I think discipline plays a huge role in developing a child's self-esteem - not forgetting, of course, that discpline means to teach and guide, as opposed to punishment. Punishment can totally compromise and demolish a child's self esteem. Discipline, when done correctly, can increase a child's self-esteem. The forms of discipline that best serve the self-esteem of a child or adolescent is reward - letting your child to know that for every good and well done think, he/she gets somethink in exchange. But also, an important role is played by punishment - the reverse of the coin, letting your child to know that a bad fact has bad consequence(s).