THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SELF-ESTEEM --- A NEW CONCEPT OF MAN'S PSYCHOLOGICAL NATURE by Nathaniel Branden, Nash Publishing, Los Angeles, 1969
INTRODUCTION (pvii-x1)
In your quest to understand the universe in which you live, you are confronted with three fundamental facts of nature; namely, the existence of matter, of life, and of consciousness. In response to matter, humans developed the sciences of physics and chemistry. In response to life, humans developed the science of biology. In response to consciousness, humans developed the science of psychology.
It is regrettable that as of 1969 the greatest advances in knowledge have been achieved in the science of physics and the least in the science of psychology!
As a being who possesses the power of self-consciousness, which is the power of contemplating his or her own life and activity, humans experience a profound need for a conceptual frame of reference from which to view themselves. This profound need for a kind of "self-intelligibility" is the task of psychology to provide.
This book was written as a step toward the achievement of that goal.
If the science of psychology is to achieve an accurate portrait of human nature, it must question and challenge many of the core values of contemporary psychology. Neither the view of humans as "instinct-manipulated puppets," which is the concept of psychoanalysis, nor the view of humans as "stimulus-response machines," which is the concept of behaviorism, bears any resemblance to humans as a biological entity uniquely characterized by the power of conceptual thought, propositional speech, explicit reasoning, and self-awareness.
The central theme of this book is the role of Self-Esteem in human life. It explores (1) the need of self-esteem, (2) the nature of that need, (3) the conditions of its fulfillment, (4) the consequences of its frustration, and (5) the impact of a person's self-esteem --- or lack of it --- on his or her values, responses, and needs.
Virtually all psychologists recognize that humans experience a need for high self-esteem. But what they have not identified is the nature of self-esteem, the reasons why humans need it, and the conditions they must satisfy to achieve it.
Virtually all psychologists recognize that there is a relationship between the degree of self-esteem and the mental health and the motivation of people, but they have not identified the principles involved. This book deals with these issues.
The kind of psychology this book presents is called "Biocentric Psychology."
PART 1--- THE FOUNDATIONS (p1-101)
1) Psychology as a science (p1-14)
2) Man --- a living being (p15-25)
3) Man --- a rational being (p26-33)
4) Man --- a being of volitional consciousness (p34-59)
5) Emotions (p60-89)
6) Mental health (p89-101)
PART 2 --- THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SELF-ESTEEM (p101-235)
7) The nature and source of Self-Esteem (p103-130)
8) Pseudo-Self-Esteem (p103-143)
9) Pathological anxiety --- a crisis of Self-Esteem (p144-160)
10) Social metaphysics (p161-181)
11) Self-Esteem and romantic love (p182-203)
12) Psychotherapy (p204-235)
Happiness and high Self-Esteem (p119-120)
INDEX (p236-240)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (p242)
Return to essay #1: The Brainpower Theory of True Happiness
Go to index: Interactive Index of Factual Ideas