SELF ESTEEM AMONGST TEEN GIRLS

What Roles do Self-esteem play on teen girls social and academic development ?

Deondra Kinard
April.17.2015
Mrs.Hawkins
Senior Seminar

Abstract
The following information explains what self esteem is and its effects on
social and academic development within teenage girls . Furthermore, the
information what social and academic development is as well. Also it explains
how self-esteem starts and what it could lead to. Apart from that, it includes Erik
Erikson's 8 stages of social development from infant to adolescent ages.

"A strong, positive self image is the best possible preparation for success in life"
( Dr.Joyce Brothers). Its better to be positive about yourself because it can get you to where you
want to go in life; to be successful. Self esteem is confidence in one's own worth or abilities ; in
other words ,self-respect. Self esteem is important in a teen girls life because it gives her
confidence in themselves. Self-esteem can affect a teen girls academic and social development.
The way they may feel about themselves makes them not want to be around others or it may
affect how they learn. In addition, it affects their thoughts, attitude, actions, and appearance.
Self-esteem starts with changes of the body image. Changes of a teen girls body starts in
middle adolescence. Teen girls have been socialized to believe that appearance is just as
important as self-worth and acceptance of others. The media plays a big role on a female's
appearance. Magazines, TVs, and music videos all show how females are "supposed" to look and
2

that self worth is based on appearance. The body size of women in the media is more than twenty
percent underweight. ( Clay, Vignoles, Dittmar | 2005)

Self-esteem plays a major role on a teen girls academic development. Academic

Development is the act or process of progressing education. Seven out of ten girls believe they
are not good enough because of their performance in school.Seventy-eight percent of girls with
low self-esteem admit that it's hard to feel good in school when you don't feel good about how
you look. A person with low self-esteem feels insecure and is not comfortable with themselves
and being around others. this also ties with being social. (Collins | 1971) (Real Girls, Real
Pressure: A National Report on the State of Self-Esteem Commissioned | 2008)
However, self-esteem affects another development of a teen girl's life, it affects her social
development . What is social development ? Social development is a commitment that
development processes need to benefit people particularly , but not only the poor, but also the
recognition that people, and the way they interact in groups and society, and the norms that
facilitates such interaction, shape development processes (Davis,2004). It all begins in the child
stages of life. When children develop socially, they also develop their self-esteem. Some may
have high self-esteem which causes them to feel confident about who they are. Some may have
low self-esteem which causes them to feel not as valuable as others. Growing up, children need
special actions from their parents such as showing attention, care, giving them independence,
praising their abilities, and encouraging communication.

Infact, Parents play a pivotal role on the social development of a teen , especially a
teenage girl, as well as her self -esteem. Sixty-five percent of girls ages thirteen-seventeen
abstain from telling their parents certain things about themselves to prevent them from thinking
3

bad about them(Nielsen,2004). Girls who struggle with their self-esteem are less likely to
receive praise from their parents and are more likely to receive criticism from others. Thirty-four
percent of teen girls believe they are not good enough as a daughter. Ninety-three percent of teen
girls with low self-esteem want to change their parents actions towards them such as being
listened to more (fifty-two percent), interacting with them (forty-three percent), and being
understood better (sixty percent). Overall, teen girls wish that their parents would communicate
better with them. Communication is key. (Real Girls, Real Pressure: A National Report on the
State of Self-Esteem Commissioned | 2008)
Erik Erikson created his own theory of psychosocial (social) development which
has 8 stages. Erik was an ego psychologist. He focused his attention on the role of society
and the issues within oneself. According to Erikson, the ego develops as it successfully
resolves crises that are distinctly social in nature (McLeod,2008). These crisis include
building trust in others, building identity in society, and helping the future generation
prepare for the future. Erikson focused on the importance of the teenage period. He
believed that the teenage period is the key stage for developing identity. Erik Erikson
maintained that personality develops in predetermined order, and builds upon each
previous stage. This is called the epigenic principle(McLeod,2008).

