Heejin Kwon

2/27/17
Transcribed Interview #1

HK: If you would rate the importance of self-concept of students, the self-esteem 1 - 5, 5 as most
important, how would you rate it? And the reason?

CD: So, students self-esteem is important in school academically, because student without self-
esteem would be more likely to take academic risk to push themselves little harder and they
would be able to deal with any kind of set backs a little bit better because they will use mistakes
as opportunities to learn as opposed to feeling defeated by those when those things happen
because those are part of everyones experiences and life all the time. So um, self-esteem um,
also plays into how resilient a student might be so when things arent going their way to be able
to bounce back, um, all those self-concept is really good to help student deal with day to day, ups
and downs.

HK: So, the self-esteem and self-concept affecting a big,

CD:.Yeah your global and your functioning in the world. At school, for academically with peers,
how you deal with ups and downs in the relationships that you have, and at home as well, with
families where things can be very complicated relationships with, within families, and so when
things arent going well, to be able to use communication and to be able to use communication
and um, to be able to talk things through. When you have low self-esteem, you tend to think that
the problems are all your fault. So I think youre less likely to advocate for yourself for
communicate and try to figure out where the problems are.

HK: The low self-esteem makes myself to think that I am the cause of the problems, (CD: Could
be) So does it affect the communication? (CD: Yes.) Is it possible that they assume that they are
not going to like me, so I cannot talk to them. (CD: Right, right.)

CD: They automatically assume that they are not worth being liked because you have to like
yourself before others will. We always tell students about um, making friends is that you have to
like yourself and put out a positive, you know, I guess the positive, vibe in order for others to
want to come in, and, and engage with you. So self-esteem is important in every aspect of your
life.

HK:What can negative self-concept (such as low self-esteem) cause? What are the frequent
symptoms?

CD: Well, thats really, thats really, I dont have data. But I can tell there are a lot of students
within high schools who suffer from depression and anxiety and I think low self-esteem is part of
whats going out with them. So um, a lot of times when Im working with students who are
feeling depressed, um, that can at least be an issue the self-esteem and also for anxious kid who
are worried about, you know, whatever they do is not going to be good enough you often times
see that playing into anxiety.
HK: Are they willing to share their depression and anxiety?

CD: Yeah. I have had a lot of experience with a middle school before I worked in high school. I
think students are aware that they are suffering, but they cant always express they dont have
always insight to express how that is affecting them and what is going on with them. And I find
that high school students are a lot more verbal and a lot more tuned in with their own feelings
that are not able to kind of, to come up with whats going on with them and be willing to talk
about it, be willing to think about strategies that might help them, try the strategies and maybe
come back to share about how it went, and continue to brainstorm things that will help them. So I
think thats a really good age, teenagers are really good age when talking through these
problems.

HK: As a sharing problems, If a person is experiencing low self-esteem, then since they assume
that they are the problem, maybe they are not going to share?

CD: I think if they are feeling bad, I think that you have to develop that relationship first. So, a
lot of times when Im meeting with students, the first few times is really just getting to know
them and getting them to feel comfortable. Um, obviously the first time Im meeting a student, I
am a complete stranger to them. So you know, that I understand that it takes a while to get them
to feel like they are in a place where they can trust, but Ill tell you a lot of times kids come in,
and they are so upset and they are you know, not doing well, they just open up and start.
Sometimes it doesnt take a lot and you will get a student to start talking right away and start,
you know, express whats going with them.

HK: How do experiencing the traumatic events in childhood affect individuals self-concept
specifically?

CD: Um, since Im not trained in childhood trauma, if a student is telling me about an event that
is causing them to have feelings of, you know, depression or whatever it might be, I call parent
and I make sure that they have referrers to therapist who works specifically with kids who
experience trauma.

HK: Thank you, Is it possible that low self-esteem affect or show relationship to the avoidant
behavior, depression, distrust in their emotions, and relationship issues?

