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