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

250 SELF-ESTEEM RESEARCH, THEORY, AND PRACTICEself-esteem moments) and both use similar methods to do that (a diary ora journal). Each approach uses a standard assessment instrument as away to develop treatment that fits the individual rather than a simplemanualized program (the WBS and the MSEI). In addition, both programsturn to standard therapeutic techniques to remove obstacles thathinder living more effectively (e.g., cognitive restructuring). Finally, eachapproach has generated some empirically based work that supports itsefficacy based on pre- and post-testing.In addition, however, the two programs are also similar on anothermore important level, one that involves what positivistic positive psychologycalls “deep strategies” (Peterson & Seligman, 2004; Seligman,2002). Deep strategies are thought to be especially important therapeuticallybecause they occur as common factors across all major forms oftherapy when it is done effectively. Whether moments of well-being orpowerful self-esteem moments, one way that both programs work at thisdeeper level is to take advantage of positive experiences that occur naturallyby building them into the therapeutic process right from the beginning.As such, they both work from a strengths perspective, not from aweakness or disease model. WBT focuses on six dimensions of well-being:environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, autonomy, selfacceptance,and positive relations with others. In one way or another, wesaw that most of them are also a part of the self-esteem program.For example, where WBT focuses on environmental mastery, theself-esteem program fosters the development of competence, which isinvolved in mastery. Personal growth, which is characterized by helpingclients feel a sense of ongoing development as an individual human being,is an important goal in either system. Purpose in life, which involves theclient having goals and a sense of direction, is central to WBT. Developinga self-esteem project also involves setting goals that are personally meaningfuland working toward them provides a sense of direction. Autonomydepends on independence, self-determination, and evaluating oneself byone’s own standards: So does self-esteem when it is defined in terms ofcompetence and worthiness. Self-acceptance is an important dimensionof psychological well-being that is important to WBT, and we also sawthat it is at the heart of worthiness in the self-esteem program. Naturally,there are differences between the two programs in design and in these sixareas: after all, the two therapies have their respective goals and concerns.However, by now it should be clear that the similarities are substantial,indeed.Finally, it is important to point out that the three criteria positivisticpositive psychology uses to characterize its positive therapy may also beused to applied self-esteem work, at least when it is done on the basis ofcompetence and worthiness. First, positive psychology aims to facilitate