Making Sense of Self-Esteem

Sociometer theory proposes that the self-esteem system evolved as a monitor of social acceptance, and that the so called self-esteem motive func tions not to maintain self-es teem per se but rather to avoid social devaluation and rejec tion. Cues indicating that the individual is not adequately valued and accepted by other people lower self-esteem and motivate behaviors that en hance relational evaluation. Empirical evidence regarding the self-esteem motive, the an tecedents of self-esteem, the re lation between low self-esteem and psychological problems, and the consequences of en hancing self-esteem is consis tent with the theory.