Snapshot · Modern Wisdom
After 36 years of happiness research, Sonja Lyubomirsky says she knows of no laboratory-tested, evidence-based intervention that reliably increases people's self-esteem.
Where this was said
At 9:49 · chapter starts 9:39
Sonja admits there are no known evidence-based interventions for self-esteem. Chris proposes the sociometer theory, which Sonja validates as solid independent psychology. [1] — Sonja Lyubomirsky "I don't know of any good interventions to increase people's self-esteem." 09:56 [2] — Chris Williamson "Self-esteem isn't self-generated — it's a lagging measure of how your social environment is feeding back to you. Holding high self-esteem i…" 10:38
A survey conducted for Sonja Lyubomirsky's book found that 70% of people said they don't feel as loved as they want to be in at least one significant relationship in their life.
Self-esteem isn't self-generated — it's a lagging measure of how your social environment is feeding back to you. Holding high self-esteem in the face of universal negative feedback isn't strength, it's maladaptive. The path to genuine self-esteem runs through connection, contribution, and personal growth.
Sonja Lyubomirsky identifies three domains that reliably contribute to happiness and self-esteem: connection with others, contribution to community, and personal growth.
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