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The Case For People With Low Self Esteem Essay

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Introduction Given that people derive great satisfaction from interpersonal bonds and experience devastation when intimate relationships end, it may be hard to understand why some people voluntarily withdraw from relationships when things appear to be going well (Mearns, 1991). Research has shown that this is the case for people with low self-esteem (LSE) (Murray, MacDonald, & Ellsworth, 1998). Partly stemming from their overwhelming craving for love and acceptance, they are vigilant for signs of rejection (Lamarche & Murray, 2014). Further, after they perceive an interpersonal threat, they adopt self-distancing in order to protect themselves (Murray et al., 1998; Baumeister, Tice, & Hutton, 1989). Ironically, their protective behaviors might eventually bring about the demise of the relationships that they very much fear (Gaucher et al., 2012). Indeed, research has shown that people with LSE experience lower relationship satisfaction in both dating and marital contexts (Sciangula & Morry, 2009; Sacco & Phares, 2001). Since relationship satisfaction is intertwined with one’s well-being, it is imperative to look for ways that counteract the negative effects of LSE (Demirta & Tezer, 2012). In this paper, I propose mindfulness as a protective factor. As it enables a heightened awareness of the present in a non-judgmental way, mindfulness allows people to break free from the shackles of their automatic cognitive patterns (Langer, 2009). Rather than relying on the implicit

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