ABSTRACT
Each person places some kind of estimate upon himself as a human being and consciously or unconsciously struggles to maintain an adequate level of self-esteem. People vary considerably in their sense of self-esteem, and many of these differences are recognized in daily discourse. A person with a low level of self-esteem may not only be unable to see his weaknesses, but may also form an idealized self-conception, regarding himself as perfect or nearly perfect. The development of more adequate techniques for the assessment of self-esteem is a task of considerable importance, for there are a number of generalizations that cannot be tested without some reliable method of measurement. Social status is something that can be changed, especially in a society like ours in which social mobility is possible, but what one is as a human being remains relatively constant. Some become convinced that inadequate social status lies at the root of their difficulties, and they become preoccupied with social mobility.
