Self-esteem is an academic and popular phenomenon, vigorously researched and debated, sometimes imbued with magical qualities, other times vilified as the bane of the West's preoccupation with self. Though thousands of articles have been devoted to the topic, and bookshops work to feed the public's appetite for advice on revealing, enhancing and maintaining self-esteem, conflicting claims and findings have placed the field in disarray. In a very real sense, self-esteem is a victim of its own popularity. This book seeks to add clarity to a concept earlier examined by such notable self theorists as Morris Rosenberg but eminently worthy of re-examination and extension. We do this by asking some leading thinkers on self-esteem theory, measurement and application to assess what we know about self-esteem, and link it to important aspects of society and the human experience.

‘This volume is an exceptionally fine resource for both novices and professionals interested in the current diversity of research into self-esteem and in issues for future research.’

Ralph H. Turner - University of California, Los Angeles

‘An important resource for social, personality, developmental, and clinical psychologists interested in self-esteem.’

Mark Leary Source: Wake Forest University and editor of Self and Identity