What are the causes of low self-esteem?

Question

could i please have some thoughts on this? many thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Poor upbringing, no love felt from parents or primary caregivers, being neglected, being embarrassed on purpose, being scolded in front of other, always being told you are wrong, or worthless, weak, will never amount to anything, lack of social interaction with peers of same age group. I could go on and on, but that should help.

Answer 2

Many and varied. Perhaps for some it started when they were young and too few people encouraged them in positive ways and they didn't participate in activities where they had success. The successes build up self-confidence and self-esteem. For some it could be the blow of a health condition gone bad (i.e. come down with a disease or illness that is longterm or for a lifetime). I think poverty or low income can cause it as can unkind words uttered by others.

Answer 3

Low self esteem is born of negative comments from superiors, in other words emotional abuse. For example if a parent constantly tells their child that they are stupid and useless, that child will grow up BELIEVING that they are useless and less intelligent, if they tell them that they are naughty and no one will love them, then they become petty offenders and make themselves unlovable.
It's the power of suggestion - just like when you give something to a small child to carry and tell them not to drop it -chances are that because you've said "Don't drop it!" they will, if you tell them to "hold it tight" then there is less likelihood that it will get dropped.
Ooh that's deep for a Saturday morning - think I'll go make a pot of tea now.

Answer 4

Well for me it started by my mother father and the busybody authorities deciding that I was not quite normal and trying to squash me into a preconceived mould which doesnn't and never will fit!

Fortunately I have a big enough ego to overcome these 'difficulties' at least in part after many years of struggle.

Poor things they just didn't understand!

Answer 5

If you have poor thoughts about yourself people around you are gonna think the same way about yourself. You have to think positive! The brain has a frequency. If you think negative thoughts, they're gonna happen. If you think positive those thoughts are gonna happen. If you need further advice, I'd recommend watching the movie 'The Secret' ! It's a wonderful movie that is surprisingly true!!!

Answer 6

could you imagin how great britain would be if it were not for low self esteem, their are many causes, but i feel that as a method of warfare to subdue the people creating low self esteem is by far the most successful, and its simple all the gov did was legalise as much infidelity style entertainment as they could push the people into sin knowing that this would be followed by guilt and low self estemm and give our secret services the ability to get info on individuals that they see as a threat, especialy now that they are about to finish of the surrendering of our country, this land has been deliberatly demoralised.

Answer 7

years of put downs making spiral into low self esteem. especially from parents the people u trust. bullying.

Answer 8

Our esteem is based largely on how our parents treated us growing up. More specifically, fathers play a big role in how both men and women view themselves in their adult life. A good place to trace your self esteem is to look at your interactions with your father. If they were positive and encouraging then there's a good chance you have good self esteem. If they were negative, and you always found yourself trying to please him to no avail then there's a good chance you'll have low self esteem.

Answer 9

being critised alot in early childhood can mar a persons experience and leave them feeling vulnerable and unable to cope
so it largely is to do with how you're dealt with in childhood by your caretakers and then later on others contribute to that sense of low self confidence and self esteem issues develop

Answer 10

Yes, I agree with most of the answers so far.

How lucky some people are who have friends, family or partners who are encouraging, who deny the put- downs of others (my friend this morning just said 'no your not! when I told her the criticism that someone gave me - often that's all that's needed to dispel the 'spell' of negativity), but people who do not have someone to 'lift them up' can find themselves on a downward spiral, particularly if their upbringing didn't bring them the knowledge, skills and understanding to shrug disappointment and negative talk about their image and level of skills.

Answer 11

rejection; fear of failing; upbringing?

I also feel that the media are largely responsible. They use really attractive models etc, as opposed to your regular everyday person, and as a result, young, impressionable teenagers are striving to look like them - taking drastic measures to get to size 0 etc as they feel inferior to these supermodels.

I think that the Dove campaign for real beauty is an excellent idea as they use normal, women and they still look absolutely fab! It gives me real confidence to know that you don't have to be a stick-thin blonde with DD's to look good!!