacy to sustain the perseverant effort needed to
succeed".
A good way to improve self-efficacy is by using Carol Dweck's Growth
Mindset in the classroom, as many EAZ schools are now doing. See "Carol
Dweck's Self-Theories" in the drop down menu.
Click on the link below to see a PowerPoint of Carol
Craig's recent presentation.
Self Efficacy
| Self-Efficacy vs Self-Esteem by Dr Carol Craig |