The Psychology of Self-Esteem

A revised edition of the book by the founder of the self-esteem movement which radically altered mainstream contemporary psychology with a new concept of human self-understanding. Nathaniel Branden reaffirms the basic principles of his self-esteem theory. In the more than thirty years since Nathaniel Branden first published The Psychology of Self-Esteem, psychologists, counselors, educators, and the general public worldwide have come to appreciate the extraordinary power of the ideas expressed in his classic work. Since the book first appeared, the self-esteem movement has fundamentally transformed our culture. This new edition of the original text reveals how Nathaniel Branden's landmark book broke the rules of conventional behavioral theory and promulgated his revolutionary ideas on the critical role that self-esteem plays in living a healthy, fulfilling life. The book offers an in-depth exploration of the need for self-esteem, the nature of that need, the conditions of fulfillment, and how self-esteem (or lack of it) affects our values, responses, and goals. Branden also debunks the misguided notion that self-esteem is a "feel-good phenomenon" and shows instead how self-esteem, rationality, perseverance, self-responsibility, and personal integrity are all intimately related. This edition includes a new epilogue, Working with Self-Esteem in Psychotherapy, in which Branden presents his more recent thinking on the topic of self-esteem. As a testament to his own theories, Branden has spent four decades working as a psychotherapist guiding clients who constantly test his ideas about self-esteem. In all, this publication reveals how the basic conceptual structure presented in The Psychology of Self-Esteem is as relevant today as the book was when it was first published in 1969. The Author Nathaniel Branden is the author of many books on self-esteem including the perennially best-selling The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem (1995), A Woman's Self-Esteem (Jossey-Bass, 1998), and Self-Esteem at Work (Jossey-Bass, 1999). He is also the author of the memoir My Years with Ayn Rand (Jossey-Bass, 1999). A revised edition of the book by the founder of the self-esteem movement which radically altered mainstream contemporary psychology with a new concept of human self-understanding. Nathaniel Branden reaffirms the basic principles of his self-esteem theory. His revolutionary vision rejects traditional psychoanalysis and behaviourism's view of human nature and defines invdividuals as being unique and powerful in their ability to conceptualize, use propositonal speech, reason explicitly, and become self-aware. The book explores in-depth the need for self-esteem, the nature of that need, the conditions of fulfilment, and how self-esteem (or lack of it) effects our values, responses, and goals.