Respect vs. Self-Esteem The parenting book that Jenny and I are working through right now goes to great lengths to promote teaching kids respect for others rather than worrying about self-esteem. High self-esteem, the author argues, produces antisocial behavior, while respect for others produces pro-social behavior, self-respect and confidence. Last night, we were watching Celebrity Apprentice (I know, its trashy), and Donald Trump was describing an occasion where he expected to get an Emmy, and actually stood up as it was being announced...that another show (which he proceeded to decry as junk) had won it. What a great example of what high self-esteem will make a person do! And the best part is, to the day of the filming of that episode, he still didnt realize what an ass he had made of himself! As a point of contrast, I recently saw the video floating around about Josh, the kid whose father had died, and who found himself bullied at school. He responded by holding doors open for the other kids, an act of respect for others that stopped the bullying and launched him into public speaking, his new passion. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 17:46:47 +0000
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