Pride

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.