text: self- esteem and how does it change across the life span? developmental psyshology context as you become older you become more reliant on your own sense of self and less reliant upon what other people think of you. that is because in a society it is important for adults to be able to be relied upon and able to stand for themselves. when you are younger you are more vulnerable to the opinions of others because you are still shaping who you are and how you will fit in or not. it's part of continual development of life to keep a balance between what other people think of you and what you think of yourself, so you can be in some way socially acceptable without losing your own identity.  sometimes you are winning and sometimes you are losing as far as the bit in society goes (proper employment, good job, spouse/bf/gf, good health/looks) but a good self-esteem will develop independent to these things, as you are who you are and everyone has something to contribute. your self-esteem may be improved by removing it from the category of a sexually transmitted disease.