Is low self-esteem the same as high self-esteem

Low self-esteem and high self-esteem are not the same, as they belong to different types of self-esteem psychology. Low self-esteem is usually manifested as a low sense of self-worth and excessive reliance on external evaluations, while strong self-esteem is often accompanied by defensive high self-esteem or excessive sensitivity. The core characteristic of low self-esteem is the persistent denial of one's own abilities and values, which can easily lead to self deprecation, excessive compromise, or social avoidance. This group of people often form fixed cognition due to negative childhood experiences and long-term negative environments, such as victims of harsh education or campus bullying. Typical behaviors include habitual apologies, excessive catering to others, extreme sensitivity to criticism, and even imposter syndrome, attributing success to luck rather than strength.

Strong self-esteem is more manifested as excessive defense against external evaluations, and essentially still belongs to an unstable state of high self-esteem. This group of people may maintain their self-image through belittling others, excessive competition, or aggressive reactions, commonly found in individuals who have been pampered or have been in a high-pressure evaluation environment for a long time. Its psychological mechanism is to conceal internal fragility through external dominance, and when encountering failure, it is easy to experience intense emotional fluctuations, and some people may develop narcissistic personality tendencies. Improving low self-esteem requires rebuilding a self-evaluation system through cognitive-behavioral therapy and gradually accepting an imperfect but complete self; To regulate defensive high self-esteem, it is necessary to enhance emotional tolerance and learn non aggressive expression methods. Regardless of the type, regularly practicing self-awareness and establishing a healthy social support system can help form a stable level of self-esteem. If the relevant symptoms have affected normal life, it is recommended to seek the help of a professional psychological counselor.