Robert A. Stebbins is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary. He has written over 250 articles and chapters and written or edited more than 50 books, including Serious Leisure, Between Work and Leisure, Leisure Activities in Context: A Micro-Macro/Agency-Structure Interpretation of Leisure, and The Idea of Leisure. He received his PhD in Sociology and Psychology in 1964 from the University of Minnesota.

This exploration in symbolic interactionist social psychology investigates four aspects of self-esteem related to scholarly and political achievement: hubris and conceit on the one hand, and humility and modesty on the other hand. The study looks at these four aspects through three perspectives: individualism and individuality, big-picture versus small-picture thinking, and tolerance and compromise—which correspond to micro, meso, and macro levels of sociology and history. The author argues that conceit and hubris have come to dominate conversation in scholarship and politics.

• Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Self-Esteem and Achievement Chapter 3. Individualism and Individuality Chapter 4. Big-Picture vis-à-vis Small-Picture Thinking Chapter 5. Tolerance and Compromise Chapter 6. Conclusions

Robert A. Stebbins is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary. He has written over 250 articles and chapters and written or edited more than 50 books, including Serious Leisure, Between Work and Leisure, Leisure Activities in Context: A Micro-Macro/Agency-Structure Interpretation of Leisure, and The Idea of Leisure. He received his PhD in Sociology and Psychology in 1964 from the University of Minnesota.

This exploration in symbolic interactionist social psychology investigates four aspects of self-esteem related to scholarly and political achievement: hubris and conceit on the one hand, and humility and modesty on the other hand. The study looks at these four aspects through three perspectives: individualism and individuality, big-picture versus small-picture thinking, and tolerance and compromise—which correspond to micro, meso, and macro levels of sociology and history. The author argues that conceit and hubris have come to dominate conversation in scholarship and politics.

• Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Self-Esteem and Achievement Chapter 3. Individualism and Individuality Chapter 4. Big-Picture vis-à-vis Small-Picture Thinking Chapter 5. Tolerance and Compromise Chapter 6. Conclusions

Robert A. Stebbins is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary. He has written over 250 articles and chapters and written or edited more than 50 books, including Serious Leisure, Between Work and Leisure, Leisure Activities in Context: A Micro-Macro/Agency-Structure Interpretation of Leisure, and The Idea of Leisure. He received his PhD in Sociology and Psychology in 1964 from the University of Minnesota.

This exploration in symbolic interactionist social psychology investigates four aspects of self-esteem related to scholarly and political achievement: hubris and conceit on the one hand, and humility and modesty on the other hand. The study looks at these four aspects through three perspectives: individualism and individuality, big-picture versus small-picture thinking, and tolerance and compromise—which correspond to micro, meso, and macro levels of sociology and history. The author argues that conceit and hubris have come to dominate conversation in scholarship and politics.

• Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Self-Esteem and Achievement Chapter 3. Individualism and Individuality Chapter 4. Big-Picture vis-à-vis Small-Picture Thinking Chapter 5. Tolerance and Compromise Chapter 6. Conclusions