Americans are hooked on self-esteem, as evidenced by the enduring popularity of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. Since the first book’s debut in 1993, the 100-plus books in the series have sold more than 100 million copies to an international audience of mostly female fans.
Kim Weiss, director of public relations at “Chicken Soup” publisher HCI, speculates that the books have succeeded because of their ability to make people feel good about themselves. “That’s what self-esteem is about,” she says. “If you see someone who reminds you of yourself doing something heroic with which you can identify, you will feel good about yourself.”
But does all this good feeling translate into tangible, concrete benefits for the person receiving the inspirational message? That’s where the warm-and-fuzzy picture just gets fuzzy. Co-creator of the “Chicken Soup” series Jack Canfield is also the founder of both Self-Esteem Seminars Inc. and the Foundation for Self-Esteem. Although his Web site describes him as “a leading authority in the area of self-esteem and personal development,” Canfield himself does not delineate a cause-and-effect relationship between self-esteem and success. “I believe the whole argument about which comes first – self-esteem or achievement – is bogus. Both are important and they both feed each other,” he says. “Self-esteem is only one factor among many that affect success and achievement – not the only one,” he adds.
Although Canfield is careful not to promise that self-esteem will deliver the moon wrapped in a ribbon, nonprofits may not be getting that nuanced message. Self Esteem Boston Educational Institute Inc. (SEB) is a private nonprofit organization that provides specialized training in self-esteem to substance abusers, victims of domestic violence, the homeless, and the unemployed. “Our mission is to bring the tools of self-esteem to people,” says founder and executive director Marion B. Davis. “When you know these tools, you can have a better and more successful life.”
In practice, nonprofits use looser definitions of self-esteem than academic psychologists, which may explain why self-esteem gets more points for success than it actually earns. Canfield himself says the best self-esteem programs don’t just offer feel-good support, but also teach participants to take personal responsibility, to monitor and control their behavior, and to set boundaries. Similarly, SEB’s curriculum builds life skills alongside self-regard. In both cases, self-esteem in the world includes more than a little of what Baumeister might call self-control.
Read more stories by Aaron Dalton.