Although pride is the most deadly of the seven sins, it can actually help us achieve our objectives and behave better.
Compassion and gratitude are universally seen as pleasant emotions. These two feelings increase our patience, willingness to persevere in the face of difficulties, and resistance to temptations that divert us from our goals by instilling a value in our brains for the future.
What additional feelings are capable of doing the same things? Pride.
Pride, indeed.
You may find this shocking or simply incorrect. It’s conceivable that a sizable portion of those who are called proud are blowhards or egotists. Many people believe that pride involves some degree of arrogance. Additionally, it is one of the seven deadly sins, as we are all aware, which may help to explain the well-known saying, “Pride comes before a fall.”
However, I contend that this image is oversimplified—pride can also be a virtue. I’m not suggesting pride isn’t troublesome in some ways or under certain circumstances. But pride, in its best form, is social by nature and can assist us in reaching our objectives.
There are a few issues with arguing that pride contributes to dedication. It’s possible that people practice, study, or put in a lot of effort because they find the activity fulfilling; pride is really an afterthought. Correct?
We had to persuade participants in our experiment that they were skilled in a way that others appreciated and in which they could be proud. Additionally, the task has to be somewhat irritating.
Lisa Williams, a psychology professor at the University of New South Wales, and I made the decision to create an experiment to demonstrate how pride can motivate people to stick with something they don’t love. We came to the realization that we would need to instill pride in those who were unaware of their abilities and who had no desire to pursue them. We therefore had to persuade individuals that they were capable of something they could be proud of and that others respected. Only then could we ascertain whether pride would lead to increased effort in developing that skill. It had to be a little bothersome because we also needed to make sure that individuals didn’t love their employment.
We brought people into our lab with the intention of examining their “visuospatial” abilities in order to achieve this. In terms of their visuospatial skills, none of them knew where they stood or even what that meant. Therefore, we had a group of comparatively indifferent and uninspired volunteers at the beginning of the experiment who wanted to finish it as soon as possible.
As part of the experiment, we informed participants that after completing a computerized assignment to gauge their visuospatial ability, they would be asked to complete a second, related test to gauge their progress and increase their skills. The first assignment wasn’t too painful. Following a brief display of arrays of colored dots on the screen, participants were asked to indicate the proportion of red dots. This test was just challenging enough for individuals to think they could pass it, but they wouldn’t have a clear idea of how well they did.
Mental rotation was required for the second visuospatial exercise, which is difficult for most people. Two three-dimensional shapes were shown on the screen during each trial, and participants had to select one of three options: (1) the right shape was a rotated version of the left shape, (2) the right shape was not a rotated version of the left shape, or (3) I gave up. We needed to see how long people would continue to work on this second assignment in order to develop and test their skills, so we told them they could work on it for as long as they wished.
However, there was one final possibility that we researchers needed to think about: Could people labor longer because they believe they can achieve rather than because they feel proud?
We added one more component to the experiment because the only thing left to figure out was how to make participants feel proud of their visuospatial skills. Each participant was taken to a separate room to speak with the researcher after completing the initial visuospatial exam. She completed the mental rotation assignment after signing a document in the neutral, or control, condition. The experimenter who welcomed the individual in the pride condition showed a score sheet that showed a visuospatial skill in the 94th percentile, or better than 94 percent of the general population. Additionally, the experimenter grinned, appeared impressed, and exclaimed, “Wow! Before sending her to finish the mental rotation exercise, I said, “That was an amazing score.”
We now had two categories of participants. A later report of their emotional states revealed that some were feeling very proud, while others were expressing their normal emotions as they went about their daily lives. We have to take into account one more possibility, though: Could people put in more effort because they believe they can achieve rather than because they are proud of themselves?
What took place? On the challenging mental rotation test, participants who were feeling pleased of their talents put forth a lot more effort than those who weren’t; they increased the amount of time they spent honing their skills by 40%. Surprisingly, self-efficacy didn’t seem to be involved. People who got the favorable score feedback without any social recognition—those who thought they had what it took to succeed—did not stick with it any longer than those who got no input at all.
According to research, pride encourages people to respect the future. Perhaps pride encourages hard work and dedication rather than always coming before a fall.
