When positive self-statements strongly conflict with self-perception, she argues, there is not mere resistance but a reinforcing of self-perception.

ECONOMIST: Positive thinking's negative results

Dr Wood suggests that positive self-statements cause negative moods in people with low self-esteem because they conflict with those people's views of themselves.

ECONOMIST: Positive thinking's negative results

Given that many readers of self-help books that encourage positive self-statements are likely to suffer from low self-esteem, they may be worse than useless.

ECONOMIST: Positive thinking's negative results