In the WSJ, Kay Hymowitz reviews the book Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. She notes how Bronson and Merryman deconstruct past myths once thought to have been scientifically proven. No, boosting self-esteem is not a panacea and may be harmful.

And what do [the research articles] show? That high self-esteem doesn't improve grades, reduce ­anti-social behavior, deter alcohol drinking or do much of anything good for kids. In fact, telling kids how smart they are can be ­counterproductive. Many children who are convinced that they are little geniuses tend not to put much effort into their work.

However, Hymowitz criticizes Bronson and Merryman for being insufficiently skeptical of current research. Given how wrong past conclusions were, it would be good to take current findings with more than a grain of salt.

And, I might add, we certainly should not take tentative findings from budding areas of research (such as neuroscience) and use them to make nearly permanent constitutional doctrine.