We can observe how pride can appear in the workplace when we look beyond the lab. For instance, it has been demonstrated that salespeople who feel proud put in more effort and achieve more success. Participants in the study were asked if they had recently encountered any temptations they sought to avoid, such as procrastinating, overeating, drinking alcohol, doing drugs, sleeping, etc., while being buzzed seven times a day on their smartphones. They were questioned about their emotional states and the success of their attempts at self-control if they had been tempted. Hofmann discovered that pride boosted self-control: those who reported feeling more proud were more likely to have refrained from rewarding and appealing actions that could have otherwise diverted them from their objectives. When combined, these results imply that pride encourages people to cherish the future. Therefore, pride encourages hard work and perseverance rather than leading to a fall.
But to use pride effectively, one must have a firm understanding of the situations in which it can backfire. It is especially vulnerable to the halo effect, a form of confirmation bias whereby we extrapolate, frequently incorrectly, our perception of someone’s superiority in one area to another. Supervisors, for instance, believe that a worker who exhibits passion is also capable.
Because people can be their own audience, this bias is significant for pride. Because of this, we are equally prone to fall victim to the halo effect while assessing our own attributes as when assessing those of others. And that’s the beginning of the slippery road to hubris. Hubristic pride is the reverse of authentic pride, which is pride derived from a demonstrated ability that is respected. It’s a lofty notion that one possesses cherished attributes that aren’t true.
For pride to be effective, it needs to be combined with humility, the humility to recognize that regardless of our abilities, we are all dependent on the contributions of others.
The results of these two distinct forms of pride—authentic and hubristic—are drastically different. However, people who suffer from hubris often exhibit greater impulsivity and are driven only by financial or similar external benefits.
However, motive is not the only factor that distinguishes genuine pride from hubristic pride. As people work to maintain the appearance of competence and control, hubristic pride is also frequently linked to a fragile ego, anxiety, and aggressive tendencies. Conversely, genuine pride is linked to more social support, less anxiety, and a stronger willingness to share one’s knowledge with others. At the neurobiological level, we observe comparable trends. While hubristic behaviors are frequently accompanied by elevated testosterone, authentic pride-related behaviors (like outreach and mentoring) are accompanied by lower testosterone and, more importantly, higher serotonin, which is linked to feelings of well-being and increased motivation for bonding and social support.
For pride to be effective, it needs to be combined with humility, the humility to recognize that regardless of our abilities, we are all dependent on the contributions of others. We must be humble enough to acknowledge that we cannot be great at everything and that there will be occasions when we must rely on others because none of us can be an expert in every field. Pride, like thankfulness and compassion, turns become a virtue rather than a sin for those who heed this guidance.
Maintaining a journal in which we record our accomplishments and goals is one way to use pride in our own lives. We should feel proud when we make progress toward a goal and look forward to the pride we’ll experience when we reach the next stage, just as we should feel sorry for ourselves if and when we fail to meet a goal. This will allow us to map our progress across time, with today’s accomplishment probably being yesterday’s goal. Feeling proud at every stage may be incredibly motivating, even more so than if we just let ourselves to feel proud when we accomplished a goal. But it’s also critical to keep in mind that goals don’t always advance in a straight line. It frequently comes and goes. No matter the rate, the most important thing is a continuous rising trajectory. Perseverance is most benefited by taking pride in the direction of progress.
Pride is frequently characterized as negative. It is linked to arrogance, ego, and overconfidence. Pride can cause us to fail by making us blind to our flaws, which is sometimes the primary cause of racism and xenophobia. They say, “Pride comes before the fall.”
However, pride can also be beneficial. Being self-assured enables you to defend yourself when others try to undermine you. It is simpler to embrace that identity in the future when you are happy of your hard work since it maintains a positive self-image and helps you see yourself as a hard worker. Additionally, I personally support pride journaling, which is the practice of jotting down accomplishments for which you are proud. So, how should we interpret this contradiction?
Comparing Bad and Good Pride
I refer to this type of pride as “ego pride” since it is conceited. It makes you think you’re superior to other people. Ego pride boasts, telling everyone how wonderful you are by boasting about your achievements. Feeling entitled, ego pride makes you believe that you are entitled to something.
A bride who appears arrogant, entitled, and cocky
At first glance, this may seem contradictory, but the good kind of pride is what I refer to as “humble pride.” How can one simultaneously be proud and humble? The response is to be proud of your decisions and modest about who you are.
