Self –Esteem and Adjustment: Psychosocial Aspects of

Blindness and Visual ImpairmentBased on

Self-Esteem and Adjusting to BlindnessBy Dean and Naomi Tuttle

Blindness

• Blindness physiological and psychosocial

• Physical – – Etiology– Diagnosis– Prescription– Prognosis

Blindness - continued

Psychosocial – 3 parts

• Individual Needs and Desires

• Physical and Social Environment

• Common Conceptions of Blindness

There is no unique psychology of blindness and no special personality attributed to individuals who are blind

Sociological Implications

“ The quality and characteristics of the social interaction between a blind and a sighted person are determined by the capacities and attitudes of each”

Sociological GENERALITIESTendencies – not absolutes- persons with

the condition of blindness may be• Immature and Egocentric- for longer

periods• Isolated and Withdrawn• Passive and Dependent• Inadequate Social Role Models• Deal with predominately negative attitudes

toward blindness

Demands of LifeKeys to meeting life’s demands• Self- Esteem• Competence -Can be measured by

– Comparing oneself with others – social comparison-can be positive or negative

• Outcome based – Positive• Process bases - Negative

– Comparing with your own past performance– Using separate standard solely based on the

basis of visual impairment

Influences on Self-Esteem

Needs are universal• Food and Shelter• Love and Belonging• Responsibility and Productivity• Self Acceptance and Self-Esteem

Each impact an individual’s self esteem and self concept

Self Esteem

Is defined as..

• A person’s sense of value and self worth

• Sense of competency and adequacy

• Sense of self satisfaction

Self Esteem Interrelationships

Attitudes of others

Behavior Behavior(of individual w/ VI) (of others)

Self Concepts

More Interrelationships

Attitudes of others

Behavior Behavior(Of persons with VI) (of others)

Self concept

Blindness and Challenges to Self Esteem

Self esteem is effected by the extent there is lack or loss of…

• Independence in personal management• Travel• Reading and writing• Vocational opportunities• Recreation

The impacts of these issues can be temporary or long lasting

Blindness and Challenges to Self Esteem

Persons with Adventitious Visual Impairment may…

• Have feelings of helplessness & dependence UNTIL….

• Be impacted by minimal expectations and attitudes

Blindness and Challenges to Self Esteem

Persons with Congenital Visual Impairment may…

• Have had to deal with devastating and derogatory reactions in social environment

• Have had negative childhood experiences with long lasting effects

These issues can and do get resolved

Adjustment

Involves…

• Cognition – awareness and knowledge of coping; knowledge and thought

• Action – behaviors and skills of coping; planning and remediation

• Affect – feelings and attitudes of coping; thoughts and feelings

The Adjusting Process

• Trauma – physical or social

• Shock and Denial

• Mourning and Withdrawal

• Succumbing and Depression

• Reassessment and Reaffirmation

• Coping and Mobilization

• Self-Acceptance and Self-Esteem

TraumaThis it event that causes the need for

adjustment

• For the individual with congenital blindness it may be the awareness of being different or awareness of being blind

• For the individual with adventitious blindness it may be the event

• For both it may be from having to deal with social stigmas and attitudes

Shock and Denial

• Feelings of – Unreality– Detachment– Disbelief

• Avoidance – Denying the existence of the trauma

Mourning and Withdrawal

• Grieving over the global loss of vision

• Mourning over being different

• Self-pity– Withdrawing from family and friends– A very lonely time

Succumbing and Depression

• Focusing on and analyzing, one by one, each perceived loss– Real or imagined losses– Temporary or not– This is the “I can’t” or “I will never be able to”

phase

• Feelings of doubt are common but unchecked this can lead to severe depression

Reassessment and Reaffirmation

• Re-evaluating the meaning of life and the purpose for living

• May involve reassessment and or revision of – Values– Goals

• Result is a reaffirmation of one’s self and one’s life

Coping and Mobilization

• Desire drives actions

• Development of strategies

• Development of coping skills

• Coping with realities of the condition of blindness

Self-Acceptance and Self-Esteem

• Esteem as a person with dignity and worth

• Personal view as an individual with may characteristics – one of which is blindness

• Being comfortable with themselves