Concept
Praise
Overview
Praise as a form of social interaction expresses recognition, reassurance or admiration.
Praise is expressed verbally as well as by body language (facial expression and gestures).
Verbal praise consists of a positive evaluations of another's attributes or actions, where the evaluator presumes the validity of the standards on which the evaluation is based.
As a form of social manipulation, praise becomes a form of reward and furthers behavioral reinforcement by conditioning. The influence of praise on an individual can depend on many factors, including the context, the meanings the praise may convey, and the characteristics and interpretations of the recipient.
While praise may share some predictive relationships (both positive and negative) with tangible (material) rewards, praise tends to be less salient and expected, conveys more information about competence, and is typically given more immediately after the desired behavior.
Praise is distinct from acknowledgement or feedback (more neutral forms of recognition) and from encouragement (expressedly future-oriented).
Praise is given across social hierarchy, and both within the ingroup and towards an outgroup; it is an important aspect in the regulation of social hierarchy and the maintenance of group cohesion, influencing the potential for political action and social upheaval. When given by a dominant individual it takes the form of recognition and reassurance;
when given by a submissive to a dominant individual it takes the form of deference, admiration or exultation,
or deification. Praise of gods may form part of religious rites and practices (see for example prayer of praise and praise and worship). Praise of self may be contrasted with modesty in self-description.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Praise is discussed.
"Eating and wantonness and love's delights Are all I value," with "Learning and those grand things the Muses teach one Are all I value." Such self-praise is good and useful and teaches people to admire and love what is valuable and expedient instead of what is vain and superfluous. Let so much suffice on the question proposed. Sec. XVIII. It remains to me now to point out, what our subject next demands and calls…
Plutarch, Plutarch's Morals
a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; names the idea
_The Prophet exhorteth to praise God for his care of the church, his power, and his mercy:—to praise him for his providence:—to praise him for his blessings upon the kingdom, for his power over the meteors, and for his ordinances in the church._ Praise ye the LORD: for _it is_ good to sing praises unto our God; for _it is_ pleasant, _and_ praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the…
Martin Luther, A manual of the book of Psalms
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Praise and blame express what actually are, praise-worthiness and blame-worthiness what naturally ought to be, the sentiments of other people with regard to our character and conduct. The love of praise is the desire of obtaining the favourable sentiments of our brethren. The love of praise-worthiness is the desire of rendering ourselves the proper objects of those sentiments. So far those two principles resemble…
Adam Smith, The Essays of Adam Smith
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Praise is the reflection of virtue; but it is glass, or body, which giveth the reflection. If it be from the common people, it is commonly false and naught, and rather followeth vain persons than virtuous; for the common people understand not many excellent virtues.
Francis Bacon, Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; commentary markers; states what it is; opens on it
We are pleased not only with praise, but with having done what is praise-worthy. We are pleased to think that we have rendered ourselves the natural objects of approbation, though no approbation, should ever actually be bestowed upon us: and we are mortified to reflect that we have justly incurred…
Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Related ideas
Place in the tradition
Part of Free will.