Pride is a primary emotion characterized by a sense of security with one's identity, performance, and/or accomplishments. It is sometimes considered the opposite of shame. Depending on the context, pride may be viewed as either a virtue or a vice. Typically, pride arises from praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging. Pride can refer to a sense of patriotism, national identity, regional identity, or other affiliations (e.g. proud to be a university alumnus). It can also be used by members of marginalized groups to signal a celebration of their unique cultural identity, such as in Black pride, Mad pride, or especially LGBTQ Pride movements. Pride may also be used to refer to foolhardiness, or an unearned, irrational sense of one's personal value, status, or accomplishments. Pride is often used synonymously with hubris or vanity. Pride is interpreted in various theologies as one of the seven deadly sins. When viewed as a virtue, pride in one's abilities is known as virtuous pride, greatness of soul, or magnanimity. When depicted as a vice, it is often known to be self-idolatry, sadistic contempt, or vanity.
Etymology The word proud originated from the late Old English word prud, or prute, likely derived from the Old French word meaning 'brave' or 'valiant' (11th century). This term ultimately comes from the Late Latin prode, meaning 'useful'. The sense of "having a high opinion of oneself", which does not exist in French, may reflect the Anglo-Saxons' perception of the Norman knights, who referred to themselves as "proud".
Ancient Greek philosophy Aristotle identified pride (megalopsuchia, variously translated as 'proper pride', 'the greatness of soul', 'high-mindedness' and 'magnanimity') as the crown of the virtues, distinguishing it from vanity, temperance and humility, saying:
"By a high-minded man we seem to mean one who claims much and deserves much: for he who claims much without deserving it is a fool; but the possessor of a virtue is never foolish or silly. The man we have described, then, is high-minded. He who deserves little and claims little is temperate [or modest], but not high-minded: for high-mindedness [or greatness of soul] implies greatness, just as beauty implies stature; small men may be neat and well proportioned, but cannot be called beautiful." He then concludes that:
"High-mindedness, then, seems to be the crowning grace, as it were, of the virtues; it makes them greater, and cannot exist without them. And on this account it is a hard thing to be truly high-minded; for it is impossible without the union of all the virtues." By contrast, Aristotle defined the vice of hubris as follows:
"... to cause shame to the victim, not in order that anything may happen to you, nor because anything has happened to you, but merely for your own gratification. Hubris is not the requital of past injuries; this is revenge. As for the pleasure in hubris, its cause is this: naive men think that by ill-treating others they make their own superiority the greater." While pride and hubris are often deemed the same thing in modern contexts, for Aristotle and many other Ancient Greek philosophers, hubris was a more extreme, excessive pride that led to downfall, and is an entirely different thing from pride."Such, then, is the proud man; the man who falls short of him is unduly humble, and the man who goes beyond him is vain."
Psychology
Emotion In psychological terms, positive pride is a "pleasant, sometimes exhilarating, emotion that results from a positive self-evaluation". It was added to the University of California, Davis, "Set of Emotion Expressions", as one of three "self-conscious" emotions known to have recognizable expressions (along with embarrassment and shame). The term "fiero" was coined by Italian psychologist Isabella Poggi to describe the pride experienced and expressed in the moments following a personal triumph over adversity. Facial expressions and gestures that demonstrate pride can involve a lifting of the chin, smiles, or arms on hips to demonstrate victory or achievement. Individuals may implicitly grant status to others based solely on their expressions of pride, even in cases in which they wish to avoid doing so. Indeed, some studies indicate that the nonverbal expression of pride conveys a message that is automatically perceived by others about a person's high social status in a group. Behaviorally, pride can also be expressed by adopting an expanded posture in which the head is tilted back and the arms extended out from the body. This postural display is innate, as it is shown in congenitally blind individuals who have lacked the opportunity to see it in others.
Authentic and Hubristic pride Contemporary psychological research distinguishes between two facets of pride: authentic pride and hubristic pride. Authentic pride is associated with feelings of accomplishment, confidence, and productive effort, and is positively correlated with self-esteem and prosocial behavior. Hubristic pride, by contrast, is associated with arrogance and inflated self-views, and has been linked to narcissism and interpersonal difficulties. Subsequent research has examined the evolutionary and social functions of pride, suggesting that pride may function as a status-regulating emotion that signals competence and social value within groups.
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