Contrary to conventional wisdom that self-esteem is a function of circumstance or the luck of the draw, I will propose that self-esteem emerges in the course of normal healthy development as a state of worthlessness or low self esteem. Counter-intuitive as this may seem, it serves an adaptive purpose in hunan relations. The problem is not low self-esteem per se, but rather failing low self-esteem. In this short talk I will offer a glimpse into the possible reasons for why and how low self-esteem is universally the preferred psychological state for mankind.

Kevin Solomons: I have worked as a psychiatrist for the past 26 years and am a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. My clinical practice incorporates the principles derived from this approach to the understanding of self-esteem and the things that can and do go awry with it.