The Cult of Self (Part Two)
How often have you been told that you are special and unique? In today’s society, we are constantly bombarded with messages that emphasize the importance of self-esteem and self-worth. But what if the central claim underlying this emphasis is built on a falsehood? Join me in this episode as I explore the global impact of the self-esteem movement and delve into the implications of our self-centered culture on society.
Get comfortable and listen in as I explore the global impact of the self-esteem movement, how it spawned a $10-billion industry and brought about massive policy and legislative changes, and how it was all built on a falsehood. I also explore how the societally promoted emphasis on the self and the self-centered culture has led to an implicit notion of our specialness and an increase in narcissism, and analyze the broader implications of this cultural phenomenon for society.
And as with everything I share on the podcast, this is what I believe based on what I’ve read and researched. But please don’t take my word for it. Keep what sticks, discard the rest and for goodness sakes, go out and test drive it!
What You’ll Learn In Today’s Episode:
How the Human Potential movement in the 20th century marked a peak in self-focus.
Why there are concerns about the monetization and potential cult-like aspects of the personal transformation industry.
How there is a high level of self-focus in Western society.
How the focus on self has an impact on our cultural ecosystems.
How the self-esteem movement has impacted policy and legislation.
Why we should be concerned about the current framework of social contracts.
What Was Mentioned:
Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It’s Doing to Us by Will Storr
The Education of Selves: How Psychology Transformed Students by Jack Martin and Anne-Marie McLellan
How the Self-Esteem Craze Took Over America And why the hype was irresistible by Jesse Singal
Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless by Steve Salerno
Hearts And Minds: Self-Esteem And The Schooling Of Girls by Jane Kenway and Sue Willis
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“We live in an incredibly fascinating time in history to explore what our self-focus actually means in our day to day experience.” – Christina Sestan
“Choices in and of themselves aren’t necessarily a bad thing – I’m just pointing out that they seem to arise from our demands and expectations.” – Christina Sestan
“Everywhere I look, I’m offered a customized pathway to accommodate my unique set of needs in just about any situation I find myself in.” – Christina Sestan
“Too much unmitigated self-focus definitely has the potential to lead to harmful outcomes.” – Christine Sestan
“When so many of our social contracts are coming under fire, it seems especially critical to learn how to have a conversation that includes some divergent thinking.” – Christina Sestan
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