kallend 2,175 #1 December 20, 2004 Very interesting article in Scientific American this month: www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=1&articleID=000CB565-F330-11BE-AD0683414B7F0000 In essence the research finds no significant correlation between low self esteem and tendency to abuse drugs and booze, or to become a criminal, or to do well in school. It does find a correlation between self esteem and ability to make good personal relationships. So all this stuff about not flunking kids who really deserve it won't save them from much except the inability to get a date.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #2 December 20, 2004 QuoteIt does find a correlation between self esteem and ability to make good personal relationships. Does it say anything about correlation between low self esteem/inability to make good relationships and tendency to criminal activity? I'll go read it now...-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #3 December 20, 2004 QuoteSo all this stuff about not flunking kids who really deserve it won't save them from much except the inability to get a date. So, what would your failure rate increase to, now that you don't have to worry about your student's self-esteem? So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #4 December 20, 2004 QuoteIt does find a correlation between self esteem and ability to make good personal relationships. I'm not sure I agree with your reading of the article. This bit: QuoteA few other methodologically sound studies have found that the same is true for adults. In one of these investigations, conducted in the late 1980s, Duane P. Buhrmester, now at the University of Texas at Dallas, and three colleagues reported that college students with high levels of self-regard claimed to be substantially better at initiating relationships, better at disclosing things about themselves, better at asserting themselves in response to objectionable behaviors by others, better at providing emotional support and better even at managing interpersonal conflicts. Their roommates' ratings, however, told a different story. For four of the five interpersonal skills surveyed, the correlation with self-esteem dropped to near zero. The only one that remained statistically significant was with the subjects' ability to initiate new social contacts and friendships. This does seem to be one sphere in which confidence indeed matters: people who think that they are desirable and attractive should be adept at striking up conversations with strangers, whereas those with low self-esteem presumably shy away from initiating such contacts, fearing rejection. This seems to imply that people with high self esteem may actually have more trouble maintaining good relationships, presumably because they think perhaps a bit too highly of themselves. It does say that high self esteem correlates to an ability to initiate new relationships--but it actually seems to imply the opposite about the maintenance of those relationships. Very interesting, though. Thanks for the link. I think I'll forward it to my Dad, who is a (very lefty) public school teacher in California (who has sat on quite a number of those government committees), but who, incidentally, is more of the "tough love" mindset.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #5 December 20, 2004 That was quite informative. Gives some insight as to why Florida's public education system is the way it is.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
