ABSTRACT
Self-esteem does not have a universally agreed upon meaning. For some, self-esteem is an entity associated with individuals. Some people have more of it; some have less of it. Some people are variable with respect to it; some are stable. It is an individual difference that psychologists think makes a difference. An alternative perspective, one that we find more congenial, is to address self-esteem as a process involving goal pursuit. We believe that this process is important to psychological functioning and to personal well-being.
