Summary
CBT has been shown to improve self-esteem, and is well established as a treatment for anxiety and depression (both proposed as key maintaining processes within low self-esteem). However, the cognitive model described here, and the treatment program derived from it, have not yet been subject to controlled test. The treatment package may prove difficult to evaluate, given the range of presenting problems among patients with low self-esteem. Nonetheless, it forms part of a cross-diagnostic trial of CBT for eating disorders currently under way (Fairburn, Cooper, & Shafran, 2003).
Research supports a number of elements hypothesized by the model, including:
-
The relationship between early experience, subsequent low self-esteem, and a range of psychological difficulties (e.g., Abramson et al., 2002)
-
The responsiveness of self-esteem to variations in circumstances (positive and negative life events)
-
The degree to which events triggering psychopathology are central to people’s sense of self-worth
-
The biases in processing (selection and distortion of incoming information, memory biases) that maintain unhelpful perspectives
-
The relationship between anxious predictions, physical symptoms, and maladaptive behavior evident in a range of anxiety disorders
-
The reciprocal relationship between self-critical thinking, hopelessness, and depressed mood
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Abramson, L. Y., Alloy, L. B., Hogan, M. E., Whitehouse, W. G., Donovan, P., Rose, D. T., Panzarella, C., & Raniere, D. (2002). Cognitive vulnerability to depression: Theory and evidence. In R. L. Leahy & E. T. Dowd (Eds.), Clinical advances in cognitive psychotherapy: Theory and application (pp. 75–92). New York: Springer.
Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press.
Beck, A. T., Freeman, A., & Associates. (1990). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders. New York: Guilford Press.
Dunmore, E., Clark, D. M., & Ehlers, A. (1997). Cognitive factors in persistent versus recovered post-traumatic stress disorder after physical or sexual assault: A pilot study. Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25, 147–159.
Fairburn, C. G., Cooper, Z., & Shafran, R. (2003). Cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders: A “transdiagnostic” theory and treatment. Behavior Research & Therapy, 41, 509–528.
Fennell, M. J. V. (1997). Low self-esteem: A cognitive perspective. Behavioral & Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25, 1–25.
Fennell, M. J. V. (1998). Low self-esteem. In N. Tarrier, A. Wells, & G. Haddock (Eds.), Treating complex cases: The cognitive behaviour therapy approach (pp. 217–240). New York: Wiley.
Fennell, M. J. V., & Jenkins, H. (in press). Low self-esteem. In J. Bennett-Levy, D. Westbrook, G. Butler, A. Hackmann, M. Mueller, & M. J. V. Fennell (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of behavioural experiments. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Freeman, A., & Padesky, C. A. (1994). Schema change processes in cognitive therapy. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 1, 267–278.
Salkovskis, P. M. (1991). The importance of behaviour in the maintenance of anxiety and panic: A cognitive account. Behavioural Psychotherapy, 19, 16–19.
Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioners’ guide. New York: Guilford Press.
Recommended Readings
Fennell, M. J. V. (1997). Low self-esteem: A cognitive perspective. Behavioral & Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25, 1–25.
Fennell, M. J. V. (1998). Low self-esteem. In N. Tarrier, A. Wells, & G. Haddock (Eds.), Treating complex cases: The cognitive behaviour therapy approach (pp. 217–240). New York: Wiley.
Fennell, M. J. V. (1999). Overcoming low self-esteem. London: Constable Robinson.
Fennell, M. J. V., & Jenkins, H. (in press). Low self-esteem. In J. Bennett-Levy, D. Westbrook, G. Butler, A. Hackmann, M. Mueller, & M. J. V. Fennell (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of behavioural experiments. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
McKay, M., & Fanning, P. (1992). Self-esteem (2nd ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fennell, M.J.V. (2005). Low Self-Esteem. In: Freeman, A., Felgoise, S.H., Nezu, C.M., Nezu, A.M., Reinecke, M.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48581-8_66
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48581-8_66
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-48580-0
Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48581-7
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)