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How Do I Choose the Best Self-Esteem Assessment?

T. Carrier
T. Carrier

Self-esteem, or the way an individual feels about himself or herself, impacts individuals personally, professionally, and socially. Several methods have been devised to measure self-esteem, from the informal self-esteem quiz to more professional self-esteem assessments. In general, the latter varieties provide the most effective means of self-esteem assessment due to their scientifically based design. A valid assessment should address several different aspects of self-esteem. In addition, questions and answers should be structured in an easily quantifiable manner.

Individuals with low self-esteem are often their own worst critics, and they frequently believe that others view them in the same harsh and negative manner. If an individual lacks faith in himself or herself, this is one important sign of low self-esteem. High self-esteem, on the other hand, is a general love and positive regard for the self. Several psychologists have regarded self-worth as one of the most important traits of a well-functioning person.

Love and regard for oneself are characteristics of high self-esteem.
Love and regard for oneself are characteristics of high self-esteem.

An effective self-esteem assessment will address many issues in its questions. Most valid tests will devote a certain percentage of questions to different categories like self-worth or an individual’s perception of how others see him or her. A longer assessment is more likely to be comprehensive in this regard. The Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale, for example, measures a range of issues like family love and approval and morality. Questions or statements also typically begin with "I" so that the test-taker will feel more personally connected to the answers.

Excessive criticism by parents while growing up can lead to low self-esteem in adults.
Excessive criticism by parents while growing up can lead to low self-esteem in adults.

In general, the most enduring test self-esteem assessment types are easily quantifiable, with Likert-style tests being a prime example. This means that questions and answers are structured so that each answer can easily be assigned a score, such as in the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. A typical question, for example, might be written as more of a statement: “I love myself.” Answers would then be arranged on a spectrum, from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” In these types of statements, each possible answer is assigned a value — usually from one to five — and all of the values are tabulated and averaged to produce an overall score.

Individuals who have eating disorders typically suffer from low self-esteem.
Individuals who have eating disorders typically suffer from low self-esteem.

Quantifiable tests are more valued by the scientific community because they have been validated by scientific research methods and have been tested on large and diverse groups of people. Therefore, these types of tests typically provide a more accurate and verifiable self-esteem assessment. They also tend to be reliable indicators of behavior, as individuals with low collective scores tend to demonstrate lower self-esteem.

Discussion Comments

Logicfest

Anyone looking for a reliable self esteem assessment would do well to visit with a local psychologist. Those professionals have access to all manner of tests that measure hard to quantify qualities such as self esteem and will likely administer and evaluate a test for a reasonable fee.

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    • Love and regard for oneself are characteristics of high self-esteem.
      By: lunamarina
      Love and regard for oneself are characteristics of high self-esteem.
    • Excessive criticism by parents while growing up can lead to low self-esteem in adults.
      By: kmiragaya
      Excessive criticism by parents while growing up can lead to low self-esteem in adults.
    • Individuals who have eating disorders typically suffer from low self-esteem.
      By: Sylvie Bouchard
      Individuals who have eating disorders typically suffer from low self-esteem.
    • A person suffering from low self-esteem may benefit from seeing a counselor.
      By: Monkey Business
      A person suffering from low self-esteem may benefit from seeing a counselor.
    • Some people base their self-esteem solely on romantic love and approval.
      By: and.one
      Some people base their self-esteem solely on romantic love and approval.
    • Self-esteem may be based on acceptance by peers.
      By: grafikplusfoto
      Self-esteem may be based on acceptance by peers.
    • A verbally abusive relationship may cause an individual to develop low self-esteem.
      By: olly
      A verbally abusive relationship may cause an individual to develop low self-esteem.