IJSP Number 6, 2024

83 SELF-ESTEEM VERSUS SELF-IMPORTANCE Zeno GOZO 1 1 Department of Psychology, Tibiscus University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania Email : zenogozo@yahoo.com Abstract We want to discuss in this very short and modest article about some human types. In order to do that we do not have to multiply the inherent human diversity and arrive at ten types as does Dexter Dias in his The Ten Types of Human [1]. Not that there would be something wrong with that, but it is, at least from our point of view, simpler to discuss only two types or rather directions. Even respecting all the findings of modern neurosciences or evolutionary psychology (presented by Dexter Dias in his very interesting book) we can reduce human psychological adaptation to two main directions, namely those reigned by self-importance and those oriented towards self-esteem. Both are necessary adaptations of humans to their environment, a medium that is predominantly social. And society, as we well know, is a great body in front of which the individual has to maintain oneself in order to survive, to live, to grow as a person and maybe even to be happy. In our modern and stressful world, always on the run, always pushing further and further into a progress that is already beyond comprehension, the idea of being happy sounds, we can feel it very clearly, kind of strange and out of place. But, of course, here intervenes the unilateral perspective of self-importance, the one heavily and intensely promoted by our unhinged way of postmodern life. And, fortunately or unfortunately, this unhinged and fastidious postmodern perspective is everywhere, even on the cover of the above-mentioned book. It says, on the cover: “Think Sapiens and triple it!” (Julia Hobsbawm). How can you “triple” a book? Or is it just about its meaning or the effect it has or had on the reader? Hard to say, after all, but it is totally and completely postmodern in its intention and perfectly adapted to our so ubiquitous self-importance. We feel already in advance: if we read Dias’s book, we will be somehow (maybe miraculously?) multiplied, or at least tripled. Maybe, we should and could feel superior (“tripled”, once we read the book) and, consequently, parade our self- importance in front of others. Who knows? Henceforth we will try to draw a line in order to distinguish between self-importance and the more rare and elusive capacity for or achievement of self-esteem. Key words: self-importance, self-esteem, persona , false stroke, ego .