People with low self-esteem aren’t looking for positive reinforcement, study suggests
Posted Jun 29, 2014 06:20:59 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The next time you go to cheer up a friend, you may want to consider if it’s the best thing for them.
A new study from researchers at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University suggests those with low self-esteem are not looking for positive reinforcement after a rough break up or job loss.
Denise Marigold is a professor at Renison University College at the University of Waterloo and lead author of the study.
She tells 570 News it’s important to take note of your friend or family member’s body language.
“Sometimes what people do, when their friend doesn’t embrace that positive refraining they try to get even more cheerful and even more forceful about their cheerfulness or find a different silver lining, but instead we suggest, ok maybe this is not what they need right now.”
The study shows that people with low self-esteem have overly negative views of themselves, and often interpret critical feedback as evidence of their general unworthiness. Meaning these individuals want their loved ones to see them as they see themselves and don’t want you to try to boost their spirits.
