Are the humble sometimes misdiagnosed as having low self esteem?

Answer 1

Not generally. There are distinct differences in the characteristics of both of these that are actually like night and day once explained. People who project low self esteem have a low value of self worth and, consequently, have little to no confidence in themselves when it comes to social, professional or personal tasks and situations. Conversely, those who are humble generally have high self esteem (I.E. high self confidence and high proficiency rates) but possess low to nil narcissistic tendencies. This means that, while they are confident in their abilities to perform in social, professional and personal situations, they do not always feel the need to have the attention on them, or to feel special.

It really comes down to being two very distinct motivational characteristics that deal mainly with the level of self confidence. Though, we can not say that humble people aren't sometimes misjudged as having low self esteem. Though, generally this is on a first impression type basis and, upon further exploration of this persons habits, it will quickly be realized that they are very confident.

Additionally, many prominent motivational theories suggest that people with low self esteem take a stepped approach to raising self confidence. This includes setting a series of small yet important goals that can be achieved with varying levels of difficulty. As the patient progresses the goals become more in depth and difficult. This allows the subject to achieve small successes that build on one another and help to raise self confidence.

And, to address the first post, while being humble and having low self esteem are not technically diagnosable disorders, they are very important and widely studied aspect of motivational theories in psychology. In fact, low self esteem is a SYMPTOM of depression and a myriad of other disorders, as characterized by the DSM-IV. So, sir, being formally educated in psychology, I would say that YOU are the one who is displaying ignorance in this field of knowledge.

Answer 2

I agree totally with you. It is not only misdiagnosed as having low self esteem but also some people get to think that they can disrespect a humble and friendly person so it doesn't matter to them if they disrespected him because they think he's just not important being humble. People are always biased.

Answer 3

Hi Bro, I was just reading (Heckcat) answer when I got a real heaviness in my heart and felt a grieving of the Spirit that "Christians" sometime, somehow treat each other this way. I know I have visited some "deacon-possessed" churches and some where they look down their nose at you. Reminds me of a story I'd like to share. Have you ever been to this church? One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn-out old hat and an equally worn, dog-eared Bible. The church he visited was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and fine jewellery. As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted him, or spoke to him, or welcomed him. They were all appalled by his appearance and did not make any attempt to hide it. As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favour. "Before you come back in here again, you need to have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship in church." The old cowboy assured the preacher he surely would. The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. He carried the same old dog-eared Bible. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the cowboy and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church." "I did," replied the old cowboy. "And what was His reply?" asked the preacher. "Well, sir, God told me that he didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said He'd never been in this church." God bless one and all who read <)))><

Answer 4

I would only be able to venture a guess, since I have never had low self esteem, nor humbleness. I think a lot of me.

Answer 5

Yes. And sometimes the humble person is 'trampled on ' by the 'me-now' crowd, pointed at, joked about, and sometimes the brunt of jokes.
When a 'normal' person sees such activity(putting down a humble person), THAT is the time to shine, Defend the ridiculed, for someday you may be wearing his shoes..

Answer 6

I doubt it. The state of being humble consists of the absence of arrogance, bragging with one's achievements, being flamboyant about your worth and actions; whereas low self-esteem, in order to be a real bone fide diagnosis, is intimately connected to lack of self confidence, which is not the same as humbleness. Lack of self confidence and low self esteem imply a negative image of oneself, putting oneself down, and not believing in one's ability to accomplish things, which is obviously different to humbleness or modesty.

Answer 7

Semper... Although Lily B has stated a correct "diagnoses" of low self esteem, the average person gives that title quite freely to those whom don't "fit" in their own lifestyle, lol...I know a man whom people had tagged him with that... because they wouldn't accept his "no thank you's" when they invited him to certain places, they began asking why, why, why....through his answers, they decided he was "different" because he didn't consider doing what they wanted him to do as desirable and to even try he'd be a sore thumb, awkward, uncomfortable, etc.,. (I myself have run into that!)

LOL He was a gregarious person when he was among those he was more familiar with...and, when it came to the ways of the Lord, he was a powerhouse. :)

Look at Moses....he had no wish to speak to crowds, hated it because he often stuttered or shook with fear, didn't know how to plan things, didn't like the one on one confrontations with the people, etc.,.So, his brother Aaron became his spokesman. :)

Look how the Jews were spoken about as weak during the Holocaust because they didn't fight back the way the Nazi's and others would if something like that happened to them...

What about the Romans and the Christians during the days of the lions and gladiators, etc.,.?

All were judged as "helpless", "weak", etc.,.

In this day and age people would judge many of them like the man I spoke of above.

Peace be with you :)

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

Yeah, I would think so especially by people who don't know what being humble is all about. A lot of people think they are push overs, too.

Answer 10

No, I think that honour goes to the self-righteous