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Originally Posted by ginkgo  Actually low self-esteem leads to everything bad. |
Don't get carried away. I agree with the link between addictions and low self esteem - as with the obesity issue there is a logical progression in using food/alcohol or whatever to compensate with feeling crap. There is little to differentiate between very low self esteem and symptoms of depression, so again issues such as suicide risk come into play.
But high self esteem is more likely to lead to criminal behaviour that low. In 2001 the Rowntree Foundation (in the UK) commissioned an extensive review of all available evidence regarding self esteem. The report found that self esteem is not a risk factor for:-
crime (including violent crime), physical risk taking, racial prejudice, child maltreatment
.. but high self esteem might be.
One problem with low self esteem is people over reflect, think too much about what others think. Whilst at the other end of the spectrum its the "non-reflectors" who are more likely to bully, maltreat others.
Having worked in a prison I can add subjectively that my experience supports that Review - I can recall very few individual with low self esteem!