Why Man Needs Approval by Marsha Enright
"Only the understanding and reactions of another consciousness can give him concrete, specific, and timely feedback about himself".
It is in our nature to have a desire to be recognized; we like to be acknowledged for our achievements, we value positive responses. We get to know ourselves more through our friends; a friend is another self.
"We can contemplate of our neighbors better than ourselves and their actions better than our own".
I. Concretizing the Self
- Reason is what distinguishes us from other animals, and it also finds concrete forms: memory, imagination and perception.
- Love is what enables man to perceive his self in the world.
- Art and love were created to concretize the abstract; to concretize ideas and values. They objectify each individual values and knowledge.
We need social interaction. Flourishing as an integral human being requires social interaction and independence.
II. Animal Company
"Enjoyment of interactions with other sentient beings is not confined to the human species".
- We are not confined to interact only with human beings, in fact we interact with animals too. Higher order animals also seek and enjoy positive interactions with members of other species.
"The need for interaction is a result of the activities necessary for the growth of a complex intelligence. The need for interaction is a fusion of cognitive with the motivational for survival purposes; cognitive development is advanced during during the pursuit of pleasurable interactions".
III. Interaction in Development
-The highest purpose of interacting with one another is to receive feedback, positive feedback, because we want to understand and know ourselves. This feedback is given through facial, physical or verbal expressions. Through feedback we develop our minds.
"Smiling affords an opportunity for awareness of the other's feelings and consciousness during interpersonal interaction".
"The personal presence and tactile contact of another seems essential to make the injured person feel better and -in many cases- to survive".
IV. Sensitivity and Independence
The lack of positive feedback or the presence of negative feedback can cripple a person's cognitive capabilities in regard to his relationships to other people.
- Motivation to learn and to develop oneself is essential to human beings.
"One must be aware of natural individual levels of sensitivity to others and not confuse it with lack of independece in judgment. One should not presume that any concern for the feelings and thoughts of others or any desire to be liked by others must spring from lack of independence, debased motives, weakness of character, or "social metaphysics".
"Desiring the positive regard and positive reactions of others is a part of our rational and our animal nature. We should channel and integrate those desires for our own highest happiness".
"We can contemplate of our neighbors better than ourselves and their actions better than our own".
I. Concretizing the Self
- Reason is what distinguishes us from other animals, and it also finds concrete forms: memory, imagination and perception.
- Love is what enables man to perceive his self in the world.
- Art and love were created to concretize the abstract; to concretize ideas and values. They objectify each individual values and knowledge.
- Art concretizes, its purpose is to make the potential seem real.
- Love: one's need of love is a consequence of one's rational nature; it derives from a need to objectify one's deepest values of self.
We need social interaction. Flourishing as an integral human being requires social interaction and independence.
II. Animal Company
"Enjoyment of interactions with other sentient beings is not confined to the human species".
- We are not confined to interact only with human beings, in fact we interact with animals too. Higher order animals also seek and enjoy positive interactions with members of other species.
"The need for interaction is a result of the activities necessary for the growth of a complex intelligence. The need for interaction is a fusion of cognitive with the motivational for survival purposes; cognitive development is advanced during during the pursuit of pleasurable interactions".
III. Interaction in Development
-The highest purpose of interacting with one another is to receive feedback, positive feedback, because we want to understand and know ourselves. This feedback is given through facial, physical or verbal expressions. Through feedback we develop our minds.
"Smiling affords an opportunity for awareness of the other's feelings and consciousness during interpersonal interaction".
"The personal presence and tactile contact of another seems essential to make the injured person feel better and -in many cases- to survive".
IV. Sensitivity and Independence
The lack of positive feedback or the presence of negative feedback can cripple a person's cognitive capabilities in regard to his relationships to other people.
- Motivation to learn and to develop oneself is essential to human beings.
"One must be aware of natural individual levels of sensitivity to others and not confuse it with lack of independece in judgment. One should not presume that any concern for the feelings and thoughts of others or any desire to be liked by others must spring from lack of independence, debased motives, weakness of character, or "social metaphysics".
"Desiring the positive regard and positive reactions of others is a part of our rational and our animal nature. We should channel and integrate those desires for our own highest happiness".