Self-esteem exists on a continuum and can be high,medium, low, or defensive When Considering optimal self-esteem, the curvilinear model seems to be most apt, too low and too high self-esteem being less adaptive than medium self-esteem.Too strong a belief in one's Competence, for example, may actually make one more vulnerable to life's pitfalls because the individual does not recognize realistic limitations. Extreme high self-esteem can be indicative of narcissism and destructivenesslikely to report violent thoughts