Question

Give an example other than a source of praise of something that could be an extrinsic source of self-esteem for AN ADULT and then give an example of something that could be an intrinsic source.

Answer 1

Self-esteem

Self-esteem is another word for self-respect.and is a part of our self-concept. .In psychology, self-esteem refers to an individual's sense of their own self-worth. It depends upon the individual's self-appraisal about his/her own beliefs, thoughts, appearance, emotions, and behaviors. Self-esteem is considered as a personality trait. Excess self-esteem can lead to narcissistic personality disorder, excessive need for admiration and feeling of great importance, and lack of empathy towards others Whereas inadequate self-esteem can prompt an individual to feel as defeated in every circumstance of life and lead to mental disorders like depression or anxiety disorders. So there must be a balance between high and low levels of self-esteem. Self-esteem is an important factor needed for success in life

.Extrinsic sources of self-esteem

Various criteria that influence our self-esteem are genetics, comparing ourselves with others. social environment, the reaction of others in the society, our health, age, thoughts, beliefs, personality, values. and life experiences.

When the self -esteem of an individual is determined or controlled by external factors such as money, power, status, acceptance of others, authority, etc. It is a type of operant conditioning because it is a type of behavior modification and uses external factors as reinforcement and punishments to strengthen or decrease behaviors.

Getting a job is an external factor that can change an individual's self-esteem a lot. Obtaining promotion which leads to an authority position in a job can change a person's self-esteem. While participating in a game competition and obtaining a trophy is a source of an extrinsic source of self- esteem which will help the players to succeed in future games. Obtaining the first rank or scoring high grades in an examination will be an extrinsic source of self-esteem.for a student.

Intrinsic source of self -esteem

Intrinsic source of self-esteem comes from an individual's mind. It will not depend on any external factors. It means a person's self-love, self-image, or self-confidence. Goals will come from within the mind.and the outcomes satisfy the needs for mental competence.

Example.: A person, Johny is working as a manager of an institution. He loves photography. and gets a lot of satisfaction in shooting photos. He is attending courses in photography and improving his knowledge in that field. He is not motivated by any external source, he is not trying to get a job in that profession or doing it for money or any external rewards. The mental satisfaction, enjoyment, and experience give him a lot of self-esteem. He is doing photography based on his mental drive and needs.

Another example is reading books according to our taste is an intrinsic source of sell esteem. We are reading it to satisfy our mental satisfaction and not to pass an exam.