CD: Can it affect those things? Yeah. I think it can affect pretty much everything that goes on in
your life. And, what you were saying, now I remember that what I didnt say before. You were
talking about students opening up, about whats going on with them, and sharing when they have
low self-esteem. Um, there is something that you can probably look more into thats called
cognitive therapy. And this is really when students have ideas about themselves or about the
world that are really faced on, bad information. They are not really based on real facts. Using
cognitive behavioral therapy with students helps them to see how their mind automatically goes
to negative things when they are thinking about things that may not really be the case, there are
maybe good things out there, but their perceptions are coloring everything in a negative way, and
when we use cognitive behavioral therapy, it helps the person try to reframe how they are
looking at the world which really can change how they feels.
HK: They are thinking negatively because of bad information?

CD: Yes, Its all coming from themselves though. If you have low self-esteem and you think you
are always the problem, then any situations that comes up, you can say, you know I really
deserve that person to be mean to you. But thats based on bad information because they are a
worthwhile person, so trying to help them see things from a different perspective. Its basically
what it is, can help change how they feel but thats a long, its a long process because the way
that they are viewing the world has occurred over many years. So changing something takes
time. Changing how they view the world, and perceptions on things going on around them takes
time.

HK: Is it possible to have bad information from the bad models that are built up from the
maltreatment from the childhood (childhood trauma)?

CD: Yeah. that makes sense.

HK: Do teenagers reveal their suffer as patients? Are they honest? If not, why?

CD: Yeah. I find that to be happen quite a bit.

HK: What is the definition of the self-concept to professionals and teenagers?

CD: Well, maybe I could, you know, look at some documents that to see if there is more formal
definition.

HK: How would experience of childhood trauma affect the definition of the individuals? How
would they think differently?

CD: I dont know how that would be tied to childhood trauma. But self-concept and self-esteem
are not diagnostic categories. They are just terms to describe how a person views themselves. So
you know that they are diagnosis of major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder but there is not
a diagnosis that says low self-esteem. Thats just a quality that could be part of someones
personality that they have. They dont feel positively about themselves.

HK: Thank you. Thank you so much for the interview today.

Reflection- I conducted an interview with a psychologist at the Howard High. Her name is
Christina Deforge and she provides a psychological service to the Howard High Students with
the profound knowledge and various resources of the self-esteem. The interviewee was willing to
share additional information and sources during and after the interview, and it was very helpful.
It was conducted through face-to-face interview, so it allowed me to absorb more ideas and have
some follow-up questions. As I was already settled with the interview questions, the fast
acceptance facilitated the process of the interview. However, it was difficult as soon as I noticed
that some interview questions were vague. After the conversation, I decided to change my
questions more specifically which would make interview more convenient.

Heejin Kwon
3/26/17
Transcribed Interview #2

HK: So my first question is, if you would rate the importance of self-concept of the teenager (not
necessarily only the students), the self-esteem 1 - 5, 5 as most important, how would you rate it?
And what is the reason?

ML: I would say 4. So in another word, very high. Um, because teenagers self-esteem is um
help them to make decisions, that make them feel good for them versus or others. So they dont
have good self-esteem and they are going to be a follower versus a leader.

HK: So I was curious about how does the self-esteem affect academically and maybe non-
academically too?

ML: Chemically? So, how does, what do you mean how does it affect chemically?

HK: No, academically. sorry.

ML: Oh academically. So how does self esteem affect academically?

HK: And also not academically. For example, students may feel like if they have low self esteem
or bad concept they may not be able to achieve their goals, so I was curious about how does it
affect academically and maybe not academically too.

ML: So, well, if a teenager doesnt have um good self concept or self esteem, then they wont get
a put force the effort that will allow them to progress because that thing wont matter. You know
I mean like, so, they dont feel good about themselves, they dont have the internal drive to what
to achieve more which than how they do, how they deal with studying goals.

HK: So the self-esteem is if they have bad self-concept, its really affecting the whole progress?

ML: Yeah.

HK: Okay. And, what can negative self-concept such as low self-esteem cause and what are the
frequent symptoms?

ML: What are the symptoms of that? Um, well, they become depressed, withdrawn, they can try
to hurt themselves, you know, not having their need to take care of high gene and eating healthy,
and things like that. They start to neglect themselves

HK: So the whole self concept is affecting the persons whole life like in eating in their behavior,
so hurting themselves can be affected by their low esteem?
ML: Absolutely.

HK: To the connection to the childhood trauma, because according to study, how do experiencing
the traumatic events in childhood affect individuals self-concept specifically?

ML: Well, childhood experience, trauma as a child, then, they are going to not trust. They are not
going to trust, like caretaker and people. And, so, as they get older, further to reach out, for help,
and for guidance, so they will be more withdrawn. So trauma, early childhood, that kind of goes
along with persistency of self as well. Because they feel like that Their world does not feel safe
to them. Which the it affects all the things you mentioned. Like how they work academically, are
with daily functioning, and all that. So, when the trauma experience, trauma when they are
younger, its gonna affect how they perceive their world as they get older, you know, in therapy.

HK: So, are they becoming more isolated with the low self-esteem?

ML: Yes. They isolate themselves um, because they dont trust others.

ML: And Thats why the therapy um, very important for children who experienced trauma to
help them develop better sense of self, or self-confidence, and the better view of world, so they
can be in the relationship with other people, and um, set goals.

HK: How does the therapy allows the development of the self-concept and goals?

ML: So, which often used is something called, Cognitive behavioral therapy, which is basically
helping them to relearn how to interact in their world. And, its like teaching them how life, I
mean teaching them what the world is really like, and not just their world from their experience
from their younger. So they are basically relearning how to be in the relationship with other
people, and, un, you know, feeling safe, you know, kind of giving them back their sense of self.

HK: So they are learning that the actual world is not the world they know from past, so they are
relearning its safe world.

ML: Right. Its like learning that the world can be safe for them. You know, teaching them, you
know, there is good, they are, they are able to influence their life. But not just based on, how
others influence their life.

HK: So the therapy allows the patients to be more comfortable with their life and people around
them?

ML: Yes, yes.

HK: Moving on. Is it possible that low self-esteem affect or reveal impact to the avoidant
behavior, depression, distrust in their emotions, and relationship issues?

ML: Absolutely.
HK: How can poor self-concept affect the symptoms?

ML: So, um, well, if they have poor self concept, then they kind of get stuck in these symptoms.
They dont be away, getting beyond this. There is nothing that motivates them to, you know, as
isolation goes, to reach out to others or to try things that might seem hard or new, different than,
you know, new experience. If you have poor self-concept is hard to do their work of getting out
of that. Because you dont, you just dont have a drive and motivation.

HK: So are they limiting from other factors that can change themselves.

ML: Yes.

HK: Do teenagers reveal their suffer as patients? Are they honest? If not, why?

ML: Right. So, in order for teenager to be honest, there have to be a relationship established.
Thats their first step toward processing that. It is at the beginning of therapy with the teenager
whos experiencing trauma. Its very difficult to get them, you dont want to dive right into hard
stuff because you have to establish the relationship first. Initially, they will not be honest because
they wont trust initially. But as the relationship develops, and child starts to feel a firm with
depressional with trust, then, they come out, a little bit easier. Especially, when they see that they
are not getting trouble, or um, its a way of healing and moving forward. Once that start to
develop, thats when they are able to set small goals, try to reach small goals, then they can see
they can make the goals, and be successful. And then, they will get better and better.

HK: Relationship is giving their motivation and trust?

ML: Yes.

HK: Are they more hiding or opening their emotions?

ML: Some, some do especially if they really need attention. If they are not getting attention from
their caretakers, then teenagers will, will, you know, you know, will speak the truth and pour off
from the heart you know, right away. But, I would say, Although, its important to establish
relationship first.

HK: How does the self-esteem affect the patients recovery?

ML: Um, well, they have to. Recovery comes with them having a healthier understanding of how
they think, how they operate. As that get better, then, um, they are able to work toward their
goals and things like that.

HK: Is self-esteem a big factor for the treatment? How?

ML: Absolutely. If they dont know self-concept, they may not feel like the treatment makes the
difference.
ML: Teenagers are probably the hardest population to work with because there are so many
factors that influence. They are caught between dependence and independence. You know, they
want to be independent, but they cant be yet, because they are not able to. If they dont have a
lot of self-esteem or self concept, then its hard for them to start become more independent. They
stay dependent. But, they are dependent on to people they dont trust. So, its hard for them to
grow. To answer your questions, yes, its very important to know self-concept and improve in
order to treatment.

HK: So, they are dependent on people they dont trust?

