New Findings in Self-Esteem Research: Self-Esteem Security Cover Image

Nove spoznaje u istraživanjima samopoštovanja: konstrukt sigurnosti samopoštovanja
New Findings in Self-Esteem Research: Self-Esteem Security

Author(s): Margareta Jelić
Subject(s): Psychology
Published by: Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar
Keywords: self-esteem level; secure self-esteem; implicit self-esteem; paradoxical self-esteem; defensive self-esteem

Summary/Abstract: In scientific and popular psychological literature, self-esteem is often mentioned as an indicator of mental health, mature personality and adaptation of an individual. However, recently there has been a growing number of contradictory findings on self-esteem, the reason for which can be found in an old- -fashioned approach to investigating self-esteem, i.e. neglecting various aspects of self-esteem, as well as different measures for self-esteem. The aim of this article is to familiarize researchers with new insights in self-esteem research, point out the complexity of the construct and give guidelines for future research. The article explains why the use of different self- -esteem measures often results in contradictory findings concerning self-esteem level. We also introduce the construct of self-esteem security that can shed light on the abovementioned contradictory findings. Furthermore, the definition of self-esteem security as well as various operationalisations of this construct are given, and commonalities and differences with related constructs explained. Finally, the article presents results of recent self-esteem research and new findings in this area.

  • Issue Year: 21/2012
  • Issue No: 116
  • Page Range: 443-463
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Croatian