Describe the developmental changes in self-esteem that occur over the preschool, elementary, junior high, and high school years

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A good answer will be similar to the following:
Most preschoolers have very positive views of themselves. During the preschool years, self-esteem is at its highest level. During the elementary-school years, self-esteem usually drops somewhat. This drop may be due to the fact that at this age children begin to compare themselves to their peers and discover that other children do some things better than they do. During the late elementary school years, self-esteem usually stabilizes and neither increases nor decreases. When children make the transitions to junior high school and to high school, there is often a drop in self-esteem as children compare themselves to a new peer group. This drop is usually temporary and as children enter middle and late adolescence, self-esteem frequently increases.