Pride

Pride is a big feeling.

It happens when you do well. You might smile or lift your chin. It can feel very good to win. This feeling helps you try hard. It can even help you be creative. Sometimes people feel pride for their group. Some people use pride to feel brave. It is a very strong emotion.

Pride is a strong feeling. It happens when you feel good about yourself. You might feel this way after you finish a hard task. You may also feel pride because of your group or country.

People show pride in different ways. You might smile or lift your chin up. Some people stand tall with their arms out. These signs tell others that you feel successful.

Scientists say there are two main kinds of pride. The first kind is called authentic pride. This is a good feeling. It comes from hard work and real success. It helps people stay focused on their goals. It can even help people be more creative.

The second kind is called hubristic pride. This is when pride becomes too big. It can lead to being arrogant. People with this feeling might act like they are better than others. This can cause trouble in friendships.

In some old stories, pride was called a sin. This means it was seen as a bad thing. But today, many see it as a way to feel brave and strong.

Pride is a very strong emotion. It happens when you feel secure in who you are. You might feel it after you do a good job. This feeling can come from praise or from belonging to a group. Some people feel pride in their country or their school. It can also be a way for groups to show their identity.

There are two main ways pride works. One way is called authentic pride. This comes from hard work and reaching your goals. It helps you feel confident and helps you work with others. The other way is called hubristic pride. This is a type of pride that feels unearned or irrational. It can lead to being arrogant or having a hard time with friends.

People show pride using their bodies. You might see someone lift their chin up high. They might smile or put their hands on their hips. Some people stand with an expanded posture. This means they tilt their head back and stretch their arms out. These signs help others see that a person feels successful.

History shows many views on pride. The word comes from Old English words like prute. It likely came from a French word meaning brave. In ancient times, the philosopher Aristotle studied it. He called it the crown of virtues. He said it was different from vanity. He thought hubris was an extreme pride that caused a downfall.

Different cultures and religions see pride in different ways. In some Christian traditions, pride is a deadly sin. A monk named Evagrius Ponticus wrote about it in the fourth century. Later, Pope Gregory I made it famous in the sixth century. In modern times, some people use pride to celebrate their groups. This can be seen in parades or festivals. It is a complex feeling that changes based on how it is used.

Pride is a complex primary emotion. It involves a sense of security regarding one's identity, performance, or accomplishments. Many people view pride as the direct opposite of shame. Depending on the context, it can be seen as a positive virtue or a negative vice. Pride often arises from receiving praise or through independent self-reflection. It can also come from a fulfilled feeling of belonging to a specific group.

Psychologically, pride functions as a status-regulating emotion. It signals competence and social value within human groups. There are two distinct facets of this emotion: authentic pride and hubristic pride. Authentic pride is linked to feelings of accomplishment and productive effort. It correlates positively with high self-esteem and prosocial behaviors, such as helping others. In contrast, hubristic pride is associated with arrogance and inflated self-views. This type of pride is often linked to narcissism and interpersonal difficulties.

People express pride through specific physical movements and facial expressions. Common gestures include lifting the chin, smiling, or placing hands on the hips to signal victory. Individuals may also adopt an expanded posture. This involves tilting the head back and extending the arms away from the body. Research shows this postural display is innate. Even individuals who are congenitally blind show these same prideful movements. These nonverbal cues allow others to automatically perceive a person's social status.

History provides many different interpretations of pride. The word originated from the late Old English word *prute*. This likely came from an 11th-century Old French word meaning brave or valiant. The term eventually traces back to the Late Latin *prode*, meaning useful. In Ancient Greek philosophy, Aristotle identified pride as the crown of the virtues. He used the term *megalopsychia*, which translates to greatness of soul or magnanimity. Aristotle distinguished this from vanity and humility. He also defined hubris as an extreme, excessive pride that leads to a person's downfall.

Religious traditions have often viewed pride through a more critical lens. In classical Christian theology, pride is considered one of the seven deadly sins. A monk named Evagrius Ponticus identified it as an evil to resist in the fourth century. Later, Pope Gregory I popularized this view in the late sixth century. C.S. Lewis described pride as "the great sin" in his book *Mere Christianity*. He argued it has caused misery in every nation and family since the world began.

Pride also plays a role in economic psychology and social identity. Researchers suggest pride is involved in all economic decisions. This is because these decisions are linked to the self of the person making them. Pride can act as an emotional state that encourages long-term interests. On a social level, pride can represent patriotism or national identity. It is also used by marginalized groups, such as in LGBTQ pride, to celebrate identity.

Collective pride can have very different effects on a group. Cynthia Pickett, a psychology professor, has researched how group pride works. She found that hubristic, pompous displays of group pride might signal insecurity. Conversely, groups that express pride through humility and focus on hard work tend to achieve high social standing. In some cultures, such as in Germany, strong displays of national pride can be controversial due to historical associations with Nazism. Ultimately, the impact of pride depends on whether it is rooted in genuine achievement or unearned arrogance.