BMJ  2003;327:574-575 (13 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7415.574

Editorial

Self esteem and health

Autonomy, self esteem, and health are linked together

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The starting point for Richard Sennett's recent book, Respect in a World of Inequality, is that society is riddled with inequality: of natural endowment and talent, of opportunities and life chances, and of achievement.¹ We respect achievement. Hence these inequalities will be accompanied by inequality of respect. This, in turn, will be accompanied by inequalities in self esteem. Do such inequalities in self esteem matter? And if they do, is there anything to be done given that there will always be individual differences in earned respect?

The answer to both questions is probably yes—they do matter, and something can be done. There is a view that human needs form a hierarchy: keeping life and limb together takes precedence over such concerns as self esteem and respect. Doyal and Gough criticise this concept of hierarchy of needs and replace it with the idea that there are two basic human needs—health . . . [Full text of this article]

International Centre for Health and Society, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• WAGNER, L. C., KING, M. (2005). Existential needs of people with psychotic disorders in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Br. J. Psychiatry 186: 141-145 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

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Self esteem based understanding of our self not our achievements

Gerry F. O'Connor
bmj.com, 12 Sep 2003 [Full text]

very relevant for London GP's

Akash Samtani
bmj.com, 12 Sep 2003 [Full text]

Re: very relevant for London GP's

Matt H Lewis
bmj.com, 13 Sep 2003 [Full text]

Human dignity or health?

Manuel Cifuentes
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2003 [Full text]

Re: Self esteem based understanding of our self not our achievements

Emma Yench
bmj.com, 15 Sep 2003 [Full text]

Inequalities, self-esteem and health: need to consider other factors

Saroj Jayasinghe
bmj.com, 15 Sep 2003 [Full text]

Should the poor of the world be encouraged to feel pride in their lot or be angry at their injustice

Debbie A Lawlor, et al.
bmj.com, 16 Sep 2003 [Full text]

How do we perform respect?

Edmund Jessop
bmj.com, 18 Sep 2003 [Full text]

Dr Marmot Was Too Environmental in His Self Esteem Editorial

Dr P V Finn Cosgrove
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Improving self-efficacy, self-esteem and confidence of children and adults (ISECCA).

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