Christopher Franz

11/30/15
HD 341 Research Paper: Self Esteem

As human beings, we strive to feel whole. This drive is rooted inside the biology of the
brain, but equally shaped by our parents, peers, and society. Our sense of self-esteem affects
the way we navigate through life and gain success. It can either enhance our physical and
emotional well-being, or have a negative and lasting influence. The amount of conflict we
experience, our decision making opportunities, and autonomy all factor into how we see
ourselves. Living inside these ever-changing physical bodies, we try to make sense of the world
around us. The people, situations, and institutions we encounter can sometimes feel
overwhelming. Some of us seek escape and/or distraction or fall into chemical dependency,
morbidity, and/or suicidal ideation. This is often established during childhood and adolescence,
and can extend into one's adult life.
According to modern neuroscience, there are several neurotransmitters which play a
central role in mood and belief. The brain perceives our reality and transforms it into a range of
personal, ethical, and creative premises that we use to provide meaning, value, spirituality, and
truth in our lives (Bear). As human beings, we construct beliefs about everything. We attempt
to determine how we feel about our 'perceived' realities, and then proceed to build moral,
political, and spiritual beliefs about the world around us. There are several studies which
suggest that brain regions and neurotransmitters are responsible for deciding how we choose
one idea over another (Panksepp 533). These beliefs allow us to affix meaning to the mysteries
of life, and provide us with a unique sense of inspiration, and hope.
Certain beliefs take root during specific periods of brain development. In order to undo
these beliefs, the brain must exercise plasticity. Doxastic Voluntarism explains that mentally
healthy people can change their minds about their beliefs. As we get older, this plasticity is less
active, but still exists. If we continue to think critically and strive for rationality, we can continue
to make new neural connections and build stronger synaptic bonds (Audi 98). In a recent study
at UCLA hospital, a man who was riddled with cancer, and about to die, was given injections of a
placebo. Within a week all his tumors disappeared. But, upon reading a newspaper report
about the ineffectiveness of what he thought he'd been given, his tumors returned. The doctor
then convinced the patient that a "new and improved" medication was administered to him
instead and once again his tumors disappeared (Etelson).
It's easy to get caught up in today's social media-centric society. It's complex nature
resembles the makeup of the human brain. We're networked together, teaching one another
how we'd like to be treated by the ways we treat others. Self worth can become closely
intertwined with how we see ourselves in relation to others. There are many who suffer from
"compare and despair." Empirical studies have demonstrated a link between suicidal ideation
and experiences with bullying and victimization (Holinger 305). Advances in technology have
created this new form of cyber-bullying. This nontraditional form of peer aggression can occur
through emails, texting on cell phones, and posts on social media sites. In 2007, a random
sample of 1,963 middle-schoolers from one of the largest school districts in the United States
completed a survey on experience w/ Internet use. Youths who had experienced traditional
bullying or cyber-bullying, as either an offender or a victim, had more suicidal thoughts and
were more likely to attempt suicide than those who had not experienced such forms of peer
aggression (Hinduja 211). This behavior should be taken seriously both at school and at home as
more and more institutions begin implementing bullying response programs focused on suicide
prevention and intervention. More health and intervention programs are needed at the
national, state, and local levels in order to reduce these risks and improve health outcomes for
today's youth (Wigfield 552).
The suicide rate among children and adolescents in the U.S. has increased dramatically
in recent years. Empirical research into the causal mechanisms underlying suicide and suicidal
behavior have linked relationships between psychopathology, substance use, child abuse,
bullying, internet use, and youth suicidal behavior (Posner). Depression can heighten the risk of
suicide and is associated with substantial morbidity rates in the present and future tense. The
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six categories of priority health-risk
behaviors among youth and young adults, including behaviors that contribute to violence;
alcohol and other drug use. Substantial morbidity and social problems among young people also
arise from unintended sexual behaviors and STDs. These ratings show that an increase in
depression also coincides with an spike in self-injurious, suicidal ideation. In order to assess the
risk of actual attempts in the future, those surveyed were asked to gauge their desire to be
dead, whether they had suicidal intent, or whether they had intent with a plan. They found that
this burden is highest in low-income and middle-income populations and rises sharply, after
puberty, in females. This disorder is common in adolescence worldwide, yet often goes
unrecognized. The strongest risk factors for depression in adolescents are a family history of
depression and exposure to psychosocial stress (Eaton 1-131).
All children are born with certain inborn biological biases and innate behaviors, but we
also learn from the effects of our environment and perceptions. Family factors, including
parental psychopathology, family history of suicidal behavior, family discord, loss of a parent to
death or divorce, poor quality of the parent-child relationship, and maltreatment, are associated
with an increased risk of adolescent suicide (Thaper 1057). The interplay between nature and
nurture shapes our lives, and determines how we think, act, and react. Studies have shown that
a democratically organized family is more likely to provide opportunities for meaningful
autonomy, rather than an authoritarian or uninvolved family (Wigfield 552). In a study
assessed by Harter's 1982 self-esteem scale, families that promoted healthy family decision
making processes also promoted more positive gains and self-esteem. Self-esteem was affected
by positive relationships between parent and child, and by perceptions of their child's
competencies in academic, social, and sport domains. We inherit 23 pairs of chromosomes from
our parents, and these genes serve as the blueprint for our life (Etelson). These pre-
programmed biological responses, kick start self-awareness and initiate consciousness about
the world around us. Self esteem affects children of all demographics Different cognitive
functions contribute to the foundations of autobiographical memories. A child's brain is prone
towards seeing monsters, believing in Santa Claus, and relying on magic to explain their
everyday beliefs about reality. After birth, we spend our formative years learning the behaviors
of those around us as well as from what we derive through trial and error. These early childhood
beliefs can shape the remainder of one's adult life. False memories remain imprinted in various
circuits of the brain well into our adulthood. capable of getting in touch with their feelings
The components of one's ecology can also increase risk factors. For the past 38 years, my
personality and outlook has undergone numerous changes. My earliest memories of are of
terror and chaos within the home. My father displayed a permissive style of parenting while my
mother placed high importance on control and maturity. There was very little nurturance on her
part. Her communication consisted largely of harsh criticisms. She would periodically shower
me with emotional appraisal, then instantly shift into rage and detachment. I remember
walking around on egg shells, fearful of disturbing or even encountering her. Anytime I did
something differently then she wanted, she would assert physical, social, and emotional control
over me. Usually, by wrestling me down, sitting on my chest, pinning my arms behind my head,
and yelling uncontrollably in my face. This vast chasm of hypocrisy and polar opposite parenting
styles led me to formulate conflicting views regarding socially acceptable behavior. This resulted
in noticeably lower self esteem and social withdrawal. Most of my time was spent watching TV.
and playing video games, withdrawn and detached from the world. Incapable of processing my
feelings and being emotionally immature, I acted out and fed into my new role as problem
child. It seemed like every day minor hassles would snowball into an overwhelming sense of
discomfort. In time, this behavior became more impulsive and reckless. Things eventually took
their toll on my health; both mentally and physically. Through daily introspection, Ive be able to
gain greater insight on those experiences. It's caused me to examine their own sense of self-
worth. By addressing these issues, despite my fears, I've grown and evolved as a person. I can
now draw from my previous experience to empathize with, and assist others.

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