No assumptions about the results you ostensibly deserve are made by humble pride. Even if you have no control over the result, you still put forth the effort. Your hard work may or may not be rewarded. You could be lucky or unlucky. Someone else might get the contract, promotion, or job. You might not win the election. Whether or not you give it your all is all within your power.
Quiet pride is humble. It allows accomplishment and hard work to speak for itself. Whether or whether anyone is aware of what you have done is irrelevant. You can be proud of yourself as long as you’re living according to your principles.
Pride in Process
A young man in a carpentry shop, intent on his task
This distinction can also be viewed as process-based pride, which is what humble pride is. It’s the satisfaction that comes from your past, present, and future endeavors. “I can do hard things and make tough choices,” this type of pride asserts. This is something I have done in the past, am doing now, and will do in the future.
The humble pride states, “I’m working hard to become stronger and more skilled at my sport,” in contrast to the ego pride that declares, “I’m a great athlete.”
Ego pride asserts that one is intelligent, whereas humble pride asserts that one is committed to education and makes an effort to make wise decisions.
Ego pride asserts that “I am superior to others,” but humility pride asserts that “I am working to improve upon my previous self.”
This type of pride is in line with a growth mindset’s key component of having a process-based identity.
You Are More Likely to Fail If You Have Ego Pride
[Ego] pride dulls our ability to learn, adapt, be flexible, and form relationships.”4 Put another way, it makes you less intelligent and productive.
Overconfident, egotistical people say things like:
“I started my own business since I am an entrepreneur.
Since I am now ahead, I will prevail.
Because I published something, I consider myself a writer.
I made some money, thus I am wealthy.
I was selected, which makes me unique.
I believe I should be important, so I am.
These kinds of thinking deter you from putting in the effort necessary to succeed. You concentrate on the prize you ostensibly deserve rather than the process.
Ego pride “tunes up other negative parts of ourselves: sensitivity, a persecution complex, the ability to make everything about us.”4 It also makes it difficult to “Receive feedback, maintain hunger, and chart a proper course in life.”4 We lose the ability to listen to criticism and become resistant to changing our ways. We may come out as authoritarian, egotistical, and short-tempered as a result of this excessive pride.
An irate man shouting at someone and pointing the finger
Your ego pride prevents you from accepting failure and from owning up to your faults. Even when every indication points to the incorrect direction, you obstinately continue. Or worse, you intensify a poor decision or unhealthy way of living. Furthermore, ego pride causes you to lie to hide your errors when things go out of control. Before you ever blame yourself, you’ll blame everyone else.
Humility is the opposite of this:
When you experience [ego] pride, you should ask yourself, “What am I missing at the moment that someone who is more modest would notice? -Ryan Holiday4
Pride in the Nation
A great illustration of the difference between good and poor pride is national pride.
Because of the good we’ve done in the world and how far we’ve come, you may be proud of your nation while continuing to strive for improvement. I have dubbed this type of pride “growth mindset patriotism,” which inspires us to view our country as a work in progress. We may acknowledge the need for ongoing progress while yet feeling proud of what we’ve already achieved.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is depicted by an artist alongside an American flag.
However, you might also just be proud of your country as a matter of identity and principle. This type of pride elevates your nation beyond all others. It views our needs as more significant, our people as unique, and our way of life as superior. It is conceited and misguided. Adherents of this type of national pride declare “love it or leave it” and refuse to consider our country’s flaws.5 They oppose attempts to improve things and yearn for a return to a more idealized past. In fact, some “proud Americans” exhibit hyper-nationalism that uncannily resembles fascism.
But is being proud of oneself ever a good thing?
Healthy Self-Esteem
At an LGBTQ pride parade, a group of happy people wearing rainbows
I really believe that LGBTQ pride is a healthy sort of identity pride, which is supposedly about being glad of who you are. However, if we take a closer look, we can see that it’s truly about being proud of your decision to live freely and true to yourself despite the bigotry of some people. It’s also about being proud of your involvement in the struggle for equality, respect, and dignity.
Furthermore, I believe that if we examine any healthy type of identity pride closely, we will discover that it is more about pride in your achievements and the way you have chosen to live than it is about pride in something that is beyond your control.
The proud Black lady who defies sexism and prejudice in her daily life.
The proud student, considering how hard they worked to earn their degree.
Even the patriotic American, who is proud for the right reasons, is working to improve both this nation and the globe for all.
Are you prepared to change your life?
Wisdom on a regular basis will be beneficial!
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