Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem May Be Based on What Others Think of Us
Exploring the social influence on the brain signatures of self-esteem.
Updated December 2, 2024 Reviewed by Jessica Schrader
Key points
- The basis of self-esteem may be more related to others' opinions.
- Brain imaging reveals that lower self-esteem is linked to brain patterns more attuned to external opinions.
- If you have low self-esteem, it might be time to reflect on how much it is influenced by others' perceptions.
What is self-esteem? Is it something related to how you evaluate yourself, or is it based on how others think about you? Well, there are numerous theories of self-esteem in psychological science, as well as criticism of the construct itself. While these theories often diverge on some points, they all share a common idea: in one way or another, our self-esteem is dependent on our social context and relationships (Stendel et al., 2024).
In a word, what I will argue for here, is that our self-esteem is heavily influenced by two primary factors: a) our perceptions of how others view us, and b) the degree to which we depend on these perceptions.
This idea isn't new. It dates back to at least 1902, when Charles Cooley, a prominent American sociologist, introduced the concept that our self-perceptions are shaped by our understanding of how others perceive us (Cooley, 1902). Known as the relational or interpersonal account of self-esteem, this concept was supported by research across various fields of psychology.
Studies on the Social Aspects of Self-Esteem
For instance, a research group led by Anne Reitz recruited over 1,000 teenagers to examine the relationship between their self-esteem and perceived popularity among peers. They found that an individual's sense of popularity within their social group was linked to increases in self-esteem (Reitz et al., 2016).
Additionally, a 2020 meta-analysis on self-esteem and social relationships revealed a reciprocal link between the two. Positive social interactions tend to enhance self-esteem, while negative experiences can weaken it (Harris & Orth, 2020).
The role of social media in shaping self-esteem has also gained attention in recent studies. For instance, Woods and Scott reported that social media use is often associated with lower self-esteem, primarily due to negative feedback and upward social comparisons stemming from online interactions (Woods & Scott, 2016).
All these studies will not surprise a person familiar with Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky, 1978). His theory claims that human development begins at a social level (between individuals) before becoming internalized on a personal level (within the individual). This process, known as internalization, can be exemplified by a mother frequently telling her son he is a good boy, leading him to internalize this as "I’m a good boy." On a larger scale, consider how a person from childhood (who knows nothing about who they are) develops their self-concept through interactions, opinions, and expectations from others.
Brain Scans Reveal Interesting Insights
Recent brain imaging experiments have provided further insights into the social nature of self-esteem. Consistent research has identified the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) as a critical brain structure involved in self-evaluation (overview, Stendel et al., 2024).
For instance, one study showed that individuals with lower self-esteem exhibit more intense MPFC activation in response to negative comments about them, whereas those with higher self-esteem show less activation (perhaps because they don’t care as much) (Somerville et al., 2010).
Even more intriguing findings were published this week in the prestigious journal Communications Psychology. Using fMRI technology, researchers from the University of Oregon, led by Moriah Stendel scanned the brains of participants while they reflected on themselves and then the brains of other individuals while they reflected on the first person (Stendel et al., 2024).
They discovered that individuals with lower self-esteem showed more similarity in MPFC activation patterns to those who thought about them, indicating that their brain activity is more aligned with others' opinions.
Conversely, individuals with higher self-esteem displayed more independent brain activation patterns when others thought about them. In simpler terms, if you have low self-esteem, your brain is more attuned to others' opinions and even tends to mirror their brain activation.
This study is important because it corroborates various existing theories, including Vygotsky's, and has potential implications for clinical research. Low self-esteem is a well-documented risk factor for numerous mental health disorders (e.g., Orth et al., 2009). It might be that in order to help individuals with low self-esteem, one needs to facilitate the separation of their self-perceptions from the opinions of others as an initial step in therapeutic intervention.
What Does It Mean for You?
Do you have high or low self-esteem? This might be a good moment to reflect on how much your self-perception is influenced by what others think of you or what societal frameworks you accept (e.g., “I'm pathetic because others had different expectations or hopes for me”). If you find that external opinions heavily impact you, it might be time to work on cultivating a more independent sense of self-worth. After all, developing your "unique brain activation patterns" and focusing on your own values can lead to greater personal growth.
Facebook image: Stock-Asso/Shutterstock
References
Stendel, M.S., Guthrie, T.D., Guazzelli Williamson, V. et al. Self-esteem modulates the similarity of the representation of the self in the brains of others. Commun Psychol 2, 113 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00148-8
Cooley, C. H. Human nature and the social order. (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902).
Reitz, A. K., Motti‐Stefanidi, F., & Asendorpf, J. B. (2016). Me, us, and them: testing sociometer theory in a socially diverse real-life context.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 110(6), 908-920. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000073
Harris, M. A. and Orth, U. (2020). The link between self-esteem and social relationships: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119(6), 1459-1477. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000265
Woods, H. and Scott, H. (2016). #sleepyteens: social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self‐esteem. Journal of Adolescence, 51(1), 41-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes (Vol. 86). Harvard university press.
Somerville, L. H., Kelley, W. M. & Heatherton, T. F. Self-esteem modulates medial prefrontal cortical responses to evaluative social feedback. Cereb. Cortex 20, 3005–3013 (2010).
Orth, U., Robins, R. W., Trzesniewski, K. H., Maes, J., & Schmitt, M. (2009). Low self-esteem is a risk factor for depressive symptoms from young adulthood to old age. Journal of abnormal psychology, 118(3), 472.