5 differences between self-esteem and self-confidence with examples

The differences between self-esteem and self-confidence may seem subtle to you, but, in reality, they make up two areas with unique characteristics. The first focuses on the value you give yourself as a person, while the second is more linked to your abilities, to what you believe you can do. They are spheres of great relevance for your identity and mental well-being.

As an interesting nuance, it is worth noting that both dimensions can be improved and enhanced in the appropriate direction. Many times, your environment or negative experiences can affect your skills or the way you perceive yourself. Therefore, knowing with examples the characteristics that define these two psychological constructs will be a very practical tool for you.

Both self-confidence and self-esteem always start from the evaluations you make of yourself every day and how you feel in certain contexts.

Differences between self-esteem and self-confidence

The psychotherapist Nathaniel Branden explained to us, in his famous book The 6 pillars of self-esteem (2011), that a good part of our psychological problems originate from the weakening of this factor.

Likewise, it is important to know that Self-confidence is part of self-esteem, but both have different mechanisms. Strengthening them and taking care of them will protect you, for example, from depressive symptoms.

On the other hand, as a curious fact, it should be noted that It is easier for people to develop self-confidence than to build healthy self-esteem. This last dimension always acts as that challenge that is difficult to address and that conditions your life in many ways. Works like the one published in PloS One They highlight how this construct even affects your relationships.

We explain below what the main differences are between self-esteem and self-confidence.

1. The purposes with which they help you

Although both self-esteem and self-confidence allow you to build a positive and competent image of yourself, each of them is oriented toward a very specific goal. So much so that both can mediate your daily tasks in different ways. We describe it to you.

Self-esteem

It defines how you see yourself and the opinion you have of yourself. It allows you to feel integrated, part of a social scenario. With it you make subjective evaluations of your own value. Its purpose is to build a positive and healthy general image of your own person. Self-esteem also focuses you on giving relevance to what you think others think of you. Thanks to it, you feel good about who you are, your personality, your physical appearance, determination, etc. It is the internal force that acts as psychological protector. Thanks to it, you appreciate yourself as a human being to face bad times and prevent conditions such as depression.

Self-confidence

It helps you achieve your dreams and objectives. With it you will perceive yourself capable of facing the challenges of your work. Thanks to this dimension, you feel competent in your social relationships. The purpose of self-confidence is to make you feel competent in what you do.

2. The components that make them up

Self-confidence is linked to self-efficacy. One of the figures who most investigated this was Albert Bandura. his book, Self-efficacy: The exercise of control (1997), is a reference in this field. Something that this work points out to us is that Self-confidence is a factor that we develop on our own with our perceptions on a day-to-day basis.

There are, therefore, elements that make it up, components that, as in self-esteem, build it every day in an enriching or debilitating direction. We detail them for you.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem includes numerous components that you evaluate every day, such as your self-concept, your body schema, external evaluation, your abilities, the way you treat yourself and how others do, among others. A key component of your Self-esteem is the sense of belonging. In an article in the Professional School Counseling magazine, it was highlighted how the fact that a student feels integrated, accepted and cared for in their social environment has an impact on this dimension.

Self-confidence

Self-confidence has as its main components your security and your beliefs. With them you evaluate every day how competent you are to drive, compete, carry out your work, be successful in your studies, be able to relate to others, etc.

The way we are raised and our early experiences in childhood and adolescence have a great impact on self-esteem.

3. The emotional effect

This information is interesting to know the differences between self-esteem and self-confidence. The first is linked to your emotions and general feelings of worth and satisfaction with yourself. Thus, emotional states of positive valence, such as confidence, joy, serenity and self-love, strengthen it.

On the other hand, you may have heard that people with high self-esteem exhibit narcissistic behaviors. Well, there are nuances. In general, It is maladaptive self-esteem that correlates with the behavior of narcissists. Grandiosity and the constant need for validation and attention from others come with this condition (Hyatt et al2018).

Let’s see below in detail those emotional components that are part of each of these psychological constructs.

Self-esteem

Enriching or debilitating emotions are constantly integrated into self-esteem. Thus, when you are with people who love you and you feel trust, affection and security, this dimension is strengthened. Instead, States such as fear, loneliness, shame or guilt weaken your self-esteem.

Self-confidence

Self-confidence has security and tranquility as its main emotional dimensions. When you feel skilled and competent, this dimension is strengthened. On the other hand, the feeling of insecurity and even frustration when they see that you fail, they boycott it.

4. The way they are built

Research such as that published in Revue Suisse de Psychologie suggests that Self-esteem is a key factor in family dynamics. If parents present this construct in a healthy way, their relationship with their children will be more positive. In turn, this enriching and validating treatment reinforces that the child develops a positive vision of himself.

Thus, to understand the differences between self-esteem and self-confidence we must look at how they are built. We explain it to you.

Self-esteem

It begins to be built in your family environment, through the way your caregivers treat you. The relationship with your peers (friends) is also decisive. In fact, a period of great relevance for building self-esteem is adolescence. Those academic years and self-discovery are key. Your experiences and the evaluation you make of them enhance or destroy this psychological factor. Going through an abusive relationship, for example, can damage your self-esteem.

Self-confidence

Overcoming specific challenges strengthens this dimension. Self-confidence is based more on your direct experiences and personal achievements. In this construct, although the environment also has a certain weight in giving you reinforcements, your daily perceptions are more relevant than the people who make it up. .

5. Stability

Currently we have scales to measure the stability of self-esteem. An example of this is the Self-esteem Stability Scale (SESS), that they describe to us in an article in Frontiers in Psychology. Something that they point out to us in this same work is that a positive and healthy vision of yourself, maintained stably over time, has a positive impact on your psychological well-being.

Thus, another of the differences between self-esteem and self-confidence has to do with this same factor. In general, self-esteem is usually more stable than self-confidence. We look at it a little more below.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem lays its foundations in childhood and adolescence. Although it is usually a more or less stable factor, it can fluctuate in response to significant events or important changes. Experiencing traumatic events, such as an assault, suffering workplace harassment, or experiencing an abusive relationship, can affect self-esteem.

Self-confidence

Self-confidence varies depending on the situation and the context in which you are. You can feel competent and confident when you are with people you know and a little more insecure with strangers. It is common to feel good self-confidence if you do something you master, such as speaking. English in your work. On the other hand, you will feel insecure in scenarios that seem stressful to you, as happens to some when speaking in public.

When you feel confident in yourself, you can successfully face new challenges, take advantage of new opportunities, and cope better with problems.

Self-esteem and self-confidence, pillars of psychological well-being

Although self-esteem and self-confidence present certain differences, they complement each other and are the substrate of your psychological well-being. The more you cultivate and strengthen your skills, the more you will contribute to enriching the vision you have of yourself as a person. At the same time, a healthy, bright and positive self-esteem gives you greater security to enhance your skills.

In conclusion, In such a competitive, uncertain and changing world, do not forget to attend to these decisive dimensions. Feeling good about yourself, loving yourself and perceiving yourself as someone capable of achieving your goals is a powerful tool for your happiness. Likewise, if at any time you feel problems with these areas, do not hesitate to request specialized help.

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