4 Troubled Teens Blog

High self-esteem in children may increase their aggression toward others when they feel ashamed, according to a new study from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and the University of Michigan.

Researchers tested 163 children 10 to 13 years old for self-esteem, and then had them play in a fake video game tournament. Some were randomly selected to be "shamed." The team told that group that they were playing against poor players and that their scores would appear on a website that everyone could see. The narcissistic children in the study who felt ashamed became aggressive.

"Narcissists seem highly motivated to create and maintain a grandiose sense of self," said co-author Brad Bushman, a psychologist at the University of Michigan. This finding opposes conventional wisdom that children with high self-esteem are better at handling criticism and insults.

This study appears in the journal Child Development.

Labels: violence, self-esteem, agression

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Currently, there are many stories in the news about teenagers who have violently acted out against either a peer or an adult. Teens are beating up fellow students, threatening to kill teachers, and some are committing suicide.

"We can't look at these situations as isolated and mere anecdotal examples of dysfunctional kids. After all, suicide is still among the leading causes of teenage deaths. And too many youths resort to resolving their beefs by trying to snuff somebody out or bust them up."

Stan Simpson, a columnist for The Hartford Courant, believes these troubled kids all have a couple of things in common: an unstable home and the feeling that no one understands them or cares. He urges adults to take time to remind the young people in their lives how valuable they are and how much they are loved and appreciated. Source: The Hartford Courant

Labels: violence, communication, self-esteem

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments