Role of self-esteem in improving the resilience of delinquent youth

The specialty literature shows that low self-esteem would be the origin of many behavioral problems including substance abuse and other deviant behaviors. The paradox is the fact that a very high self-esteem but also a very low self-esteem affects negatively the psychological functioning of the individual and can lead to maladaptive behavior. This paper proposes an approach of theoretical issues, in the first place, and the research methodology clarification of the aspects mentioned above. Subjects considered in this research are part of the juvenile delinquents in the Reeducation Centre Buzias. The psychological tests selected for the present research are summarized in SEC (Clinical Evaluation System) and were chosen starting from the psychodiagnosis paradigma and the scientifically validated clinical evaluations: The child and adolescent scale of irrationality CASI, Questionnaire of unconditional acceptance of oneself USAQ, Scale of irrational beliefs for children CSRB, form B and C, Self esteem scale SS. Self-esteem can influence resilience in terms of increasing or decreasing risk and protective factors.