Pursuing self-esteem harmful; focus on goals rather than yourself

ANN ARBOR—The pursuit of self-esteem has become a central preoccupation of American culture, but the need to prove ourselves often causes more harm than good, according to a University of Michigan researcher.

Even though boosting self-esteem makes people feel good, it doesn’t make people smarter or improve job performance or leadership. And few realize the psychological costs of trying to enhance self-esteem, says U-M psychology professor Jennifer Crocker, who will present her findings to the American Psychological Society this week. She gives more details in an article in the latest issue of Psychological Bulletin.

Crocker contends that