The book is organized around a diagram of concentric circles representing a model of self-esteem development: inborn preference - the core self (Jung/Myers theory); family of origin - birth order, role models, educational values; peer group influences - classroom experience, teacher influence, neighbourhood/work influence; and cultural values - stereotypes, media influence, societal expectations.
Ms. Golden and Ms. Lesh are counsellors at a community college, so they have had a lot of experience working with young adults. This is a text with exercises they have created to use with their students in their course “Developing Self-Esteem.” There is a quiz to help pick out areas of low self-esteem. Many of the examples are, of course, relating to young people, but the concepts apply to any age.
The book devotes a chapter to each of the four circles of model self-esteem development. Then the book looks at symptoms of low self-esteem, strategies for developing self-esteem, strategies for success in school, closes with an overview of what each individual has learned about him- or herself.
I used some of the ideas with my Appreciating Differences group and found the ideas well received.