Toward Accountability in the Use of the Self‐Esteem Construct

Self‐esteem is a common target of intervention, and the proliferation of research on self‐esteem attests to the widely held belief of its significance as a personality variable. Despite its popularity, there is limited consistency in the use of its definition, and little evidence suggests that counselors routinely assess levels of self‐esteem. This indicates a lack of attention to accountability in the quality of counselor services. This article provides a step toward accountability by presenting a review of the evolution of self‐esteem as a construct, offering definitions grounded in the professional literature, and discussing a compendium of self‐esteem assessments. Working toward consistency and responsibility in defining and assessing self‐esteem can positively influence effective self‐esteem interventions.