Abstract
This chapter deals with selected psychological theories of self and self-esteem, exploring the origin and development of self-esteem in relation to Korean women’s interview narratives. Drawing mainly from the relational psychoanalytic theories of Winnicott and Kohut, the author articulates how one’s self-esteem is formed and cultivated in relational interactions with others. Pushing relational psychological perspectives further, she then explores the feminist relational-cultural approach, which emphasizes the importance of gender and culture in personal formation as well as in theory construction. In growth-enhancing relationships, people take mutual responsibility for relationships and provide the means for each other’s development. This view that mutuality fosters self-esteem gives a crucial insight for understanding the core of Korean women’s struggle.
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Chung, J.L. (2017). Self-Esteem as a Relational Psychological Construct. In: Korean Women, Self-Esteem, and Practical Theology. Asian Christianity in the Diaspora. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69508-2_4
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