Resilient Identities: Self, Relationships, And The Construction Of Social Reality [Paperback]

William Swann Jr. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813391180 | ISBN-13: 978-0813391182 | Publication Date: May 14, 1999 | Edition: 1

Once considered the province of “New Age” groups, the self-esteem movement has been catapulted into the American mainstream, with a California task force and other groups now claiming that raising self-esteem is the panacea for social ills from alcoholism to poor grades and poverty.In this wide-ranging and strikingly original book, William Swann not only dissects the mistaken assumptions that underlie current self-esteem programs, but also incisively analyzes the nature of self-worth and the “self-traps” that make achieving and sustaining a sense of self-esteem so difficult.Drawing on more than a decade of research, much of it his own, Swann reveals the surprising regularity with which people suffering from low self-esteem gravitate to relationships in which they are denigrated or abused. Swann shows how such people are caught in a crossfire of conflicting desires for praise and for confirmation of their negative self-views. He persuasively argues that our feelings of self-worth can only be understood as part of a larger, intricate dynamic involving society as well as the self.Not a self-help book, Resilient Identities offers a fascinating, controversial exploration of how self-esteem conflicts develop and are played out in all of our relationships. And it discusses what we can do to encourage and sustain feelings of self-worth in our society.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William B. Swann Jr. received his PhD from the University of Minnesota and is currently professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the recipient of multiple Research Scientist Development Awards from the National Institutes of Mental Health and has authored numerous articles on self-esteem, depression, and relationships.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1 edition (May 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813391180
• ISBN-13: 978-0813391182
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,754,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why is it so hard to change ourselves?, December 28, 2008

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bunnyrabbit4 (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Resilient Identities: Self, Relationships, And The Construction Of Social Reality (Paperback)

Because we are always seeking verification of who we are and if that inner perception is negative then we will likely marry and continuely seek out those whose view of us matches the internal ideal. The "good" people who praise us, just don't feel right. It is as if they are delusional and just don't know us!!! Our sense of self is made up of patterns of behavior that we repeat, usually without our even thinking about them. We may marry an alcoholic like dad and divorce him only to find another becuase the initial behavior of that person validates who we think we are. VERY interesting reading as is his SELF-TRAPS which is available used.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, July 9, 2009

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nc guy (NC) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Resilient Identities: Self, Relationships, And The Construction Of Social Reality (Paperback)

I gained some insight into how people can select other people and interpretation of events to reinforce their own self views, even if those views are negative. It certainly explains some things I've noticed in relationships and even friendships. A useful book for gaining some more insight into relationships.