What are all the causes of low self-esteem?

Answer 1

Everyone's self esteem is built on different factors.

For example, very simplistically speaking, whereas one person's self esteem will be greatly supported by gratitude for things they've done, another person's self esteem is not particularly affected by gratitude but is positively affected by being deferred to on topics of interest that they consider themselves knowledgable about.

Conversely, the person whose self esteem is supported by gratitude can have a powerfully adverse reaction to an extreme lack of gratitude. Also, the person whose self esteem is fed by deferance can have very low self esteem when no one defers to them for information and advice.

For more detailed information on this particular school of thought, please refer to http://www.keirsey.com/pumII.html and/or the book Please Understand Me II, by David Keirsey.

Answer 2

i think the most common causes of low self esteem is the way people treat you.....like people say something bad about yourself that you are ugly and still experiencing that thing as you grow up with different peoples until you think and ask yourself .... "maybe there is really something wrong about me,,maybe they are right,,maybe im ugly....why they are always saying that, im already in my 20s and still experiencing this..why why". they are many factors another examples are "why i dont have friends,,,why they dont like me,,why im not good at schools...why they like my friend and not me,,,why im fat,," its always about why why why,,thats are signs of low self esteem,,,another example by sigmeud freud and i think its the no 1 cause is unable to get your needs at teen stage like getting a boyfriend/girlfriend,,sigmund said that at this stage you are curious about your sexuality and want to explore it ,,if you were not able to get your needs at this stage you will find it hard to go to other stage like you cant find a nice job,,you are a drop out at school,,you have no ambition about yourself,,you hate girls coz you think they dont like you.....etc...

Answer 3

A few factors - ethnicity or race, social background and gender - could not possibly be consequences of low self-esteem - but are they among its causes?

Belonging to a minority ethnic community, particularly one that has experienced a history of persecution and discrimination by the majority population, would seem to pose a threat to any individual's sense of their own worth. If anything, however, quite the contrary is the case. Notably, black Americans enjoy higher self-esteem than their white counterparts.

It is just possible that black Americans are a special case but research points to the same conclusion about all manner of stigmatised groups: being an object of prejudice does not damage self-esteem.

Social class position in adulthood is modestly related to self-esteem, but adolescent and childhood levels of self-esteem are unrelated to the socio-economic status of parents. There is indication, however, of some 'hidden injuries', albeit minor, of social class including father's level of education and whether the father is unemployed.

Gender is also only very modestly related to self-esteem. Females on average have slightly lower self-esteem than males, the gap being widest in the late teens. The many explanations that have been advanced for females' lower self-esteem therefore seem to over-explain the difference.

Among factors that appear to have a clearer effect on self-esteem are successes and failures. Most attention has been given to the effect of academic achievement. The effect is undeniable but it is not large. The same goes for successes and failures of other kinds - in finding work or holding on to employment, for example, and for such public attacks on a person's worth as being diagnosed an alcoholic, referred to a drug abuse rehabilitation programme or convicted of child abuse.

Much attention has been given to the impact of appearance upon self-esteem and strong claims have been made about its effects among adolescents. The evidence, however, does not unequivocally support these claims. It does show clearly that self-esteem is related to beliefs about appearance. It does not rule out the plausible conclusion that these beliefs are themselves substantially determined by self-esteem.

As to what are the most important influences on self-esteem, the simple answer is: parents. Part of this influence is attributable to parenting style. The key qualities contributing to positive self-esteem appear to be approval and acceptance. Among the most damaging things parents can do is to abuse their children, physically or sexually. Family conflict and breakdown are likewise sources of damage.

Biological parents also exercise a genetic influence; a part of the difference between the self-esteem of one individual and the next is inherited. This source of influence is significant and substantial - it is the single most important source of variations in self-esteem so far identified. But it still leaves most of the differences between people to be produced by events after they are born.

Finally, close and loving relationships with others later in life do contribute positively to self-esteem. But the likelihood of forming and sustaining successful relationships of these kinds is itself higher when self-esteem is higher in the first place.

Answer 4

All things involving Degradation. Someone has to tell you or do something in accordance to that belief in order for you to think it about yourself.

Answer 5

You compare yourself to others and as a result of that you put yourself down, with a midset that people are better than you.

Answer 6

For me, it's because I grew up in an abusive home to where I always heard how "stupid" I was and how "nobody will ever want me because I am filth"..and my dad always let us know he didn't want us. we were also hit physically. As an adult, I feel like I am stupid and lazy and nobody wants me around...

Answer 7

ABUSE, PUT- DOWNS, NO GUIDANCE~~~