[Negative ideal-self as a standard of self-esteem]

The concept of negative ideal-self is introduced as a contrast to positive ideal-self. Discrepancies between positive ideal-self and real-self (Dp-score) have been associated with low self-esteem. The present study purported to see whether negative ideal-self may be a standard of self evaluation, and to what extent discrepancies between negative ideal-self and real-self (Dn-score) relate with self-esteem (Rosenberg). The results showed that both Dp-score and Dn-score correlate significantly with self-esteem, but the latter showed higher correlation than the former. It is suggested that self-esteem is more a function of distance that how 'I' am not the person which 'I' want to be. These findings were discussed from the importance of an approach to negative aspects of the self.