One reason why people struggle with low self-esteem is due to a cognitive bias known as anchoring. This occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive when making decisions. This initial piece of information, or 'anchor,' can then influence how people interpret and evaluate subsequent information. For example, if someone receives negative feedback on a project, they may anchor on this and start to doubt their abilities, even if they receive positive feedback later on. Another reason is that people may not be taught effective strategies or may be taught the wrong ones.