ML: So, they are dependent on people that are, having their meet their need. Those people, like
parents, for example, and those people, they may not trust, dont feel like that they protected
them. So, they need them, but they dont want them. And thats when they start to reaching out to
other friends or groups that are not always beneficial to them. Which is why once they get into
therapy, when they get to therapy, relationship they have with the people that they may not trust
that well that might not protect them. You know, then, therapy can help that relationship heal.
And start to learn trust, and then, it will get them to be confident to have more independence.

HK: Which group is mostly impacted by childhood trauma and self-esteem?

ML: Well, I would say earlier person (childhood), the more impact on their future and their
success. So, If you have someone who never really worked through their own trauma, with
professional, then they will often end up in homeless, in jail, or making poor choices. Um, but if
you have treatment early, I would say it impacts people, you know, sooner you can reach them,
the bigger impact they are going to have. Because if you dont, as they get older, the problem
gets bigger. Its harder from them to heal. A lot of treatment that happen when um, a child
experience childhood trauma, and say a teenager comes in for a treatment, part of what is done in
treatment, is to go back in their age when they had trauma and help them heal. And, and develop
emotionally in a healthier way than they did, to have treatment. Its like going back to have a
good touch, hug, and take care of them, you know, because the trauma is very hard to allow
people in, You know, they keep people in a distance because they dont trust them. The sooner
somebody is in treatment, the more impact they are going to have in the future. If you wait until
they are older, then they are, its harder to go back. And a lot of problem get bigger, as you get
older.

HK: So it depends on when they are getting traumatic events and when they are getting
treatments?

ML: Yes.

HK: I see. Thank you Thank you so much for today. Have a great day

ML: Have a great day. I was glad to help you out.

Reflection- I conducted an interview with a licensed clinical social worker. Her name is Marcie
Lovell and she provides a psychological service such as clinical counseling to the individuals,
families, and children. As a social worker, the interviewee highlighted the establishment of trust
between the caretaker or supporter and the patients. Even though the two interviewees had
different perspective and job environment, the answers of the interview #2 confirmed my
question with the similar answers of interviewee #1. It was very helpful to have more than one
perspective. The interviewees words speed was easy to follow, but it was difficult to conduct
one through the phone call because the connection was not stable. Also, my questions seemed
little vague for the interview, so I decided to revise the questions more specifically.

Heejin Kwon
5/4/17
Transcribed Interview #3

HK: If you would rate the importance of self-concept of students, the self-esteem 1 - 5, 5 as most
important, how would you rate it? And the reason?

KW: Um, I think I would rate it probably at a 4 or 5, um, because um, the years, the teenage
years are really important in shaping the decisions that would we made, that affects the future.
Um, So, If the decisions are made based on sort of, a certain level of established self-confidence,
um, which is related to self-esteem, than the probably better decisions are made overall for that
individuals and that also affects individuals friends, family, etc.

HK: You said 4 or 5, what would be the reason if its 4?

KW: Um, I mean, I think, I mean ideally, I guess its a 5. But, I dont think its really ever there. I
mean, It always sort of waivers at especially in that time of life. Um, so I think thats kind of
unachievable.

HK: Depending on how a person really is?

KW: Yes, I dont, I dont think it is really achievable to be a 5. I think probably 4 is the on the
high end. Um, I think most teenagers are probably at like a 3, Maybe even at a 2.

HK: The reality is lower.

KW: Yes.

HK: What can negative self-concept (such as low self-esteem) cause? What are the frequent
symptoms?

KW: Um, well I think for, um, I think its particularly difficult for females um, because there are
a lot of societal pressure for them to act a certain way, be a certain way, play a certain role, um,
and it can lead to, obviously, psychological disorders, um, depression, um, anxiety, um, eating
disorders, um, and then the idea that, um kids, um have trouble maybe at some level feeling like
they fit in? With everyone else? And um, so that also causes kids to struggle with um, being able
to make friends confidently, also to like trying new things? With confidence? Just an idea like..
Um, Self-efficacy. The ability to think: Yes I will be able to do something, that I never tried
before. But I will be able to successfully sort of do it. So when you dont have that base, um,
then you are not willing to go beyond your boundaries maybe sometimes.

HK: So you are saying that being confident affects mostly on female and children rather than
male and adults?

KW: It definitely affects male also. Um, but I think there is stronger impact on females (HK:
Because of the society,) Exactly. Yes.

HK: How do experiencing the traumatic events affect individuals self-concept?

