Self-Esteem Research, Theory, and Practice Toward a Positive ...

116 SELF-ESTEEM RESEARCH, THEORY, AND PRACTICEassimilate the data of reality within a stable, coherent, conceptualsystem, and to maintain favorable relationships with significant others.(Epstein, 1985, p. 286)Epstein went on to define self-esteem as a basic human need to be“loveworthy” (1985, p. 302). As a basic need, it occupies a central rolein our lives as a motivational force both consciously and otherwise. Forexample, if one’s level of self-esteem is altered, Epstein indicated that itwould affect the entire self-system (1980, p. 106).However, one crucial aspect of the relation between self-esteem andour theories of the self, world, and others involves a powerful conflict.On one hand, the primary function of these theories is to make sense outof the chaos of life. Once the self and world theories become established,they create a basis for stability, which means that the individual workshard to maintain them. Change is resisted because it can be destabilizing.Altering one part of a system affects many other parts, which can lead todisrupting one’s ability to function in general. Thus, feelings, especiallypainful ones like the loss of self-esteem, become important in this system.They constitute a powerful feedback mechanism that helps to minimizepotential disruption by warning us affectively. The anxiety that accompaniesa threat to self-esteem, for instance, motivates us to avoid or fightthe danger to maintain our sense of worthiness and identity.On the other hand, a good theory must be able to expand over timeto accommodate new information. As our theory of the world expands ina positive way, such growth is pleasurable in that it makes us feel goodabout ourselves. This pleasure is reinforcing, which means that the individualseeks to change even further. Therefore, instead of just holdingthings steady and protecting us from disruption, self-esteem also drivesus toward, of all things, change. The result of these two natural butopposing forces is a basic self-esteem conflict or paradox with which wemust deal.As a fundamental preconscious postulate, self-esteem has profoundeffects on behavior and emotions. Accordingly, the regulation of selfesteemis of critical importance to the individual. However, a person’sreaction to events that have the potential to influence self-esteem isdetermined not only by the person’s need for enhancement but also bythe person’s need to maintain the stability of his or her conceptualsystem. That is, the combined effects of both variables must be takeninto account. (Epstein, 1985, p. 303)Thus, this theory of self-esteem, which is based on a sense of worth,places self-esteem squarely between the two primary forces that governthe self: self-maintenance and self-enhancement.