Health and Wellness Self-Esteem & Mental Health Building Your Self-Esteem Chapter 1: Section 1 Pp.50-54

Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will have been able to do the following:

‰Define self-esteem. ‰List the benefits of high self-esteem. ‰Identify factors that influence the development of self-esteem. ‰Describe ways they can improve their self-esteem. Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Key Terms • Self-esteem – A measure of how much you value, respect, and feel confident about yourself

• Self-concept – A measure of how you view yourself

• Integrity – The characteristic of doing what you know is right Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Reflection Journal • Write one thing someone said to you or about you that you believe has impacted your life either negatively or positively. – For example, you were told on one occasion you were as stupid as your father. As a result, whenever you are unable to achieve a particular goal, you believe you are stupid. Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Motivation • React and discuss your feelings to the clippings from several magazines with advertisements projecting “desirable” body images. • Many of the photographs you see in ads are: – – – –

Computer-enhanced Blemishes have been removed Color is changed Body proportions are altered

– Many…have undergone extensive and costly cosmetic surgery – Many…exercise to excess and subject themselves to extremely restrictive and unhealthy diets

Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Carl Rogers: The Self-Concept Theory of Personality • A child’s self-esteem develops as a result of unconditional positive regard from adult caregivers. – A setting in which children realize that they will be accepted no matter what they say or do. • Each of us is born into the world with an innate need to survive, grow, and enhance ourselves. • We can trust our own internal feelings to guide us toward mental health and happiness. (Huffman, Vernoy, and Vernoy, 2000, p. 489)

Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Mental Health, Congruence, & Self-Esteem • Self-Concept – All the information and beliefs individuals have about their own nature, qualities, and behavior. • Self-Esteem – Feelings each of us have about ourselves… • Mental Health, Congruence, and Self Esteem – If our self-concept is congruent (or matches) with our life experiences, we have high selfesteem and generally good mental health. (Huffman, Vernoy, and Vernoy, 2000, pp. 488-489)

Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Critical Thinking • If everyone has an inborn, positive drive toward self-fulfillment, why do some people have low self-esteem and poor mental health?

(Huffman, Vernoy, and Vernoy, 2000, pp. 488-489)

Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

What is Self-Esteem? • Self-esteem is a measure of how much you value, respect, and feel confident about yourself. Benefits of High Self-Esteem • Increased respect • Increased ability to reach goals • Increased willingness to try • Increased feelings of value Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Characteristics of High & Low Self-Esteem •

High Self-Esteem

•

Low Self-Esteem

– – – – – – – –

– – – – – – – – –

Speaks up for self Respects self and others Has confidence Tries new things Feels valuable to society Adjusts to change Feels optimistic Makes decisions based on values

Feels insecure Disrespect self and others Vulnerable to peer pressure Doesn’t feel valuable Feels depressed Fears failure Uses drugs and alcohol Feels pessimistic Behaves destructively

Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Ten Tips for Building Self-Esteem • Volunteer at a health fair, join a club, or other community service. • Make a list of your strengths. • Take care of your physical health. • Speak positively about yourself and others. • Reward yourself when you do well. • Try something new. • Choose friends who support you and your positive choices. • Set a goal to improve a weakness. • Cheer yourself through hard times. • Have fun. Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

The Development of Self-Esteem • Self-esteem begins to develop the day you are born. • Self-Concept – A measure of how one views oneself.

• Interpreting Messages From Others – Constructive criticism is good advice on how to improve yourself. Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Improving Your Self-Esteem • Use Positive Self-Talk

– Things you say to yourself strongly influence your selfesteem

• Act with Integrity

– Integrity is doing what one knows is right.

• Choose Supportive Friends

– Avoid critical or disrespectful people

• Accept Yourself

– Until you accept who you are, you will never be happy with what you have

Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Closure State whether each of the statements below is true or false. Correct false statements. • Thinking that everything you do is perfect is a sign of high self-esteem. • People with low self-esteem may be more vulnerable to negative peer pressure than people with high self-esteem. Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health

Works Cited • Huffman, K., Vernoy, M., and Vernoy, J. (2000). Psychology in Action (5th Ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. • Images. Retrieved on March 10, 2006 from http://www.images.google.com • Friedman, D. P., Stine, C.C., and Whalen, S. (2004). Lifetime Health. Austin, Texas: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Ifill-Roseau

Adapted from Lifetime Health