High Bluedove,

I read a bit of Branden and I can equate his idea of self esteem to the work I have been reading on shame or shame-based people . Shame-based being driven largely by a profound lack of self esteem or worthiness. Both are self perpetuating. I would define self esteem as the ability to place inherent value in oneself. And I feel shame-based people are simply unable to do this to a large extent.