Self Esteem vs Self Confidence: Difference and Comparison

Self-esteem and self-confidence are frequently misunderstood words. Many people think they’re just two distinct terms for the same item, but that’s not the case.

You can have high self-esteem while having low self-confidence. Likewise, the inverse is accurate.

It is critical to have both. If an individual can develop both characteristics, he will become more successful and happy.

Key Takeaways

1. Self-esteem relates to one’s overall sense of self-worth, while self-confidence deals with the belief in one’s abilities in specific situations.
2. Self-esteem is a more stable trait, while self-confidence can fluctuate depending on circumstances and experiences.
3. Building self-esteem requires addressing core beliefs about oneself while enhancing self-confidence involves developing skills and abilities in various domains.

Self Esteem vs Self Confidence

Self-esteem is the overall sense of worth or value we attach to ourselves. Self-confidence refers to the belief in our abilities, skills, and judgment. While self-esteem is about how we feel about ourselves, self-confidence is about our belief in specific abilities and qualities that are particular.

Self-esteem is a term that describes what we perceive about ourselves and how it influences our thinking, emotions, and actions. Self-esteem is an inward-looking trait that influences how we interact with our surroundings.

Our self-esteem is shaped by our experiences of life and also our interpersonal relationships.

Self-confidence is defined as the faith we have in ourselves and our skills to attain goals and overcome problems in particular areas of our lives. Outward-facing self-confidence is frequently easier to develop.

Knowledge and practice build confidence, therefore the more expertise we have with anything, the more confidence we get.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Self Esteem	Self Confidence
Meaning	It’s how a person values himself.	It’s whether a person trusts themself to get the job done.
Conditional/ unconditional	Unconditional as the value doesn’t change due to victory or failure.	Conditional as a person trusts himself only when you get the job done.
Judgemental/ non- judgemental	Non- judgemental	Judgemental
Based on	Accepting yourself as you are.	Abilities and achievements.
Impact of others action	Other people’s actions don’t impact you much.	The actions of others have an impact on your results and hence on you.

What is Self Esteem?

Self-esteem is a psychological phrase that refers to an individual’s overall subjective perception of personal value and worth. To put it another way, self-esteem can be described as how much you value and like yourself irrespective of the situation.

Individuals with poor self-esteem are less confident in their skills and may have doubts about their judgment ability. They may lack the motivation to try new activities as they doubt their ability to achieve their objectives.

Low self-esteem might make it difficult to form connections and convey one’s needs. They may also have low self-esteem and believe they are unlovable and worthless.

Individuals with excessively high self-esteem may exaggerate their abilities and believe they are entitled to success, even if they lack the tools to support their confidence. As they’re so concentrated on perceiving themselves as ideal, they may deal with relationship troubles and stop themselves from self-improvement.

Several theorists have published about the dynamics that play a role in self-esteem growth. Self-esteem is a key component in psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which describes esteem as one of the most fundamental human motives.

Maslow proposed that humans must have both external and internal self-respect to develop esteem. Both of these requirements must be met for a person to mature and achieve self-actualization.

What is Self Confidence?

Confidence in one’s judgment, talents, and abilities is referred to as self-confidence. It’s about appreciating yourself and believing in your value, despite your flaws or what others may think of you.

Having a strong sense of self-confidence can enable you to achieve more success in both your professional and personal life. More confident individuals, for instance, tend to score higher academically, according to studies.

Researchers have associated higher degrees of self-confidence in athletes with a greater drive to practice their chosen sport, implying that confidence might play a part in your motivation to achieve your goals. Your self-confidence has an impact on how you portray yourself to others.

If you feel you haven’t accomplished enough, it’s simple to lose confidence. Make a list of everything you’ve accomplished in your lifetime if it’s a good grade on a test or learning to surf.

Maintain the list handy and refer to it anytime you accomplish anything noteworthy. When you’re feeling down, take out the list and reassure yourself of all the great things you’ve accomplished.

You’ll never feel secure if you’re constantly hearing negative voices in your head reminding you that you’re no good. Consider your self-talk and how it may be hurting your self-esteem.

Approach yourself with respect and encouragement, as if you were your best mate.

Main Differences Between Self Esteem and Self Confidence

1. Self-esteem is how a person values himself while self-confidence is whether a person trusts himself to get the job done.
2. Self-esteem is unconditional as the value doesn’t change due to victory or failure. Self-confidence, on the other hand, is conditional as a person trusts himself only when you get the job done.
3. Self-esteem is non-judgmental while self-confidence is judgmental.
4. Self-esteem is based on accepting yourself as you are while self-confidence is based on abilities and achievements.
5. Self-esteem is not impacted by other people’s actions while self-confidence is impacted by it.

References

1. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01173684
2. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2786665

Last Updated : 14 July, 2023