Pride

• In Event: Complex Emotions in Media-Psychology Research

Abstract

Pride is one of the self-conscious emotions (e.g., guilt, shame, and embarrassment) that involve self-reflection and self-evaluation. Individuals experience pride when they approve their praiseworthy action. Although pride is vital in developing self-esteem and coping with ego-threat, it has received little research attention in media psychology. Two facets of pride will be introduced: authentic vs. hubristic pride. The former attributes a praiseworthy action to one’s own effort and reflects a sense of achievement and mastery (i.e., self-esteem). In contrast, the latter attributes a praiseworthy action to one’s own ability and reflects a sense of arrogance and superiority (i.e., narcissism). The views of pride are also culturally divergent. Western (vs. Eastern) people may value pride highly, experience pride intensely, express pride freely, and savor (vs. dampen) pride fully. Finally, how we express (or suppress) pride and how we regain pride through media messages in new media environments will be also discussed.

Author

• Jinhee Kim, Pohang University of Science and Technology