Defining needs, defining systems: a critical analysis

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A Dill1

  • 1Department of Sociology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912.

The Gerontologist
|August 1, 1993
PubMed

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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...