Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions

by Neel Burton

My view is that we are all born with a healthy self-esteem, which is then either confirmed or undermined by our life experiences. Low self-esteem is often rooted in traumatic childhood experiences such as prolonged separation from parent figures; neglect; or emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. In later life, self-esteem can be undermined by ill health, negative life events such as divorce or unemployment, dysfunctional relationships, social isolation or discrimination, and a general sense of lack of control. This feeling of helplessness may be especially marked in victims of abuse or discrimination on whatever grounds. The relationship between low self-esteem and mental disorder is very complex. Low self-esteem predisposes to mental disorder, which in turn knocks self-esteem. But low self-esteem can also be a symptom of mental disorder, leading to a chicken-and-egg situation.