The Psychology of Self-Esteem
ISBN 0-7879-4526-9 (32nd anniversary edition) |
The Psychology of Self-Esteem is a book by
Synopsis
There is no value-judgment more important to man—no factor more decisive in his psychological development and motivation—than the estimate he passes on himself.
Chapter 7: The Meaning of Self-Esteem[1]
The book is divided into two parts. In Part One ("The Foundations"), Branden explains his views on human nature and the science of psychology. He discusses his theories about
The material in Part One is about philosophical and psychological theory and does not focus on self-esteem, which is the predominant subject in Part Two ("The Psychology of Self-Esteem"). He describes self-esteem as "the integrated sum of self-confidence and self-respect", which he describes respectively as "a sense of personal efficacy and a sense of personal worth."[2] Branden considers self-esteem to be one of the most important factors in human psychology.
Branden contrasts healthy self-esteem with conditions that he views as psychological problems. First is what he calls "pseudo-self-esteem," which he describes as "an irrational pretense at self-value," and "a nonrational, self-protective device to diminish anxiety and to provide a spurious sense of security".[3] Next he discusses pathological anxiety, which he traces to a lack of self-esteem, particularly a lack of self-confidence. He further connects this to feelings of guilt and depression, which he views as aspects of anxiety. The last problem he discusses is one he calls "social metaphysics", which he describes as "the psychological syndrome that characterizes a person who holds the minds of other men, not objective reality, as his ultimate psycho-epistemological frame of reference."[4]
The final chapter discusses psychotherapy. Branden emphasizes the importance of moral values, stating that "there is no way for a psychotherapist to keep his own moral convictions out of his professional work."[5] He does not view this as a flaw, but rather argues that the therapist should guide patients towards values that will improve their self-esteem. "Effective psychotherapy requires a conscious, rational, scientific code of ethics", says Branden, and he identifies that code as the Objectivist ethics of Ayn Rand.[5] He then briefly discusses five different therapeutic techniques and wraps up the book with a concluding section.
The thirty-second anniversary edition adds a preface in which Branden explains that although his views have changed in some ways, he has chosen not to alter the original text. Instead he added an epilogue on "Working with Self-Esteem in Psychotherapy". The epilogue updates his views on self-esteem, which have changed in some particulars since the book was first written. He also describes his more recent therapeutic methods, focusing on the use of sentence-completion exercises.
Background
The Psychology of Self-Esteem was largely written while Branden was associated with
Rand had helped Branden obtain a contract with World Publishing, which was affiliated with her own publisher, and had offered to write an introduction for the book.[6][7] When their relationship ended, she pressured the publisher to cancel his contract, which they did after he missed a deadline for delivering the completed manuscript. She also threatened to withhold the use of material that had been copyrighted by The Objectivist, although she took no legal action when Branden used the material anyway.[8]
Publication history
Despite Rand's effort's to prevent the book's publication, the newly founded Nash Publishing released it in the fall of 1969.
Editions
- First edition (hardcover). 1969. Los Angeles: Nash Publishing. OCLC 24729.
- First paperback edition. 1971. New York: Bantam Books. OCLC 426275125.
- 32nd anniversary edition. 2001. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. OCLC 757675692.
Reception
The book was a popular success and has sold over a million copies.[9] It has been credited with spreading ideas about self-esteem to general audiences.[10][11][12] Self-help expert Tom Butler-Bowdon warned that "readers find this book tough going", particularly in the earlier chapters, but described it as "one of the earliest classics of the popular psychology genre".[11]
Critics such as sociologist
In contrast, author Alfie Kohn supported the idea that self-esteem was important, but criticized Branden for founding his work "in Ayn Rand's glorification of selfishness."[17] Branden's connection to Rand was also criticized by psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, who said the book wrongly ignores the work of those outside Rand's Objectivist movement, especially other psychologists and therapists besides Branden himself. He accuses Branden of "an exaggerated sense of self-importance and an uncritical reverence for Rand as a psychologist."[18]
In The Myth of Self-Esteem, psychologist Albert Ellis faulted the book for focusing on "reason and competence" as the only sources of self-esteem, a position he describes Branden as moving away from later.[19]
See also
References
- ^ Branden 2001, p. 109
- ^ Branden 2001, p. 110
- ^ Branden 2001, p. 143
- ^ Branden 2001, p. 177
- ^ a b Branden 2001, p. 228
- ^ a b Branden 1999, p. 327
- ^ Heller 2009, p. 350
- ^ a b Heller 2009, p. 376
- ^ a b Branden 1999, p. 368
- ^ Mruk 2006, p. 4
- ^ a b Butler-Bowdon 2007, p. 43
- ^ Ward 2002, p. 102
- ^ Furedi 2003, p. 153
- ^ Pearsall 2007, pp. 40–41
- ^ Dawes 1996, pp. 234–236
- ^ Murray 2008, p. 128
- ^ Kohn 1992, p. 264 n.2
- ^ Szasz 2004, p. 134
- ^ Ellis 2005, pp. 17–18
Works cited
- OCLC 39391081.
- Branden, Nathaniel (2001). The Psychology of Self-Esteem (32nd anniversary ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. OCLC 757675692.
- OCLC 473416667.
- OCLC 34470983.
- OCLC 60669101.
- OCLC 82632578.
- Heller, Anne C. (2009). OCLC 229027437.
- OCLC 26255272.
- Mruk, Christopher J. (2006). Self-Esteem Research, Theory, And Practice: Toward a Positive Psychology of Self-Esteem (3rd ed.). New York: Springer. OCLC 62679932.
- OCLC 368029714.
- Pearsall, Paul (2007). The Last Self-Help Book You'll Ever Need. New York: Basic Books. OCLC 145383279.
- OCLC 53178376.
- Ward, Steven C. (2002). Modernizing the Mind: Psychological Knowledge and the Remaking of Society. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. OCLC 539369544.