Self –Esteem and Adjustment: Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness and Visual Impairment
Based on
Self-Esteem and Adjusting to Blindness
By Dean and Naomi Tuttle
Blindness
•Blindness physiological and psychosocial
•Physical –
–Etiology
–Diagnosis
–Prescription
–Prognosis
Blindness - continued
Psychosocial – 3 parts
•Individual Needs and Desires
•Physical and Social Environment
•Common Conceptions of Blindness
There is no unique psychology of blindness and no special personality attributed to
individuals who are blind
Sociological Implications
“ The quality and characteristics of the social interaction between a blind and a sighted
person are determined by the capacities and attitudes of each”
Sociological GENERALITIES
Tendencies – not absolutes- persons with the condition of blindness may be
•Immature and Egocentric- for longer periods
•Isolated and Withdrawn
•Passive and Dependent
•Inadequate Social Role Models
•Deal with predominately negative attitudes toward blindness
Demands of Life
Keys to meeting life’s demands
•Self- Esteem
•Competence -Can be measured by
–Comparing oneself with others – social comparison-can be positive or negative
•Outcome based – Positive
•Process bases - Negative
–Comparing with your own past performance
–Using separate standard solely based on the basis of visual impairment
Influences on Self-Esteem
Needs are universal
•Food and Shelter
•Love and Belonging
•Responsibility and Productivity
•Self Acceptance and Self-Esteem
Each impact an individual’s self esteem and self concept
Self Esteem
Is defined as..
•A person’s sense of value and self worth
•Sense of competency and adequacy
•Sense of self satisfaction
Self Esteem Interrelationships – It is a cycle
Attitudes of others
impacts
Behavior (of others)
impacts
Self Concepts (of the individual)
impacts
Behavior and or performance (of individual w/ VI)
Which then cycles back and impacts attitudes of others
More Interrelationships
Attitudes of others
impacts
Behavior (of others)
impacts
Self Concepts (of the individual)
impacts
Behavior (of individual w/ VI)
Behavior not only cycles back and impacts attitudes of others but also impacts self
concept forming a smaller more intense cycle
Blindness and Challenges to Self Esteem
Self esteem is effected by the extent there is lack or loss of…
•Independence in personal management
•Travel
•Reading and writing
•Vocational opportunities
•Recreation
The impacts of these issues can be temporary or long lasting
Blindness and Challenges to Self Esteem
Persons with Adventitious Visual Impairment may…
•Have feelings of helplessness & dependence UNTIL….
•Be impacted by minimal expectations and attitudes
Blindness and Challenges to Self Esteem
Persons with Congenital Visual Impairment may…
•Have had to deal with devastating and derogatory reactions in social environment
•Have had negative childhood experiences with long lasting effects
These issues can and do get resolved
Adjustment
Involves…
•Cognition – awareness and knowledge of coping; knowledge and thought
•Action – behaviors and skills of coping; planning and remediation
•Affect – feelings and attitudes of coping; thoughts and feelings
The Adjusting Process
•Trauma – physical or social
•Shock and Denial
•Mourning and Withdrawal
•Succumbing and Depression
•Reassessment and Reaffirmation
•Coping and Mobilization
•Self-Acceptance and Self-Esteem
Trauma
This it event that causes the need for adjustment
•For the individual with congenital blindness it may be the awareness of being different
or awareness of being blind
•For the individual with adventitious blindness it may be the event
•For both it may be from having to deal with social stigmas and attitudes
Shock and Denial
•Feelings of
–Unreality
–Detachment
–Disbelief
•Avoidance
–Denying the existence of the trauma
Mourning and Withdrawal
•Grieving over the global loss of vision
•Mourning over being different
•Self-pity
–Withdrawing from family and friends
–A very lonely time
Succumbing and Depression
•Focusing on and analyzing, one by one, each perceived loss
–Real or imagined losses
–Temporary or not
–This is the “I can’t” or “I will never be able to” phase
•Feelings of doubt are common but unchecked this can lead to severe depression
Reassessment and Reaffirmation
•Re-evaluating the meaning of life and the purpose for living
•May involve reassessment and or revision of
–Values
–Goals
•Result is a reaffirmation of one’s self and one’s life
Coping and Mobilization
•Desire drives actions
•Development of strategies
•Development of coping skills
•Coping with realities of the condition of blindness
Self-Acceptance and Self-Esteem
•Esteem as a person with dignity and worth
•Personal view as an individual with many characteristics – one of which is blindness
•Being comfortable with themselves