KW. Um. So you are saying, if, if a person, or a, are we focusing on a teenager here? (HK: Yes.)
So teenagers experience traumatic event, how does it affect self-confidence?
I think it is individual bases. Number one. Um it depends on the degree of traumatic event. Um
so, if it happens to that person, or rather it happens with that person involved, if it makes sense.
So for instance, if someone, if a teenager were molested, than its gonna probably have more
impact than if someone um, had a brother or sister who was molested. There is maybe a little
difference. So it really depends on rather it happens directly to that person or that teenagers
indirectly involved. And something like that. What was the other part of the question?

HK: How do experiencing the traumatic events affect individuals self-concept

KW: Okay, so um I think. Depending on the situation and depending on the event, I think it can
delay. And It could delay sort of this idea of self-concepts of development for years. Um, But I
think that if um, if a process is started um soon after traumatic effect, lets say therapy, um then it
could sort of make sure things got on track.

HK: How can low self-esteem impact individuals behaviors, depression if existed, distrust in
their emotions, and the relationship with the others?

KW: Um. I think you can also make kids more to susceptible to bullying. Um. Because typically
we think about why bullying happens, um is usually targeted at students who have lower self-
esteem. Um, because, because they are easy, easy prey. They for someone who is the bully. Um,
so it makes a someone maybe a little more susceptible because they are less self-confidence, they
are more timid. And sort of people, people who make a bully pick up on those vibes.

HK: So they are less protecting themselves so they are easier to attack?

KW: Yeah, kind of less sure of themselves. Um, because they kind of dont know kind the who
they are yet. And they maybe have trouble establishing that.

HK: Does the age of patients affect the impact or route to the other symptoms such as behavior,
depression, distrust, and relationship issue?
KW: I mean, are we talking about like what age groups are most impactful? (HK: For example,
the a avoidant behavior as the effect of the low self-esteem to teenager mostly.) Yes, although, I
think thats like teenage year, adolescent years, are um, you are most unsure of yourself. And
thats when development happens. But I almost feel like if you dont have, if you dont have a
strong base as a child, then it makes it makes it even more of the struggle. So if, if a, If a teen had
a strong base of in a supportive family and a positive environment as a child, once they reach
their adolescent years, I think they will struggle still as overall population. But it wont be as
much of the struggle if as a child they did not have that supportive environment.

HK: So would it be the trust they had from their trust from their family so that they are getting
love, they are suppose to get love, so they know it, so it is causing less trouble?

KW: Correct. Its well established. And sort of, they sort of are figuring out how they fit into the
world. And then but they, in back in their minds, and when they go home, they know that they
have someone to trust, someone who believes in, um, him or her.

HK: Does distruct affect the relationship patient creates with the psychologist to reveal their
suffering?

KW: I think it might take, I think it really depends on the match up of the psychologist and the
patient. Um, just like anything, you need to find the right psychologist that jives your life
perspective, your values, your morals, etc. If you dont find that, then, I think it, it wont it wont
really work out. Um, but if you find the right therapist who you feel comfortable with, I think it
definitely take some prodding, but it will, it will definitely happen. It just, I, I assume it probably
takes more time simply because a trust has never been established or well established.

HK: So it takes time?

KW: It does take time. But it will take a lot longer and might never really happen, if you dont
establish sort of good relationship with your therapist. And it part it that is sort of psychologists
responsibility.

HK: How do patients describe themselves as their definition of self? It can be positive, it can be
negative it can be more specific

KW: Patient describe their definition of self um (HK: I was thinking about, confident people
can think I can do everything, I can achieve everything, maybe if a person or a person who is
suffering low self-esteem can be not,) Dont have that self-efficacy that they will be, that they
have the ability to be successful. Thats kind of what you are saying ? (HK: Yes.) So I think um,
someone who has um, a better, better sense of self-confidence, um, will use more of themselves,
to be engage in what their abilities are. Um, how they feel about certain issues, and someone who
has lower self-confidence will rely on others around them to make decisions for them because
maybe internally, they dont, they dont trust themselves, are feel like maybe their opinions are
vowed, or they know enough.
HK: They can be overestimating themselves, too. (KW: Yes) because of low self-esteem. (KW:
Yes) And so, its either a person is thinking themselves as a tool or a um, tool that can do
everything or a tool that needs help for everything?

