SELF-DETERMINATION AS A SOURCE OF SELF-ESTEEM IN ADOLESCENCE

This research examines the effects of the sense of self-determination in three spheres of male adolescents' lives (the family, the school, a nd the workplace) on positive self-esteem, using five waves of panel d ata from the Youth in Transition study (grade 10 to five years after h igh school). Though the self-concept literature has emphasized social sources of self-evaluation, these analyses point to the importance of generalization and attribution processes. It is concluded that the sam e kinds of experiences that have been found to foster positive psychol ogical outcomes in adulthood - personal discretion in decision making and interesting challenging tasks - have developmental significance in adolescence as well.