ABSTRACT
Most definitions of self-esteem suggest that it is a stable and enduring characteristic. Rosenberg (1965), for example, described self-esteem as “the evaluation which an individual makes and customarily maintains with regard to himself [or herself]; it expresses an attitude of approval or disapproval” (p. 5, emphasis added). Whether or not self-esteem is indeed stable, however, is an important question that has received considerable attention in the research literature (Harter & Whitesell, 2003). The occurrence of short-term fluctuations in self-esteem for many individuals has been convincingly demonstrated (Kernis, Cornell, Sun, & Berry, 1993). This essay, however, examines whether self-esteem can change in a more enduring manner. Additionally, a consideration of those aspects of self-esteem that may be more or less resistant to long-term change is undertaken. We conclude with a discussion of strategies that individuals may be able to use in a personal change program to modify their self-esteem.