KW: And, I would argue that someone with lower self-esteem when they, when they think about
this concept of themselves is using others more, more often times is going to use other to gage
sort of their perception of themselves as suppose to knowing themselves. So someone with a
strong sense of self-confidence that well established trust that we are talking about, is going to
sort of know internally, that I can do this, I have this bully for this right.

HK: So is it that low self-esteem, people who has low self-esteem will think, cannot figure out
who they are, and need help from other people to define themselves?

KW: Correct, correct.

HK: Do patients who suffered trauma define themselves more negatively or positively? What is
the reason? (HK: So, positively, you mentioned that it can be overestimated, too. And as I
research, I figured out that its not only like people is not only, thinking themselves as bad, but
sometimes they are assuming themselves too., like positive effect?)

KW: I think it depends on the trauma. I think it the age. I think the younger you are, probably the
more internalized? It becomes? And the more that it affects the person negatively, and the more
they might blame themselves, and thereby affecting their self-esteem. I think maybe it happens a
little later, like the older you get. Um, I think then it might turn into something, Im not going to
say positive behavior, (HK: Yes,) but its more like um, maybe like a self-perception that you
think you are wonderful, like maybe in terms of a narcissism. Or, or like a historical personality.
Where you feel like you have to be the light of the party, everyone needs to watch you. Now, It
seems more positive but in essence, we know its a negative behavior overall.

HK: I think, is that, that a person who is having um, trying to attract peoples attention, is it
related to, that they are trying to get a definition of themselves from the others?

KW: Yes, I think, um, when we talked about, lets say a personality disorders like historical
personality and a narcism um, the root of those issues are low self-esteem. (HK: Okay) And low
self-confidence.

HK: I think it is the low self-esteem is making themselves feel like, um, negative on themselves,
so they are trying to be better, so they are loving themselves, and it is getting too much,

KW: Exactly. They are sort of overcompensating. For the deficit that they feel.

HK: Do they recognize the importance of the self-esteem?

KW: Absolutely. Yes. So, It definitely will benefit their treatment. Um. I mean any establishment
of self-worth, I think is something that any human needs to be most successfully. (HK: Needs to
be) Yes, needs to be most successful. I mean, people can be successful if they have lower
sense of self-worth and self-esteem. But, In order to sort of I mean if we are in think of terms of
like, humanistic therapy methods, you know, if we are talking about like growth, and self-
fulfillment, you need to establish all of those elements that will really take you there. One of
those is, strong established self-esteem.

HK: But would they really recognize it?

KW: Depends on their type of therapy they are doing. Um, so if they are doing lets say,
cognitive behavior therapy. Um, if you have good therapist, I think it can work. But I think a lot
of people who are seeking therapy, who have poor self-esteem, its, its hard.To sort of change
that mind setting. And thats what cognitive behavior therapy really focuses on. Understanding
that you are an important person, you heart, you are impactful to the world, and the what you are
doing is something that is, is good. And faith in yourself. Thats, Thats, Thats the challenge.

HK: That was the end of the interview. Thank you so much.

Reflection - I conducted an interview with a teacher at the Howard High School. Her name is
Kristyn Walger-Magday and she teaches Psychology AP in Howard High with deep knowledge
of the Psychology: the aspects of the self-concept. Interview #3 highlighted various factors such
as age of the victim, gender, environment, degree of the traumatic events, and more that affect
the victims in future; with an acknowledgment of not achievable self-esteem of reality. Having
an interview with a school teacher through face-to-face interview facilitated the process of
understanding the information and follow the pace of the interviewee. But, it was hard to conduct
an interview with my sore throat for the interview. I was satisfied with the interview #3, so I kept
the basic frame of the questions the same in order to gain diverse perspective from the same set
of the questions.

Heejin Kwon
5/5/17
Transcribed Interview #4

HK: If you would rate the importance of self-concept of students, the self-esteem 1 - 5, 5 as most
important, how would you rate it? And the reason?

HC: 5. The self -concept of a student is related to many aspects in his or her everyday life
including academic performance, interpersonal relationship, and etc.

HK: What can negative self-concept (such as low self-esteem) cause? What are the frequent
symptoms?

