Do you think that most people get their self-esteem simply by constant comparisons with other people?

Question

If you are better than someone (better looking, taller whatever) then self esteem goes up.
If you are worse off, then self esteem goes down?
Is there any truth to this?

Answer 1

no, I think self -esteem comes with little or huge accomplishments.

Answer 2

NO! I think most people get their self-esteem from their parents when they are very, very young, or lack of it! Then later as they learn and accomplish more and more difficult tasks their self-esteem grows and deepens. And as they achieve their self-esteem is supported by peers and teachers who reinforce their accomplishments. And the reverse also happens, as much as we wish it didn't many people are laughed at and ridiculed and become depressed and lose their self-esteem. Very sad and very wrong. Let's always try to be good to each other no mater if we are 1 or 101 !!! We all have the same feelings inside! Remember the GOLDEN RULE!!!

Answer 3

This is a great question!

Yes what you are speaking of is the "ego". By constantly comparing ones self to other perceived selves people upgrade and downgrade their own self worth accordingly based on what ever it is they apply value to. This is why this thing called self esteem is a terrible thing because it is based on something that can never be achieved. We can never look like _________(<----insert celebrity here) so we set our selves up for failure. So yes there is more truth to your question than most people realize, and good job for asking it!

The reason people with so-called low self esteem will often try to make others feel bad is because the ego thrives off of the suffering of other egos. Even those that the person sees as Superior to its self, it secretly despises that person and seeks to take his/her place as the Superior ego.

The path to true self appreciation is through your self. Look inside your self to find true value, instead of illusions of impossible comparisons.

Answer 4

I think that there could be some truth to it..however there are those people who look good..but can't see themselves that way...for some reason they see only an ugly person in the mirror...and thus they have low self esteem because of it......so even though they are constantly told how attractive they are..they still see themselves as ugly...so in that case...no..it would not be true

Answer 5

No, I don't personally believe this to be true. I think that some people try to make others feel inferior simply because they themselves have low self-esteem and it makes them feel better about themselves for a second or two.

As for myself, I am a pessimist. I can always find someone who is prettier, smarter, more accomplished, etc. than I am, but I can also always find someone who is worse off. Does that make me feel better about myself? No. Guess I'm not quite that shallow.

Aloha :)

Answer 6

yes. when i walk into a room, i can automatically find any off the wall reason to consider every guy in there a dousche. they may have stupid shoes on, or they may have a dumb hat, etc, etc...

this sound childish but it really does work. once everybody is a dousche in your own eyes, you no longer have to impress anyone. i could be the smelliest, dirtiest, fattest, ugly slob in the room, but as long as every other guy is a dousche then im ok.

Answer 7

yah i know i do. i compare looks/money/girlfriend etc etc... needless to say my self esteem is pretty low... hehe

Answer 8

Not really, I think you just have to be positive and optimistic, I guess...