Why does low self-esteem intensify the impact of the various influences on teen decision making?

Responses will vary. A sample response follows: Teens with high levels of self-esteem are confident and self-assured, so when they face a tough decision such as whether to use illegal drugs, this self-assurance allows them to make decisions independently. Teens with low self-esteem are not confident and often doubt themselves and their decision making. When teens with low self-esteem need to make tough decisions, they will look to outside influence to guide, suggest, or validate their decisions.

Self-esteem influences one's emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses under various situations. In decision making, self-esteem is an individual's self-evaluation of his / her decision-making capability in a given situation and that confidence, or lack of it, may affect decisions made.