HC: Instead of cause, it is more likely to be called as common negative characteristics of the
people with negative self-concept. (A person with low self-esteem may have these negative
characteristics. Self-esteem, other symptoms are all same level. It is not a causal relationship.)
Frequent symptoms are poor social skills, low self-confidence, low school performance, and etc.
Additionally, there are psychological issues psychological problems such as depression and
anxiety.

HK: How can childhood trauma cause the development of the symptoms such as anxiety,
depression, distrust, and more?

HC: The automatic response that is developed from the past experience adds the problems. For
instance, strong past experience gives misconception (the negative perception to others, self, and
world) cause cognitive destruction. It makes individuals to think everyone is: a threat, will leave,
and/or abandon (me), which makes individuals to feel helplessness, and it may extend to develop
anxiety and depression and also PTSD.

HK: How do experiencing the traumatic events (in childhood) affect individuals self-concept?

HC: There are various hypotheses that explain the effect of traumatic events in childhood on
individuals self-concept. For example, there are psychoanalysis, cognitive theory, and even
neuroscience.
For example, according to cognitive theory: Experiencing repetitive abuse or neglect in
childhood make a child to believe that he or she is the cause of the traumatic events. A child
thinks that himself or herself is undeserved, weird child that makes them to have abuse or neglect
from others (usually family or abusers).
Through this process, a child internalize his or her self-concept from other peoples point of view
rather than building it on his or her own. As a result, he or she accumulate negative schema
inside him or herself from traumatic experiences and also have negative schema against other
people. (Ex: a person who I cannot trust, who would abuse me, or who would abandons me, etc.)
This internalized self-concept gives him or her huge impact throughout ones life up to adulthood
because it occurred during the developmental stage of self.

HK: How can low self-esteem impact individuals behaviors, depression (if existed), distrust in
their emotions, and the relationship with the others?

HC: Understanding the process of the number 3 (Question: How do experiencing the traumatic
events (in childhood) affect individuals self-concept?) would be the answer for this question.
When a person has negative self-concept or low self-esteem, he or she gets negative schema on
himself or herself, on others, and the world. In reality, even if others may be nice good people,
individual with negative schema focuses more on negative sides of them instead of focusing on
the positive sides. As a result, a person recognizes everyone around him or her as: people who
are distrustful, abusing, and abandon me. This repeating experience and progress makes a person
to become more negative and depressive.
Also, a person put less effort on school performance by believing oneself is lack of anything with
low self-esteem. This contribute blame to him or herself for mistakes although it is not due to his
own faults; and/or give credit to outer factors instead of oneself even he or she achieved
anything. (Ex. A student claims that he or she got good score because the test was easy, not that
individuals tried.)
HK: Does the age of patients affect the impact or route to the other symptoms (behavior,
depression, distrust (emotion and others), relationship issue)?

HC: Age is important. Experiencing traumatic events in younger age does affect. Repetitive or
severe traumatic may be more severe to individuals. However, it differs for individuals: how they
perceive? (The factors such as degree and frequency of the traumatic event, background,
surrounding environment, and age of the victim may affect the result and impact of trauma, but
the most important factor is how victims perceive ones traumatic events.
Specific example of the surrounding environment: (i.e. existence of the social support):
For example, if a father of a victim was abusive and a mother was caring, it means that
the mother was the social support of the victim. The existence of the support affects the
impact of the traumatic events to individuals.
Also, with low self-esteem, people tend to see themselves unable to achieve any progress. They
usually underestimate themselves and think they cannot do anything
Past experience of repetitive traumatic events make people to think that they cannot escape the
problems, which make themselves to have helplessness and lower self-concept. They are not
capable to do anything to fix their problems and conflicts.

HK: According to the past data collection, I have learned that the impact that individuals get
depends on the severity of the traumatic event and experiencing age. Which one would be the
most impacting factor?

HC: It is true that experiencing traumatic events in younger age cause worse effect. However,
instead of the degree of the traumatic events, how individuals perceive the traumatic events
needs to be more focused. Each individuals have different system. In reality, learning how
individuals actually perceived the traumatic events in past is more important than predicting with
the factors such as the age of the victims and degree of the trauma.

HK: Is the thought of underestimation of oneself as incapable person makes he or she to define
themselves more negatively?

HC: Yes, it is possible. People with low self-esteem think that: I am weird, I am undeserving
person.

