In determining an adolescent's self-esteem, we need to consider
A) whether there has been an upward or a downward trend to the changes in the adolescent's self-esteem in the recent past.
B) the discrepancy between the adolescent's ideal self and real self, as well as the importance of the domain of the comparison to the individual.
C) whether the individual has a large but loosely-connected group of peers or a small, tight network of friends.
D) physical attractiveness is as important to this individual as it is to most adolescents.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While all of these factors can play a role in an adolescent's self-esteem, research suggests that the most important factor is the discrepancy between their ideal self and their real self, as well as the importance of the domain of comparison to the individual. This means that if an adolescent values academic achievement highly, for example, their self-esteem may be more influenced by their grades than by their physical appearance or social connections. Additionally, research suggests that the size and connectedness of an adolescent's peer group may impact their self-esteem, with smaller, tight-knit friend groups being linked to higher self-esteem. However, past trends in self-esteem may not be as important as the current state of an adolescent's self-esteem.

In Determining an Adolescent's Self-Esteem, We Need to Consider