the magnitude of short-term fluctuations around a typical or baseline degree of self-esteem. It is distinguished from self-esteem level (i.e., high or low), which is more global and relatively enduring over time. In contrast, stability-related fluctuations may be in response to external, environmentally based events (e.g., receiving positive or negative feedback on a task) or internally based events (e.g., reflecting on one’s progress, or lack thereof, toward a goal). Individuals with unstable self-esteem tend to be particularly susceptible to perceiving threats to self-worth in the environment and are at higher risk for experiencing depressive symptoms.