HK: Is the definition of self (weird, undeserving) the definition that was developed by the others
(who abused or contributed to the maltreatment)?

HC: Yes. Childhood is the time period where individuals develop the definition and self-image
from others and other objects. This objects that treated victims improperly makes victims to think
that they are not important.

HK: (Low self-esteem > distrust to the others): Does distrust affect the relationship patient
creates with the psychologist to reveal their suffering?
HC: Of course, I should pay extra attention to build a good therapeutic relationship with these
patients and also try my best to work on the relationship issues which he or she brings in the the
session.

HK: I have noticed that the trust is very important for the relationship between psychologist and
patients?

HC: Trust (the idea of: I can trust the helper) + Automatic comforting trust creates relationship.
It depends on individual. (On how they approach to their others relationship.)

HK: How do patients describe themselves as their definition of self? Do patients who suffered
(complex childhood) trauma define themselves more negatively or positively? What is the
reason?

HC: They tend to describe themselves in many negative ways because they have developed
many different cognitive distortions.

HK: Do they recognize the importance of the self-esteem?

HC: They seems to recognize the importance of the self-esteem because they have heard it many
times from books, and media. However, they dont seem to understand what it means really, and
how to live differently.

HK: Would this recognition benefit their treatments? How? What are the effective possible
treatments?

HC: The recognition itself is not enough. Self-esteem is important, but the action is MORE
important. The recognition of his or her own low self-esteem may affect negatively, not
positively. Recognition does not help in reality. Self-concept is concept. It is difficult to
increase the self-esteem. It is more beneficial to have a possible specific action, thinking and
practicing. (What can I do? What can I think?) Perception of having that I have negative self-
concept may affect more negatively on individuals.

HK: What method would prevent people from having negative self-concept?

HC: Making clients to think specifically. For example, individuals can learn about themselves
from their daily life. (mistakes that makes themselves uncomfortable. (i.e.) (what actions made
themselves uncomfortable, what they want to fix specifically to have better quality of the life)
(For example: A person couldnt express ones expression > caused a person to regret > so what
can I do? How can I express?)
Instead of having specific action to fix problems, the recognition of low self-esteem limits ones
ability to risk oneself because of their low self-esteem.
Specific change is more important. Thinking that I have low self-esteem cause negative
impacts.
Recognizing is necessary; however, recognizing low self-esteem may cause negative impact:
people limit themselves, believing in their inability to achieve any objectives. This stops
individuals from risking themselves for new, challenging objectives.

HK: Are common treatments (enough sleep, exercise, nutrition) worth? How?

HC: Common treatments, such as sleep, exercise, and healthy nutrition that makes a persons
healthy body is helpful as it is the action to spend time and make some positive effort for
oneself. If a body is healthy, the mood becomes healthy. It is all about having an action for
oneself. As much as I spend my time for me, the negative perspectives change.
Focusing on myself and fixing my negative image is helpful. To develop better self-image, a
person may receive help from professional helps through various methods such as therapy.

HK: Is everything depends on the individuals (the way how they perceived)?

HC: The approach may be different. As for therapists perception, it differs from their different
background knowledge of the theories they focus on.

HC: Lastly, focusing too much to the self-esteem and thinking it as the Cause is not helpful.
Self-esteem is important. However, changing self-esteem is very vague. It must be focused more
to the specific possible action than recognizing or thinking about ones low self-esteem. Self-
esteem is not real. It is a concept, so it is very difficult to change the self-esteem itself.

HK: Thank you, thank you so much for the interview.

Reflection- I conducted an interview with a professor and psychologist at the Sookmyung

Womens University through email and a phone call. Her name is Hanna Choi and she has
researched and taught psychology, and provided a psychological service throughout her career.
The interview was conducted through Korean, so for convenience, I edited and added the
information as written form. During the interview, I gained additional information that expanded
my perspective toward the self-concept and self-esteem. It was the longest interview that
provided specific examples of the process. The interviewee #4s answers were different
comparing to previous answers and it was very interesting to have different perspective and
answers. However, throughout that process, it was challenging to change my perspective and
basic idea to understand the information and have follow-up questions. After the fourth
interview, I decided to change the words of the question such as cause of the low self-esteem to
common characteristics and how low self-esteem affect or leads.