Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Self-help books can hurt, new Canadian study says
OTTAWA -- So maybe you've been reading all the self-esteem books, chanting the magic phases meant to bolster your self-image -- and you still feel lousy.
You're not alone. So-called self-help books may only help the people who need them least, such as those with high self-esteem, and can be destructive for those who really need help, according to a new study by Canadian experts published Thursday in Psychological Science.
Standing in front of the mirror chanting phrases meant to "empower" yourself -- like the one famously satirized in a Saturday Night Live spoof featuring fictional guru Stuart Smalley: "I'm good enough; I'm strong enough; and, gosh darn it, people like me!" -- can have a negative effect on those with low self-esteem, ironically the very people who tend to buy the self-help books in the first place, experts say.
In their study, psychologists Joanne Wood and John Lee from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, and Elaine Perunovic from the University of New Brunswick, found that individuals with low self-esteem actually felt worse about themselves after repeating positive self-statements such as "I am a lovable person" or "I will succeed," typically found in many self-help books.
During the study, researchers asked a total of 68 participants to repeat the self-help book phrase, "I am a lovable person."
The individuals with low self-esteem reported feeling worse after repeating the positive self-statement than did another low self-esteem group who did not repeat the self-statement, the study found. The participants with high self-esteem felt better after repeating the positive self-statement -- but only slightly.
They found that, paradoxically, low-self-esteem participants' moods fared better when they were allowed to have negative thoughts than when they were asked to focus exclusively on affirmative thoughts.
"One possibility is that, like overly positive praise, unreasonably positive self-statements... can elicit contradictory thoughts," the authors wrote.
-- Canwest News Service
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 3, 2009 A19
- Rate this

-
-
We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.
You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.
Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.
The comment period for this story has ended.
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
-
Flood Watch 2010
News and information about flooding in the Red River Valley.
-
CON >< CUSSIONS
Examining hockey head injuries
-
Random Acts of Kindness
Your encounters with goodness
-
Open Secrets
Red River students mine government data banks
-
Miss Lonelyhearts
Maureen Scurfield offers life advice
Poll
Most Popular
- Should the province spend $3.1 million to keep Greyhound inter-city bus service in Manitoba?
- Winnipeg Sun editor charged with child pornography
- Lotto 649 $41 million jackpot split in half as two winners emerge
- Burning question over dead wood
- 16-year-old boy charged with making racial comment over intercom at southern US Walmart
- Aruba to review underwater picture that tourist believes might be remains of missing US teen
- Porn actress Joslyn James releases sexually graphic messages she says came from Tiger Woods
- Arrest warrant issued for 'Laughing Girl'
- Move, then be quiet about cash
- Stranded truckers resume slow trek south on winter roads
- She's not laughing anymore
- Winnipeg Sun editor charged with child pornography
- Mild again, but enjoy it while it lasts
- Freedom for Li expected
- Crusader up for Nobel Prize
- Gesturing rudely at OPP while in possession of stolen goods: not a good idea
- Man shot after chasing car thieves
- Grand Forks declares flood emergency
- Arrest warrant issued for 'Laughing Girl'
- Ile des Chenes couple wins St. B Hospital lottery
- Crusader up for Nobel Prize
- Olympic-sized hypocrisy
- Teacher's lapdance caught on tape, watched by world
- Students could be punished
- Second video of lap dance uncovered
- Not wrong, just illegal
- Mr. Matas a worthy nominee
- She's not laughing anymore
- What should happen to two teachers who performed a sexually suggestive dance routine in front of students?
- Oprah's on, and so is our Jon!
- Don't seek mom's approval when you're making plans
- Pope orders Vatican probe into Irish church, blasts bishops, takes no Vatican blame for abuse
- Burning question over dead wood
- Northern towns breathe easier
- Beefed-up kindergarten shelved
- Zellers to move into Bay basement
- Manitoba considers options for huge H1N1 vaccine surplus
- Budget slashing will create problems, MGEU warns
- Judge bans camera from Sinclair inquest
- 16-year-old boy charged with making racial comment over intercom at southern US Walmart
- She's not laughing anymore
- Freedom for Li expected
- Man shot after chasing car thieves
- City may open diamond lanes to more users
- He can escape her verbal abuse
- Gesturing rudely at OPP while in possession of stolen goods: not a good idea
- Play nice in your neighbour's dust
- Liberals say cutting MP mailings would save $10 million a year
- 'Smoking gun' misfires, gangster acquitted
- Eagles, Dixie Chicks to play stadium in June
- Teacher's lapdance caught on tape, watched by world
- She's not laughing anymore
- Students could be punished
- Police shoot and kill suspect
- Freedom for Li expected
- Second video of lap dance uncovered
- Wielding a weapon costs a life
- Mounties hook ice-fishers for open beer
- Canadian women's hockey team stunned by reaction to post-gold party
- Tough to fire lap-dancing teachers: division
- Zellers to move into Bay basement
- Price soldiers on despite woes for manufacturing industry
- Raiders, Trojans No. 1
- Rice of the Prairies gets raves
- Derry to be different
- Manage yourself: Plan own career, using sound advice
- Two solitudes, two languages, East vs West: Sound familiar?
- Province's credit unions oblivious to downturn
- With celebration cigars ready, Fargo calmly waits for river to crest and flood threat to pass
- RESORT OPTION 5: Barceló La Jolla de Mismaloya
- Eagles, Dixie Chicks to play stadium in June
- Condos at ex-Penthouse
- Grand Forks declares flood emergency
- Man shot after chasing car thieves
- It's the Sharks vs. the Jets in a jazzy rumble
- Is jet a trophy or just bad PR?
- Career Compass helps staff chart career paths
- Police probe travel agent over fare flap
- Ice-cutting machine to stay submerged until spring
- Prairie proliferation
- Text of Shane Koyczan's opening ceremonies poem, "We Are More"
- Teacher's lapdance caught on tape, watched by world
- Olympic-sized hypocrisy
- Cabela's to open across Canada
- Oprah's on, and so is our Jon!
- Online drug pioneer tumbles
- Mounties hook ice-fishers for open beer
- Not wrong, just illegal
- No listings for buyers flooding the housing market
- Second video of lap dance uncovered
PREVIOUS

2 Comments
Posted by: Senior Lady
July 3, 2009 at 10:58 AM
I agree with Tiffany!
I know one lady who could be quite agressive and assertive, but on the other hand could be quite timid.
At her new job, she had to attend some "seminar" on something like being assertive and firm.
Well, didn't she become overly assertive which completely affected her already shaky personality, which in turn affected her realtionships with family members, friends, aquaintances etc.
Posted by: dyachison
July 3, 2009 at 10:24 AM
You got to be kidding me. Saying I am a idiot will make them feel better? I am not so sure I would agree. Does not make sense to me.