The desire for others’ esteem is as basic a human want as hunger

Evidence

Esteem is the backbone of status hierarchies, and this form of social approval acts as a benefit in its own right. We like feeling liked. In his old age the U.S. President John Adams concluded, “The desire of the esteem of others is as real a want of nature as hunger; and the neglect and contempt of the world as severe a pain as the gout or stone.” Social approval makes us feel that our talents are recognized, and this leads to increased self-esteem. “The familiar yearning to ‘be someone’ in life,” writes Cecilia Ridgeway, “is not so much about money and power as about being publicly seen and acknowledged as worthy and valuable by the community.” — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 64

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the trust literature already in the library (Gambetta and Gambetta/Bacharach) where esteem and reputation operate as social currencies. — connects to: Seeking status is a fundamental human desire that never reaches satiation — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 22; Shyness drives a desire to annihilate the body as seen by others; Self-esteem is as vital as food for human psychological survival — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core: On the Role of…, 268 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Self-esteem is as vital as food for human psychological survival #expands (0.92) — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 268
• Individual self-esteem and emotions depend on the standing of one’s social groups #corroborates (0.82)
• Mere group membership suffices to trigger self-esteem-linked favoritism. #exemplifies (0.80) — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 126
• Insecurity about one’s status triggers reflexive disparagement of others. #exemplifies (0.78) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 115
• Shyness drives a desire to annihilate the body as seen by others #qualifies (0.75)
• Being-for-others is suffered rather than actively existed #complicates (0.74)