Self-esteem.

        Definition.                                                
           This reflects a person's overall evaluation of his or her own worth. It is a perception or judgement of oneself as well as attitude towards oneself. This attitude determines the outlook and behaviour of one towards others. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs, emotions and thoughts about oneself. According to Smith and Mackie (2007),self-esteem is what we think and feel about ourselves, be it positive or negative evaluation. It is an essential tool in social Interaction which will make the interaction  to either be evaluative or diminishing. It is a core-self evaluating tool because it is the overall value one feels about oneself as a person. There are different types of Self-esteem  which is developed from the experiences in a person's life. Self-esteem develops from the early years of a child. A child's parents have a strong influence on the child's self-esteem and can be considered a main source of positive and negative experiences the child will have.    
        Types.            
           There are various types of  Self-esteem but I'd be focusing on three: The high self-esteem, the defensive Self-esteem and the low Self-esteem. They'd be discussed briefly below:
The high self-esteem: This describes people with a healthy view of themselves, they belive in  themselves, they don't feel guilty when others do not like their choice, they feel secure, trust their own judgement, they do not worry excessively about the past nor mistakes or the future they live in the present intensely and learn from the mistakes In the past. They consider themselves equal in dignity to others.   A person who has a high self-esteem is confident and does not need reassurance from others to maintain a positive outlook. They are not defensive.
Defensive self-esteem: It internalizes sub-conscious self doubt and insecurities. Causing those who have a defensive Self-esteem to react very negatively to criticism. There Is need for positive feedback from others for these individuals to maintain their feelings of self-worth.
Low self-esteem: This is another, which can result from various factors eg peer pressure,  bullying and societal influence. People with low Self-esteem show heavy self criticism, dissatisfaction, hypersensitivity to criticism with resentment against critics and feelings of being attacked. Chronic in decisions, exaggerated fear of mistakes and willingness to please people. They also try to be perfect which leads to frustration when not attained. They also show general defensiveness without any proximate cause. I can go on and on on the characteristics of low Self-esteem , they depend on people for approval and self worth.
          In conclusion, Self-esteem is important in life and we should learn to develop a high and healthy Self-esteem . It is the essential core of a person to be fundamentally accepted, loved and respected by himself and others.it enables people to face life and challenges with confidence and optimism. It is important to develop a healthy Self-esteem for a better self outlook and social interaction.

By Adebiyi Oluwatemilorun P.