Eddie researches the critical role of self-esteem in children’s learning. Self-esteem, which develops from feelings of competence and acceptance, is essential for motivation and persistence in school. Low self-esteem can hinder a child’s willingness to take on challenges, and while praise is often used to boost self-esteem, it can sometimes backfire, especially if it’s exaggerated. Eddie suggests that teachers focus on helping students see their own progress over time and feel unconditionally accepted. He emphasises that learning is a powerful tool for raising self-esteem, creating a positive cycle where improved self-esteem enhances further learning.
Listen to Eddie
“Self esteem shapes how children look at themselves, but also how they look at their social environment.”
Eddie Brummelman
Eddie Brummelman
Eddie Brummelman is an Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam, a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellow 2021-2023, and a board member of The Young Academy (De Jonge Akademie) of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Eddie’s work is situated at the intersection of developmental psychology and educational science. He studies the developing self: how children develop self-views, how these self-views shape mental health and educational outcomes, and how interventions that target self-views can help at-risk children flourish. Eddie is committed to using basic science to address social problems, such as the growing problem of inequality in education.
Eddie Brummelman
