Praise for the Previous Edition: ""This book attempts to clarify misunderstandings about self-esteem and offer a rationale for the legitimacy of including the construct as an important variable for mental health The author writes fluently and clearly. He is also considerate in his explanations by organizing chapters appropriately so that his narrative follows well-articulated empirical findings. "" -PsycCritiques ""Why another book on self-esteem? As Mruk points out to begin his own, there are already 7,337 articles and books on this topic. What Mruk also makes clear early on is just how little we really do understand of the complexity of this topic. Most have settled for overly simplistic, popularized truisms, and most scientific studies reveal ambiguous or insignificant consequences Mruk's solution is to supplement these traditionally scientific studies with findings from qualitative, specifically phenomenological research The approach allows Mruk a very close access to the lived dimensions of self-esteem, and an astute basis for his concrete suggestions for enhancing self-esteem."" - Chris Aanstoos Editor, The Humanistic Psychologist This new edition of the most comprehensive text available on the theories, research findings, and practice implications of self-esteem represents a major shift in our contemporary understanding of self-esteem and positive psychology. The book has been thoroughly updated to integrate positive psychology themes throughout and explain how self-esteem enhancement interventions fit into evidence-based practice. This insightful work provides scholars, clinicians, and students with both an extensive overview of research and with Mruk's often-cited theoretical framework for self-esteem. Featuring the author's noted Competence and Worthiness Training program for enhancing self-esteem, this fourth edition reflects changes in the field by also including expanded coverage of: Self-esteem in relationships Validity issues in researching self-esteem The concept of authenticity in the self Self-esteem as a function of motivation and well-being Existentially oriented theory Key Features: Offers the most comprehensive and thorough overview of self-esteem theory and research available Considers self-esteem from personality, human development, and clinical perspectives Contains updated and more integrated coverage of self-esteem as a major element of positive psychology Places clinical practices that enhance self-esteem in the context of evidence-based practice Features expanded coverage of personal relationships, research issues, and well-being in self

Recent years have seen a surprising shift concerning the concept of self-esteem, with some researchers attacking the notion of self-esteem as being of little value or too difficult to study. Educators emphasized self-esteem's importance in schools to the extent that sometimes it became more important than academic performance. And a parade of overly-simple and ineffective self-help books promote the importance of self-esteem but seldom deliver real change. Coming to the defense of self-esteem as a valuable and measurable component of good mental health, Feeling Good by Doing Good offers a new evidence-based approach to defining, understanding, and increasing what is known as "authentic self-esteem." Translating decades of research in the fields of self-esteem, humanistic psychology, positive psychology, and psychotherapy into everyday terms, Christopher Mruk traces the definition of self-esteem back to when it was first used to describe the value of "doing that which is both just and right." Seen this way, self-esteem is not just feeling good about oneself - rather, it comes from facing life's challenges in ways that demonstrate one's competence and worth as a person. This approach to self-esteem offers several new and powerful advantages, namely understanding different types of self-esteem, clarifying the connection between self-esteem and self-control, appreciating how self-esteem operates in various domains of life such as work or relationships, realizing that self-esteem acts as an internal compass to help steer us in healthier directions, and recognizing the connection between authentic self-esteem and basic human values. Featuring clinical and everyday vignettes, practical exercises aimed at enhancing personal as well as interpersonal well-being, and thought-provoking self-assessments for the reader, Feeling Good by Doing Good is a unique resource that will be of interest to mental health professionals, their clients, and laypersons alike interested in substance over platitudes and feel-good solutions.

Everyone knows what lack of self-esteem is - a factor often found in cases of depression, abusive relationship, personality disorders and suicidal behaviour. But what exactly is self-esteem? Can it treally be developed or enchanced past a person's formative years? In a cogent analysis of the recent explosion of research and literature on the enhancement of self-esteem, this book answrers these questions clearly and concisely on both theoretical and practical levels. It is recommended for all students.