Key Difference – Self Respect vs Self Esteem
Self-respect and self-esteem are different concepts. Self-respect refers to the regard that an individual has for himself, while self-esteem refers to an appreciation that an individual has for his abilities and skills. The main difference between self-respect and self-esteem is that self-respect focuses on the individual for who he is, whereas self-esteem concentrates on the abilities and skills of the individual.
What is Self Respect?
Self-respect is the regard a person has for themselves. It is important to have self-respect, as a person without self-respect can be bullied, ridiculed, and tormented by others. Such a person finds it difficult to survive in society because they can become a victim quite easily. Having self-respect does not mean that the individual is becoming pompous or arrogant; instead, it highlights that the individual has standards and principles by which they live. Self-respect applies to everyone, regardless of a person’s class, caste, religion, or color. It is when a person learns to respect themselves that they can learn to respect others as well. Psychologists believe that children should be taught to develop their self-respect more than self-esteem because it lays a strong foundation for self.
What is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is an appreciation that an individual has for themselves, usually based on the evaluation of one’s abilities and skills. For example, in a classroom, the child who scores better and is praised by others can have higher self-esteem compared to the child who is often scolded and laughed at by others. A person with high self-esteem is conscious of their achievements and evaluates themselves as higher than others, whereas someone with low self-esteem evaluates themselves as lower than others. They may be shy and more prone to doubt their skills. Even if such an individual is talented, they may be afraid of failing. In this sense, a person with low self-esteem can lack confidence, which can affect not only their performance but also their growth as well.
Self-esteem can easily be repaired or shattered by the opinions of others since it is an evaluation of one’s skills. When the individual feels that their skills are deteriorating or are not up to standard, esteem can be damaged. On the contrary, the respect that the individual has for themselves cannot be destroyed so easily.
Key Takeaways
- Self-respect is an individual’s regard for themselves, while self-esteem is an individual’s appreciation for their abilities and skills.
- Self-respect comes from the individual’s regard, whereas self-esteem comes from their talents or skills.
- Self-respect is difficult to shatter since it is a form of acceptance, while self-esteem can be shattered as it is mostly boosted by others’ opinions and reactions.
