UNDERSTANDING WHAT SELF-ESTEEM IS AND WHY IT MATTERS: A TERROR MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE

Uri Lifshin, Dylan E. Horner, Jeff Greenberg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

In this chapter, we utilize terror management theory to explain what self-esteem is, how the need for self-esteem develops, how people attain and maintain self-esteem, and why self-esteem is so important for psychological well-being. Then we briefly review empirical evidence supporting these ideas. First, we review evidence that reminders of death increase self-esteem striving. Second, we describe studies showing that self-esteem reduces defensiveness, anxiety, and deathrelated thought in response to mortality salience. Third, we consider evidence that threats to self-esteem increase death-related cognition, and that low self-esteem is associated with deficient terror management mechanisms and increased risk for psychopathology following traumatic events. Finally, we present evidence that self-esteem is associated with a sense of symbolic and literal immortality. Together, these research programs support the terror management theory proposition that a primary reason self-esteem matters is because it helps us minimize the anxiety engendered by the knowledge of our vulnerability and mortality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInfluences and Importance of Self-Awareness, Self-Evaluation and Self-Esteem
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Pages1-32
Number of pages32
ISBN (Electronic)9781685075323
ISBN (Print)9781685075286
StatePublished - Jan 1 2022

Keywords

  • mortality salience
  • self-esteem
  • terror management
  • well-being
  • worldviews

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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