--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've read articles by child psychologists…" description: "\"“I've read articles by child psychologists who have identified \"lack of self-esteem\" as the evil at the root of so much bad, even criminal behavior. I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/muffy-mead-ferro-43854_children_i-ve-read-articles-by-child-psychologist_2192157.jpg" --- # I've read articles by child psychologists who have… ![“I've read articles by child psychologists who have identified "lack of self-esteem" as the evil at the root of so much bad, even criminal behavior. I don't know if that's right. But even if it is, I don't believe Belle and Joe will gain self-esteem by constantly being told they're special just for…” quote by Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/muffy-mead-ferro-43854_children_i-ve-read-articles-by-child-psychologist_2192157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/muffy-mead-ferro-43854_children_i-ve-read-articles-by-child-psychologist_2192157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/muffy-mead-ferro-43854_children_i-ve-read-articles-by-child-psychologist_2192157.jpg) > ““I've read articles by child psychologists who have identified "lack of self-esteem" as the evil at the root of so much bad, even criminal behavior. I don't know if that's right. But even if it is, I don't believe Belle and Joe will gain self-esteem by constantly being told they're special just for being there.”” [Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffy-mead-ferro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions that low self‑esteem may be linked to harmful behavior, but merely praising someone without genuine growth may not build true confidence. **In simple terms:** Self‑esteem alone isn’t enough; genuine development matters. Key Takeaway Focus on authentic growth, not empty praise. Themes psychology self‑esteem behavior education Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - counseling - school programs - parenting - rehabilitation - team building Key Concepts self‑worth validation personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster genuine self‑worth? - What practices build lasting confidence? A Different Perspective Empty compliments can foster dependency rather than resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) ## Related quotes > [Perhaps one of the main antidotes to depression, lack of self-esteem, loneliness and so forth is the recognition that we really do have Buddha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/perhaps-one-of-the-main-antidotes-to-depression-lack-of-self-esteem/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [lack of self-esteem is what causes wars because people who really love themselves don't go out and try to fight other people ... It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/lack-of-self-esteem-is-what-causes-wars-because-people-who-really/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“ . . . Because of a lack of self-confidence and an inability to function independently . . .” It may be easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/because-of-a-lack-of-self-confidence-and-an-inability-to-function/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [It's really hard to foster self-love; it really is. I think a lot of people who claim that they do have a definite lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-townsend/it-s-really-hard-to-foster-self-love-it-really-is-i-think-a-lot-of/) [Devin Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-townsend/) > [I realized that there seems to be a general lack of self-love and empathy in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/i-realized-that-there-seems-to-be-a-general-lack-of-self-love-and/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Collecting boys as your habit is sign of lack of self respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/collecting-boys-as-your-habit-is-sign-of-lack-of-self-respect/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) > [“When leaders lack self-awareness, they doubt themselves; uncertain about their abilities; unclear about the direction to take on each turn, and more...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/when-leaders-lack-self-awareness-they-doubt-themselves-uncertain/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) > [Disempowerment - whether defined in terms of a lack of self-confidence , apathy, fear, or an inability to take charge of one's own life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/disempowerment-whether-defined-in-terms-of-a-lack-of-self-confidence/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Men can starve from a lack of self-realization as much as they can from a lack of bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wright/men-can-starve-from-a-lack-of-self-realization-as-much-as-they-can/) [Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wright/) > [We all have tremendous potential, and we all are blessed with gifts. Yet, the one thing that holds all of us back is some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-have-tremendous-potential-and-we-all-are-blessed-with-gifts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm someone who believes that hearts don't beat voluntarily, they need a reason. If you lack self love or love for others you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-m-someone-who-believes-that-hearts-don-t-beat-voluntarily-they-need/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [Anything pursued and attained as a supposed compensation for the lack of self-love is ineffective and can get downright ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-d-jennings/anything-pursued-and-attained-as-a-supposed-compensation-for-the-lack/) Jesse D. Jennings > [Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-azevedo/jealousy-is-the-result-of-one-s-lack-of-self-confidence-self-worth/) [Sasha Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-azevedo/) > [Who lack self-esteem are lost. I was determined never to relinquish my...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-moore/who-lack-self-esteem-are-lost-i-was-determined-never-to-relinquish-my/) [Demi Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-moore/) ## More by Muffy Mead-Ferro > [“Maybe emotional blows are like physical blows. You stand to gain something if you sustain them from time to time. You might build up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffy-mead-ferro/maybe-emotional-blows-are-like-physical-blows-you-stand-to-gain/) [Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffy-mead-ferro/) > [“I wonder if we're giving our children the chance to really perform, if we're giving them and ourselves enough credit, as we pore over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffy-mead-ferro/i-wonder-if-we-re-giving-our-children-the-chance-to-really-perform-if/) [Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffy-mead-ferro/) > [“I ended up choosing her preschool party based on the fact that it was the closest to our house and would cause me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffy-mead-ferro/i-ended-up-choosing-her-preschool-party-based-on-the-fact-that-it-was/) [Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffy-mead-ferro/) > [“I just question the value of isolated math, science and literary skills - especially when they're achieved at the expense of social skills -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffy-mead-ferro/i-just-question-the-value-of-isolated-math-science-and-literary/) [Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffy-mead-ferro/) > [“...I couldn't help wondering what would happen if the little pea-eating angel ever saw that scrapbook...can you imagine what the boy would think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffy-mead-ferro/i-couldn-t-help-wondering-what-would-happen-if-the-little-pea-eating/) [Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffy-mead-ferro/) > [“Maybe, like my parents and grandparents, I can trust myself to be a mom without a reference library to tell me how. 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I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I've read articles by child psychologists who have identified \"lack of self-esteem\" as the evil at the root of so much bad, even criminal behavior. I don't know if that's right. 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