fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d What is Self-Esteem and What Is It Good For?
The Rosenberg Scale
In this activity students complete the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and their results are scored. It concludes with assignable thought questions.
In this activity you will be presented with a series of statements. Use the radio buttons below to indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with each statement. Your answers will remain private.
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
You have just completed the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, the most widely used self-esteem scale in social science research. Dr. Morris Rosenberg, who devised the scale, was a prolific scholar, and his work on self-concept and especially self-esteem is world-renowned.
Humans are social organisms; it is not by accident that solitary confinement is considered to be a harsh punishment meted out for the worst infractions. We like to be with others when we work and when we relax. One of the advantages to being around others is that through our interactions with them, we get a feeling for our own worth in the web of social interactions.
The symbolic self is an abstract representation of our identity, who we are, and where we are going. The symbolic self provides a "base" upon which to build our social interactions with others. The self provides a preview of how one should act in given situations and what the likely outcome will be. This ability to preview the consequences of behavior prior to the actions themselves helps us to maximize our opportunities in the world.
What do we base our own worth on during these social exchanges? Social interactions are complicated and not unlike financial interactions; in both cases, the more capital we have, the greater our worth. For the social self, this capital is self-esteem. Self-esteem is our own estimate of our worth, and as such it guides our interactions with others.
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1. fiogf49gjkf0d One can be high in self-esteem even if the evidence suggests that a more modest evaluation would be appropriate. Assume Bill is an acquaintance with the following characteristics: He has a way of saying tactless things to friends, he can never seem to get a date, his grades are poor, and he is always late with his assignments. Moreover, his sense of fashion leaves much to be desired. Bill completes the Rosenberg scale and scores 28. Explain.
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2. fiogf49gjkf0d The concept of reflective appraisal is an important one for understanding not only self-esteem but also the symbolic self. You meet Bill's family and afterward you think to yourself, "Now I understand why Bill's self-esteem is where it is." Explain.
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3. fiogf49gjkf0d The concept of self-esteem has become a hot topic in North American homes and schools. Many school systems have integrated programs stressing the development of self-esteem in students, and some parents stress the development of self-esteem in their children. Your text provides some guidance for how appropriate self-esteem should be built in children. Briefly describe how you would design a self-esteem enhancement program in a school system, or write a short paragraph of advice to young parents on how to nurture appropriate and healthy self-esteem in their children.
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