Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Need for Self-Esteem01:27

Need for Self-Esteem

289
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...
289
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

5.9K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.9K
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison01:27

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

366
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...
366
Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation01:30

Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation

252
Self-evaluation is the process by which individuals assess their abilities, behaviors, and characteristics based on feedback from others. Charles H. Cooley observed that a person’s self-perception is primarily influenced by how others see and judge them. He suggested that individuals form their identities based on their interpretations of others' reactions. As a result, social interactions play a crucial role in shaping self-esteem and personal identity. These external evaluations often...
252
Protecting Self-Esteem01:27

Protecting Self-Esteem

278
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...
278
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience01:18

Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience

248
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
248

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A terror management theory perspective on the appeal of historical myths.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2025
Same author

Terror Management Theory and the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Journal of humanistic psychology·2024
Same author

A Qualitative Study of How Hospice Workers Cope With Their Level of Exposure to Death.

Omega·2023
Same author

Predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms, COVID-related functional impairment, and burnout among medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychology, health & medicine·2022
Same author

Investigating the Role of Normative Support in Atheists' Perceptions of Meaning Following Reminders of Death.

Frontiers in psychology·2022
Same author

Bigotry and the human-animal divide: (Dis)belief in human evolution and bigoted attitudes across different cultures.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

4.3K

Understanding the Vital Human Quest for Self-Esteem.

Jeff Greenberg1

  • 1University of Arizona jeff@u.arizona.edu.

Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science
|July 10, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Humans seek self-esteem for psychological security, driven by mortality awareness. This need influences thoughts, feelings, and actions, buffering anxiety and shaping cultural behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Existential Psychology

Background:

  • Humans possess a strong inclination towards maintaining self-esteem.
  • Self-esteem significantly impacts cognition, emotion, and behavior.
  • Terror management theory posits self-esteem fulfills a need for psychological security.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the psychological underpinnings of the human desire for self-esteem.
  • To review evidence supporting terror management theory's explanation of self-esteem.
  • To examine the role of culture and individual differences in self-esteem.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental research findings.
  • Analysis of evidence linking self-esteem to anxiety and mortality salience.

More Related Videos

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

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

Published on: July 8, 2025

893
Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
12:55

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties

Published on: September 27, 2020

9.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

4.3K
A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

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

Published on: July 8, 2025

893
Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
12:55

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties

Published on: September 27, 2020

9.3K
  • Examination of studies on cultural influences and individual variations in self-esteem.

    • Main Results:

    • Self-esteem acts as a buffer against anxiety and death-related defenses.
    • Mortality reminders intensify self-esteem defense mechanisms.
    • Cultural factors and individual differences modulate self-esteem levels, stability, and sources.

    Conclusions:

    • The desire for self-esteem is deeply rooted in the need for psychological security, informed by mortality awareness.
    • Self-esteem plays a crucial role in managing existential concerns and navigating social environments.
    • Understanding self-esteem dynamics is relevant to contemporary issues and everyday life.