Influences on Attitude and Behaviors: Part 2

Self-esteem is never set in stone, and unfortunately, there are many things that can decrease self-esteem. These negative influences can come from certain life events or circumstances, such as losing a job, or more traumatic events, such as physical or emotional abuse. Furthermore, a person’s self-esteem can be negatively affected by the following: name-calling, bad grades, rejection, isolation, violence, and criminal activity. These factors can work to convince a person that they are not worthy of happiness or success, which we know is not true.

The degree to which each event affects a person varies greatly by individual and cannot be assumed based upon the person’s gender, age, race, religion, etc. However, one thing remains the same: Every single person has the right to be happy and have high self-esteem, and no one deserves to be the victim of abuse.