The bad guys, not the good guys, have high self esteem. Baumeister, a social scientist at Case Western Reserve University, has studied the relationship between aggression and self-esteem for more than a decade. People with high self-esteem, says Baumeister, are likely to respond aggressively when their inflated view of themselves is threatened by criticism or perceived insult or when someone obstructs their need for gratification.
Gang members have high self-esteem.
So do spouse abusers. The Bible tells us that pride comes before a fall. John Rosemond is a family psychologist. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Tallahassee Democrat is prohibited.