The commonly endorsed assumption is that people need to feel good about themselves (Brown, 1998 as cited in Heine et al., 1999) and seek to enhance and maintain their positive self-view (Pyszczynski et al., 2004). Self-esteem is “a good opinion of oneself (The Oxford Compact English Dictionary, 1996) where ‘good feelings’ are craved over ‘bad’ (Brown, 1993 as cited in Leary et al., 1995). High self-esteem feels good, whereas low self-esteem does not (Scheff, Retzinger, & Ryan, 1989 as cited in Leary et al.,1995).

This article looks to provide an insight into the plethora of research literature, measures and definitions available in the field of self-esteem. Its origins, from both a theoretical and contemporary perspective, are assessed before reviewing the three significant hypothesises battling for centre ground in the debate over self-esteem’s actual function; Self-Determination Theory, Sociometer Theory and Terror Management Theory. Self-esteem as a social construct and the possible significance of resulting contingent domains provide the basis for the discussion on value.