The first two stages of Eriksons theory is trust vs. mistrust and autonomy vs.shame.
They basically are hope and will. Trust vs. mistrust starts within the first year of life. The infant
looks to their parents for safety and perpetuation of care. Without those two things, the infant
will start to develop fear (mistrust). Autonomy vs. shame begins at eighteen months to three
years old. They start to notice their ability to do certain things without their parent, becoming
independent. Erikson suggests that parents should let them have their independence. They'll start
4

to feel more confident in their abilities . That is when self-esteem starts On the other hand, if the
child is overly controlled,criticized, or not given enough independence, they'll start to be more
dependent on others, insufficient in their abilities,and start to lack positive self-esteem . The child
would start to then feel shame in their abilities. (McLeod | 2008)
The next two stages are initiative vs.guilt and industry vs.inferiority. The two stages mean
purpose and competency. Ages three to five, children start to interact with others at school. They
tend to explore their inner skills through initiating activities. Children start to plan activities, play
games, and began activities with other children. So they start to develop a sensation of initiative,
feeling secure in interacting with others and making their own decisions. If this skill is put down
by criticism and controlled by others, they start to feel guilt. With too much guilt, they'll start to
feel annoying to others. (McLeod | 2008)

Next is industry vs. Inferiority. At this point of time, the child is six to twelve years of
age. This is where they start to read, write, and become more independent. They begin to develop
a sense of pride in what they do as far as in school because it's valued by society ( teachers and
peers). If the child is motivated to take initiative to achieve their accomplishments, they'll feel
confidence in doing it. If not motivated, and taking initiative is limited by parents and teachers,
the child will start to doubt their abilities, accomplishments ,and goals. If they feel they can't
meet up to society standards, they'll start to develop the feeling of inferiority. (McLeod | 2008)

Finally, the last stage, ego identity vs role confusion. The last three stages are for
adulthood. This role means Fidelity. During the teen years, ages twelve to eighteen, transitioning
from childhood to adulthood is major. They tend to start becoming their own person, looking for
future careers,and relationships. This is where the teen will learn the responsibilities they'll need
5

as an adult. They start to scrutinize their identity and find out who they really are. Erikson states
that the teen may feel awkward about their body until they start to grow into the changes.If this
stage is successful , it will lead to the dignity of fidelity. Fidelity involves being able to commit
oneself to others on the basis of accepting others even when there may be an ideological
difference (McLeod,2008).

During this stage, teens start to explore possibilities and build their identity based off of
that exploration. If this stage fails,it could lead to role confusion. Role confusion includes an
individual not being sure of who they are and whether they fit in society or not. In reaction to
role confusion, a teen may begin to try out different lifestyles within work,education,and other
activities. Being pressured into someone you're not can lead to unhappiness and a bad identity.
(McLeod | 2008)

In Conclusion, self esteem can be a detriment to a teen girl's social and academic
development. Knowing that you don't feel good about yourself, makes it hard to feel good in
school and focus . Being around others will start to make you feel more uncomfortable about
yourself as well. Depending on how a teen girl self esteem develops as a child, will affect her
social development as she gets older. She may feel confident of herself and being sociable with
others. On the other hand, she could not feel as valuable as others stay more to herself.
On top of that, Parents play a major role on a teen girls social development as well as her
self-esteem. As a child, they need special needs from the parent such as attention,care,
independence, their abilities commended, and communication .Girls who struggle with their self
esteem most likely don't receive praise from their parents, receive criticism from others, feel as
though they're not good enough. They also wish that their parents would interact with them,
6

being listened to more, and being more understanding. To some of all that in one, they'd wish for
better communication with their parent.
It all starts as a child. Depending on how they develop, their self esteem affects how they
act when they get older. It could be a good income or a bad one.The parents should have those
special interactions with their child so when the child gets older,and become a teen, they won't
feel neglected, and not as valuable.

Bibliography
Web Resource(s)

(n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2015, from

http://demoiselle2femme.org/wp-content/uploads/Body-Image-and-Self-EsteemAmong-Girls.pdf

 The impact of labor force history on self-esteem and its component

parts, anxiety, alienation and depression. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0167487096000037

Building Confidence and Self-Esteem. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17,

2015, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-andseek/201205/building-confidence-and-self-esteem

Friendship Quality and Social Development. (n.d.). Retrieved April

17, 2015, from http://m.cdp.sagepub.com/content/11/1/7.short

(n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from

http://www.isacs.org/misc_files/SelfEsteem_Report - Dove Campaign for Real
Beauty.pdf
Seven Counties Services Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://www.sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41167&cn=1310
Redirect Notice. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://www.google.com/url?
q=http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Definition_Low_SelfEsteem.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFutqG5xx_GUQrqC8YiprQql7C4tQ
Academic. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/academic
(n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://study.com/academy/lesson/understanding-the-social-development-ofchildren.html

 International Institute of Social Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17,

2015, from http://www.indsocdev.org/defining-social-development.html
Erik Erikson | Psychosocial Stages | Simply Psychology. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 17, 2015, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/ErikErikson.html

Book source(s)
Freeman, A. (2005). Encyclopedia of cognitive behavior therapy. New York:
Springer.

10