It has been replaced in clinical circles with "positive self regard".Metacrock wrote:You really think so? I thought it was a psychological term used by councilors and psychologists and thus sort of given an aura of clinical goodness.moksha wrote:I see your definition of self-love as being the same as what I would apply to 'self-esteem'.Gwarlroge wrote:When I say "self-esteem," I mean something different than self-love. Self-love makes us want to be happy, choose the best thing, stay fed and clothed, etc. -- On the other hand, everyone seems to want to be needed, or to be useful (which is almost the same thing). That's not wrong, is it?
I think in general use the term "self-esteem" has become conflated with Egotism and tarnished with it's negative conotations.
Probably by egotistical people trying to excuse their actions.
'Self-esteem' was latched onto as a catchphrase of self help gurus and such which led to it being bandied around in the wider public arena.
Then, because of that aura of clinical goodness, egotistic folks started excusing their unsavoury actions under the banner of 'self-esteem'.
Just as bullies like to tell themselves, and everyone else, that they are just being assertive.