Physical Education · Ch 9 — Psychology and Sports
Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem generally refers to a person's evaluation of, or attitude toward, himself or herself. It is centred on a belief in the self, respect for the self, and confidence in the self. A student who genuinely feels "I am good enough" has healthy self-esteem; one who constantly feels "I am not good enough" has low self-esteem.
An equally important component is esteem from others — the respect and admiration that others give a performer is itself motivational. Because the pursuit of excellence is a comparative process, the esteem shown by others reflects one's performance, so it is important for a performer to seek esteem from others as well.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), self-esteem is the degree to which the qualities and characteristics contained in one's self-concept are perceived to be positive. It reflects a person's physical self-image, the view of his or her accomplishments and capabilities, and the values and perceived success in living up to them, as well as how others view and respond to that person. The more positive the overall perception of these qualities, the higher one's self-esteem.
A reasonably high degree of self-esteem is an important ingredient of mental health, whereas low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness are common symptoms of depression.
Dimensions of Self-Esteem
The coach needs to instil in performers the desire for esteem from others, because "athletic participation is associated with increases in self-esteem and positive feelings about the body." William Russell's work suggests this relates especially to the physical dimension of self-esteem — how we judge our own bodies compared with others'. Other dimensions include the intellectual, the competitive, and the congenial (whether others like you) — each a way of rating how we value different aspects of ourselves.