Grades and Self-Esteem

Death of a Salesman, and research performed by the American Psychological Society (subsequently renamed the Association for Psychological Science) show how grades and self-esteem share a direct correlation. In Death of a Salesman Biff and Bernard both demonstrate how grades and self-esteem correlate. In Death of a Salesman, Willie Lowman’s son Biff fails math in high school, because of this failure. Biff loses his self-esteem and therefore is unsuccessful. However, in contrast, Bernard passes all of his classes and is successful. Research performed by the American Psychological Society also supports the theory that grades affect self-esteem. The counter arguments will also be discussed to provide a complete synopsis. The first point discussed will be from Death of a Salesman through the characters of Biff.

In Death of a Salesman, a play written by Arthur Miller, the main character Willie Lowman two sons one whose name is Biff. During High school Biff is a star football and at the top of his game. Biff has the self-esteem to be successful as well as the motivation. However, Biff bailed on summer school and the math credit. From here, he spiraled downward. Biff lost his self-esteem when he realized his failure. Upon his failure Biff went in search of his father for reassurance. The reassurance that everything would be alright, and that he wasn’t as he believed himself to be, a failure. Biff shows a correlation between grades and self-esteem. Biff failed math, therefore he lost his self-esteem. When Biff lost his self-esteem he lost his drive to be successful. Biff’s loss of self-esteem made it so he lost the drive needed to be successful. He couldn’t hold down a job, he ended up in prison, and he was constantly doubting himself. Hi...

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...de students would be less likely to fail because of positive reinforcement. Grades and self-esteem are directly correlated and they both have either a negative or a positive impact on students and their self-esteem.

Works Cited

Mendina, J. (2008, November 15). Letter Grades Look Simple, but Realities Are Complex . The New York Times.

Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Scheirer, M. A., & Kraut, R. E. (1979). Increased educational achievement via self-concept change. Review of Educational Research, 49, 131–150.

Baumeister, R. F., Campbell, J. D., Krueger, J. I., & Vohs, K. D. (2003). Does high self-esteem cause better performance interpersonal success, happiness, or healthier lifestyles? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4, 1–44.

Kimberly, Schafer- PH.D in Interpersonal Communications