Research shows that even partial ostracism is quickly detected, and that lacking information that others in your group seem to have undermines not one but four fundamental human needs: the need for belonging and connection to others, self-esteem, the need for a sense of control and effectiveness, and the need for meaningful work.

FORBES: The Hidden Dangers of Leaving Someone Out of the Loop

You need enough self-esteem to believe you can learn from your mistakes and succeed another day.

FORBES: Why You Should Take The Blame

Once we've taken care of those, we can attend to our craving for love and companionship, and then on to our desire for self-esteem and, finally, to our need for what Maslow called self-actualization.

WSJ: Why Modern Innovation Traffics in Trifles

The Apollo program was a sort of collective ego boost for Americans, but again I would rank it as a sign of maturity that we no longer have need for hundred billion dollar self-esteem enhancements.

FORBES: The New Pharaohs: Confusing Triumphalism and State Coercion With Progress

Sometimes countries, like people, need a bit of therapy to boost their self-esteem.

BBC: From Broken Britain to Team GB

Instead of you encouraging men to not marry women of power maybe you should think of doing more to deal with men's low self esteem so they don't feel they need to be the he-man, the one in charge, the arrogant idiot of yesterday.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"Children absolutely need to feel valued, accepted and loved, and this will lead to high self-esteem, " Dr. Leary says.

WSJ: The Right Level of Self-Esteem for a Child