Which of the following best describes the relationship between self-esteem and how individuals perceive their successes and failures in life?

• A. Individuals with high self-esteem are more likely to attribute successes to their own abilities and failures to external factors.
• B. Individuals with low self-esteem consistently attribute successes to their own abilities and failures to external factors.
• C. Self-esteem level has no significant impact on how people perceive their successes and failures.
• D. Individuals with high self-esteem tend to attribute both successes and failures to luck or chance.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of self-esteem: Self-esteem refers to an individual's overall subjective evaluation of their own worth. It influences how people interpret events related to themselves, including successes and failures.
2. Recognize attribution styles: Attribution theory explains how people interpret causes of events. Common attributions include internal (due to one's own abilities or efforts) and external (due to luck, task difficulty, or other outside factors).
3. Analyze how high self-esteem affects attribution: Individuals with high self-esteem tend to take credit for positive outcomes by attributing successes to their own abilities, which reinforces their positive self-view.
4. Analyze how high self-esteem affects perception of failures: These individuals often protect their self-esteem by attributing failures to external factors, thus minimizing the impact on their self-worth.
5. Contrast with low self-esteem attribution patterns: People with low self-esteem are more likely to attribute failures internally (blaming themselves) and successes externally (crediting luck), which can perpetuate negative self-perceptions.