Read each of the following statements; select "like me" if it describes how you usually feel and "unlike me" if it does not describe how you usually feel.

1. I spend a lot of time daydreaming.
2. I'm pretty sure of myself.
3. I often wish I were someone else.
4. I'm easy to like.
5. My family and I have a lot of fun together.
6. I never worry about anything.
7. I find it very hard to talk in front of a group.
8. I wish I were younger.
9. There are lots of things about myself I'd change if I could.
10. I can make up my mind without too much trouble.
11. I'm a lot of fun to be with.
12. I get upset easily at home.
13. I always do the right thing.
14. I'm proud of my work.
15. Someone always has to tell me what to do.
16. It takes me a long time to get used to anything new.
17. I'm often sorry for the things I do.
18. I'm popular with people my own age.
19. My family usually considers my feelings.
20. I'm never happy.
21. I'm doing the best work that I can.
22. I give in very easily.
23. I can usually take care of myself.
24. I'm pretty happy.
25. I would rather associate with people younger than me.
26. My family expects too much of me.
27. I like everyone I know.
28. I like to be called on when I am in a group.
29. I understand myself.
30. It's pretty tough to be me.
31. Things are all mixed up in my life.
32. People usually follow my ideas.
33. No one pays much attention to me at home.
34. I never get scolded.
35. I'm not doing as well at work as I'd like to.
36. I can make up my mind and stick to it.
37. I really don't like being a man/woman.
38. I have a low opinion of myself.
39. I don't like to be with other people.
40. There are many times when I'd like to leave home.
41. I'm never shy.
42. I often feel upset.
43. I often feel ashamed of myself.
44. I'm not as nice-looking as most people.
45. If I have something to say, I usually say it.
46. People pick on me very often.
47. My family understands me.
48. I always tell the truth.
49. My employer or supervisor makes me feel I'm not good enough.
50. I don't care what happens to me.
51. I'm a failure.
52. I get upset easily when I am scolded.
53. Most people are better liked than I am.
54. I usually feel as if my family is pushing me.
55. I always know what to say to people.
56. I often get discouraged.
57. Things usually don't bother me.
58. I can't be depended on.

Your Score

Gender:    Female    Male

Rating:

Scoring

The test has a built-in "lie scale" to help determine if you are trying too hard to appear to have high self-esteem. If you answered "like me" to three or more of the following items, retake the test with an eye toward being more realistic in your responses: 1, 6, 13, 20, 27, 34, 41, 48.

To determine how your level of self-esteem compares to that of others, find the value closest to your score in the table.

Men Women  
33 32 Significantly below average
36 35 Somewhat below average
40 39 Average
44 43 Somewhat above average
47 46 Significantly above average

INTERNET ACTIVITY
Use the Internet to find out more about how to cope with challenges to emotional and psychological wellness; examples include achieving healthy self-esteem, developing an adult identity, dealing with anger or loneliness, maintaining honest and assertive communication, and developing realistic self-talk. Choose one such challenge that is important in your life, and find strategies for successful coping or further development. Use one of the sites listed below or do a search.
American Psychological Association HelpCenter: http://helping.apa.org/
Go Ask Alice: http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/
Student Counseling Virtual Pamphlet Collection: http://counseling.uchicago.edu/vpc/
Topic chosen:


Site(s) visited


Coping strategies identified (list at least three):
Source: Ryden, M. B. 1978. An adult version of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory: Test-retest reliability and social desirability. Psychological Reports 43:1189-1190. Copyright © 1978 Muriel Ryden. Reproduced with permission of the author. Used by permission. (Dr. Ryden's scale is a version of a scale developed by Dr. Stanley Coopersmith to measure self-esteem in children. Dr. Ryden's version is modified to be used with adults.)