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

A Meaning-Based, Two-Factor Theory of Self-Esteem 159in a single gestalt. However, it is also necessary to “unpack” each sectionto get a closer look at how self-esteem is layered.Levels of Low Self-EsteemWhile examining the research on low self-esteem in Chapter 3, we sawthat it is possible to think about two subtypes or levels of low self-esteem.Rosenberg and Owens (2001) offered one clue to this phenomenon whenthey pointed out that many of the characteristics that have been attributedto low self-esteem actually exist as a continuum or range of experientialand behavioral possibilities. That low self-esteem varies in terms ofdegree suggests that it is dimensional. One part of this continuum, the 0to −5, −5 range on the imaginary diagonal in the quadrant, would pertainto mild problems of this type. The outermost remaining half would thenbe used to represent clinically significant problems associated with alow sense of competence and worth, or low self-esteem. In other words,we differentiate between types and levels of self-esteem, just as is donein the DSM.Negativistic Low Self-EsteemDividing the quadrants up in this fashion allows us to name two constellationsof characteristics or symptoms and separate them by degree as well asby core features. For example, we saw in Chapter 3 that not all people wholive low self-esteem reach the level of clinical significance, so more than oneterm is needed to describe the ways in which low self-esteem is lived. Someauthors use the phrase “neutral” self-esteem to describe milder levels oflow self-esteem (Tice, 1993). However, the condition is still clearly negativebecause it limits possibilities and diminishes a sense of well-being or happiness.The phrase “negativistic” captures the lived character more accurately,so this type is called “negativistic self-esteem,” suggesting that itdoes constitute a certain problematic lifestyle but not more.This descriptor also touches on certain personality characteristicscommon to members of this group such as their generally negative outlookconcerning their chances of success and failure or good and bad fortunein life. In general, the research on this level of low self-esteem showsthat it is not necessarily a terrible thing to have or to live, contrary topopular opinion (Brockner et al., 1993; Snyder, 1989; Tice, 1993). Theresearch in Chapter 3 showed that people with low self-esteem want thesame kinds of things as people with high self-esteem. However, thosewith low self-esteem are also more concerned with conserving this valuablepsychological resource than risking it. Therefore, they employ anumber of methods to avoid losses such as holding to a lower sense of