Deutsch: Selbstachtung / Español: Autoestima / Português: Autoestima / Français: Estime de soi / Italiano: Stima di sé
Self-regard in the psychology context refers to the way individuals perceive, evaluate, and value themselves. It encompasses an individual's feelings of self-worth, self-respect, and overall self-acceptance, influencing their behaviour, relationships, and emotional well-being.
Description
Self-regard is a fundamental component of an individual’s self-concept, shaping their mental health, motivation, and interactions with others. It involves an inner dialogue that reflects how one acknowledges strengths, weaknesses, and personal worth.
Healthy self-regard is rooted in a balanced perspective:
- Realistic Self-Appraisal: Recognising one’s abilities and limitations without inflating or diminishing them.
- Self-Acceptance: Embracing one’s individuality, including imperfections, as part of a whole self.
- Resilience to External Validation: Self-regard is less dependent on others' opinions and more on intrinsic values and beliefs.
Self-regard vs. Self-Esteem: While closely related, self-regard is broader and more about how a person fundamentally views themselves, whereas self-esteem focuses on the evaluative and emotional component of this self-view.
Application Areas
- Clinical Psychology: Enhancing self-regard to support individuals dealing with low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.
- Educational Psychology: Encouraging self-regard in students to foster confidence, resilience, and academic motivation.
- Organisational Psychology: Building employees' self-regard to improve workplace satisfaction, performance, and leadership potential.
- Developmental Psychology: Studying the formation of self-regard from childhood through adulthood and its influence on life outcomes.
- Therapeutic Practices: Incorporating mindfulness and cognitive-behavioural techniques to cultivate positive self-regard.
Well-Known Examples
- Affirmation Practices: Positive affirmations that reinforce self-regard by acknowledging personal strengths and values.
- Therapeutic Interventions: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) helps individuals reframe negative self-perceptions to improve self-regard.
- Resilience Building: Teaching strategies to maintain self-regard despite setbacks, such as in sports or academic failures.
Risks and Challenges
- Fragile Self-Regard: Self-worth based solely on external validation can be easily shaken by criticism or failure.
- Overinflated Self-Regard: Unrealistic self-perception may lead to narcissistic tendencies or poor interpersonal relationships.
- Developmental Influences: Negative reinforcement or lack of support during formative years can hinder healthy self-regard.
- Social Comparisons: Constantly measuring oneself against others may undermine self-regard.
- Cultural Differences: Societal norms may influence how individuals develop and express self-regard, leading to varying experiences across cultures.
Similar Terms
- Self-Esteem: The evaluative and emotional aspect of self-regard, reflecting feelings of self-worth.
- Self-Acceptance: Embracing oneself fully, including flaws and imperfections.
- Self-Concept: The broader understanding of oneself, encompassing self-regard, identity, and beliefs.
- Self-Respect: The moral and ethical component of self-regard, relating to maintaining one’s dignity and integrity.
Summary
In psychology, self-regard reflects how individuals perceive and value themselves, influencing their mental health, motivation, and interpersonal relationships. Healthy self-regard fosters self-acceptance and resilience, while imbalances can lead to challenges such as low self-esteem or narcissism. Building and maintaining positive self-regard is essential for overall psychological well-being.
--