Resilient Identities: Self, Relationships, and the Construction of Social Reality

by William Swann

Once considered the province of "New Age" groups, the self-esteem movement has been catapulted into the American mainstream, with a California task force and other groups now claiming that raising self-esteem is the panacea for social ills from alcoholism to poor grades and poverty.In this wide-ranging and strikingly original book, William Swann not only dissects the mistaken assumptions that underlie current self-esteem programs, but also incisively...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813391180
• ISBN13: 9780813391182
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Interesting

I gained some insight into how people can select other people and interpretation of events to reinforce their own self views, even if those views are negative. It certainly explains some things I've noticed in relationships and even friendships. A useful book for gaining some more insight into relationships.

Why is it so hard to change ourselves?

Because we are always seeking verification of who we are and if that inner perception is negative then we will likely marry and continuely seek out those whose view of us matches the internal ideal. The "good" people who praise us, just don't feel right. It is as if they are delusional and just don't know us!!! Our sense of self is made up of patterns of behavior that we repeat, usually without our even thinking about them. We may marry an alcoholic like dad and divorce him only to find another becuase the initial behavior of that person validates who we think we are. VERY interesting reading as is his SELF-TRAPS which is available used.