Re: Identity and Self-esteem

Sophia,

The following excerpts from Adler's writings may amplify his thinking on the topic of self-esteem.

"Every accomplishment that is not in the framework of being commonly beneficial diminishes the feeling of self-worth in the individual, imbues him with a feeling of his own inferiority, and puts him in conflict with the continuous social demands and connections of life. He will always experience everyone's opposition as well as all the problems and penalties that necessarily arise from harming the logic of human social relationships. He will find that his life will not become easier, as he might have presumed, but more difficult. He will not experience being a part of the whole, but will live as if in enemy territory. The value of one's own life, worthwhile accomplishments, can only be found by benefitting the community. "

"Nature provides the individual with strengths, abilities, drives, desires, and the possibilities for development. He is bound to nature to the extent that he uses it to fulfill his life tasks. How he makes use of it, how he allows it to flourish or decline, in particular, however, what direction he gives it, is revealed in the broadest sense in his outlook on life. This philosophy of life, how he relates to life, is the individual's own creative achievement for which in his self-esteem he finds either his reward or punishment."

Ethnic and gender issues may influence an individual's feeling of worth, but only to the extent that she finds those influences useful to her style of life and fictional final goal.

Dr. Stein

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.