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The 3-minute interview with Ozlem Ayduk
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Ozlem Ayduk is an assistant professor of psychology at UC Berkeley.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The 39-year-old assistant professor of psychology at UC Berkeley completed a study on low self-esteem with graduate student Anett Gyurak that suggests a little self-control can help people overcome rejection. Ayduk and Gyurak had 38 women and 29 men participate in the study using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale to help split the groups into those with low self-esteem and those with normal-to-high self-esteem. The study is published in the October issue of the journal Psychological Science.
Why is it important to recognize low self-esteem? It’s important for people to understand their impulses and to recognize why they might feel rejected. Sometimes just the mildest rejection for someone with low self-esteem can cause people to overreact or behave inappropriately. People who don’t love or respect themselves often behave in a way that causes others not to love or respect them. Almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
How can people overcome these thoughts of rejection? People with low self-esteem can learn how to change the interpretation of events. Sometimes people automatically or habitually respond to events in a way that will lead them to feel unworthy or rejected. But if the impulse can be recognized, that person might be able to avoid those types of feelings.
Is there a treatment for low self-esteem? There is no direct therapy. There is no low self-esteem vaccine or a pill you can take. It’s about helping people understand their impulses and avoiding the “feared outcome.” People need to learn how to put the brakes on their automatic overreaction.
Check out more 3-minute interviews from our San Francisco newsroom.
