The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was designed by Dr. Morris Rosenberg to measure self esteem in social science research.
It was similar to the social survey questionnaires and consists of ten Likert-type scale items. A Likert-type scale is a scale of psychometric importance that is used in questionnaires and widely accepted in survey research. The Likert-type scale captures the intensity of the respondent’s feelings toward a series of questions.
The items in the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale are answered using a 4-point scale response system: from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The five questions in the Rosenberg Scale are positively worded while the other five are negatively worded. Respondents of the scale are asked on their current feelings regarding items on the questionnaires.
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was originally administered to 5,024 juniors and seniors in high school from 10 randomly selected schools in New York in the United States of America.
Rosenberg’s work is now being considered as valid and reliable quantitative tool for the assessment of self-esteem.
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale has been adapted and translated in different languages such as French, Persian, Italian, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese and widely used in cross-cultural studies in more than 53 countries.
Nathaniel Branden defined self esteem as an experience of being able to cope with the fundamental demands of life and being capable of happiness. It includes self confidence and self respect. There are three levels of self-esteem: low self esteem, middle ground self esteem and high self esteem. To have a low level self esteem is to have a feeling of not being ready to face life challenges or of being wrong as an individual. To have high self esteem is to have a feeling of being worthy or able, or of being right as an individual. To have middle ground self esteem is to feel useless and able, to feel wrong and right as an individual, and to show these discrepancies in behavior.
Positive self esteem often involves firm belief in principles and values;
ability to act accordingly and trusting their own judgment; not worrying excessively; fully trusting in their capabilities to solve their own problems; considering themselves equal to others; resisting manipulation; and ability to enjoy various activities.
Low esteem often involve defensive tendencies; floating hostility; neurotic guilt; perfectionism; excessive will to please; chronic indecision; hypersensitivity to criticism; and heavy self-criticism.
Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of needs included two forms of self esteem: the need for self respect and the need for respect from others. Without the self esteem need being fulfilled, people will not be able to grow and achieve self-actualization.
The Sociometer theory, on the other hand, believes that self esteem evolved because there was a need to check one’s status level and acceptance in his/her social group. In terror management theory, self esteem functions as self protector and lessens anxiety about life and death.
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is an important evaluation medium for social scientists to find out about an individual’s self esteem current level so that steps can be drawn to improve on them.