Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem, a core aspect of psychological well-being, reflects an individual's positive and negative self-evaluation in terms of worth, competence, and overall value. It is both a stable trait and a dynamic process, influenced by experiences and social interactions across the lifespan. While global self-esteem offers a general assessment, research highlights that self-esteem is multidimensional and varies across specific life domains.Domain-Specific Self-EsteemResearchers have delineated...

Protecting Self-Esteem

Protecting Self-Esteem

Self-esteem, a central component of psychological well-being, is actively maintained through various cognitive and behavioral strategies. Individuals employ specific mechanisms to preserve a positive self-concept and mitigate threats to their self-worth, particularly in contexts involving social evaluation or personal feedback. Four primary techniques are commonly used to sustain self-esteem.Manipulating AppraisalsOne prominent strategy involves manipulating appraisals from others. Individuals...

Need for Self-Esteem

Need for Self-Esteem

The human need for self-esteem has long intrigued psychologists, leading to the development of several theories that explore its evolutionary and functional significance. Among the most influential are the sociometer, hierometer, and terror management theories. Each offers a unique perspective on why people strive for self-worth and how it shapes behavior and social interaction.Sociometer TheoryAccording to sociometer theory, self-esteem functions as an internal gauge of social acceptance. It...

Self-Esteem and Culture

Self-Esteem and Culture

Self-esteem, a core psychological construct, is intricately shaped by cultural context and varies significantly between collectivist and individualistic societies. In collectivist cultures such as Japan, self-esteem tends to be flexible, context-sensitive, and influenced by relationships. A Japanese student, for instance, may show restraint in formal settings like school but behave more openly among close friends, reflecting the flexible and dynamic nature of self-concept in such...

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...

Benefits of Self-Esteem

Benefits of Self-Esteem

Self-esteem—an individual's overall evaluation of their worth—plays a complex role in psychological functioning and well-being. It is often associated with many positive traits, such as confidence, optimism, and perseverance. Individuals with high self-esteem typically experience better sleep, manage peer pressure more effectively, and report greater life satisfaction. Conversely, low self-esteem has been consistently linked with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and poor academic or...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The Spectrum of Psychoanalytic Therapies: For the Person Behind the Diagnosis.

Journal of psychiatric practice·2015

Same author

Psychotherapy for suicidal patients with borderline personality disorder: an expert consensus review of common factors across five therapies.

Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation·2015

Same author

A Video-conferencing Peer Consultation Group for Psychotherapy by Early-Career Psychiatrists.

Journal of psychiatric practice·2015

Same author

An open letter to early-career psychiatrists.

Journal of psychiatric practice·2015

Same author

The role of psychotherapy in integrated care.

Journal of psychiatric practice·2014

Same author

On letting go: with age comes renunciation.

Journal of psychiatric practice·2014

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

Our shaken collective self-esteem.

Norman A Clemens¹

¹Case Western Reserve University, USA.

Journal of Psychiatric Practice

|July 24, 2009

Summary

Psychotherapists can help patients navigate economic loss by addressing mourning, shame, and narcissistic injury. Therapy can reinforce self-esteem and help individuals adapt to new realities, fostering personal growth and stronger relationships.

Area of Science:

Psychology
Mental Health
Socioeconomics

Background:

Economic downturns significantly impact individual and collective self-esteem.
Patients experiencing financial loss often exhibit complex emotional responses, including grief, anger, and shame.
Therapists must balance empathy with professional objectivity when treating patients affected by economic crises.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide psychotherapists with strategies for working with patients impacted by economic hardship.
To explore the psychological dynamics of loss, mourning, and self-esteem in the context of financial crisis.
To outline therapeutic approaches for addressing patient defenses, catastrophizing, and narcissistic injury.

Main Methods:

Exploration of psychotherapeutic interventions for economic distress.

More Related Videos

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

An Orbital Shaking Culture of Mammalian Cells in O-shaped Vessels to Produce Uniform Aggregates

An Orbital Shaking Culture of Mammalian Cells in O-shaped Vessels to Produce Uniform Aggregates

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

An Orbital Shaking Culture of Mammalian Cells in O-shaped Vessels to Produce Uniform Aggregates

An Orbital Shaking Culture of Mammalian Cells in O-shaped Vessels to Produce Uniform Aggregates

Published on: January 7, 2019

Application of Kohut's developmental line of narcissism to understand self-esteem issues.

Discussion of strategies for managing patient defenses and emotional responses.

Main Results:

Patients may experience disbelief, shock, anger, denial, shame, and humiliation due to financial losses.
Therapeutic interventions can help patients process complex emotions and address narcissistic injury.
Over-identification by therapists can hinder effective treatment.

Conclusions:

Psychotherapy can facilitate adaptation to new economic realities by reinforcing mature self-esteem.
Therapeutic work can help patients discover inner resources and enhance their capacity for relationships.
Addressing the psychological aftermath of economic crises is crucial for patient recovery and growth.