<p>Looking for acknowledgment is so important trait that some authors extracted specific contruct which can be responsible for this tendency - need for social approval. Polish researchers use Social Approval Questionnaire (by Drwal, 1995) next to the other tests, in order to exclude from their data base unreliable responses. It can be interesting for you what kind of questions are in this Questionarie. They are for example:</p>

<ul>
<li>I have never been late for school.</li>
<li>I have got friends who I don't like. etc.</li>
</ul>

<p>These questions are obvious for people whose need for social approval is not pathological. ALL of us was late for school, even one time. And there is no person who like everyone. People who are looking for acknowledgment, whose need for approval is very big, answer YES in those questions.</p>

<p>You can also read more in some english sources.</p>

<p>Bibliography</p>

<p>1) Drwal (1995), Kwestionariusz Aprobaty Społecznej KAS (Social Approval Questionnaire)</p>

<p>2) Millham (1980) Need for social approval: Impression management or self-deception?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T21:56:49.937Z
I owe you another upvote (I've already used my maximum for yesterday), but I encourage you to add anything you might know about *why* some people have strong need for approval, as I think this was the main interest of the original post (OP). As the OP points out, some minimal need for approval seems nearly universal, so the basic mechanism underlying this motive is of interest, not just the degree of individual variation and associated measurement issues...but if you meant to suggest reading these articles for theoretical answers to those underlying questions too, that would be quite helpful!
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-01T09:49:36.600Z
I think reading more about social approval will result with better understanding its deeper conditions. In psychology there are many such constructs which we can describe and describe but always can still ask "But why?". I'm interested in psychoanalytic theories, and my understanding of human mind often leads to these deepest sources of our needs, traits etc. - I see these sources in sb's earliest years of life. Excpecially such contructs as seek for acknowledgment which are conected with society can be consider in psychoanalytic way. (more in the next comment)
Zuzanna Kowalska
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-01T09:50:36.097Z
An example of possible explanation is what kind of style of attachment has one person. There are 4 styles of attachment based on Ainsworth works: secure, ambivalent, avoidant and disorganised. Children wiht secure style will feel secure and self-confidently in their adult life, among other people. They will probably look for social approval less. In contrast, people with ambivalent attachment style feel 
insecure in interpersonal contacts, so they will probably look for acknowledgment more.
Zuzanna Kowalska
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-01T09:51:19.013Z
--> Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: 
A psychological study of the Strange Situation. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Zuzanna Kowalska
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T21:45:18.150Z
2014-04-30T21:45:18.150Z
Zuzanna Kowalska
<p>I don't think I need to give evidence that people do seek acknowledgement; if it's not from parents, it's from lovers or friends. It can be things as big as life ambitions/achievements (e.g. 'I will support your dreams are!', to smaller things like acknowledging you understand ('I understand what you're going through').</p>

<p>Possible pointers:</p>

<ul>
<li>What makes us seek acknowledgement? (evolutionarily-wired or socially-induced)</li>
<li>What is the process that turns this acknowledgement into a good feeling?</li>
</ul>

<p>I've come across a lot of blogs and opinions, I am interested in seeing if there's any scientific research on this.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-15T07:10:58.587Z
Since I am not an expert, I will only post a comment. People seek acknowledgement because it reinforces their self image. It says to them that the person they have chosen to become has value that others recognize. That provides security for them within their social context, as well.
John Yetter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-18T12:57:00.490Z
Have a look to the book your erroneous zones: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Erroneous-Zones-Step-Step/dp/0060919760
Revious
<social-psychology><emotion><evolution>
Why (and how) do people seek acknowledgement?
dayuloli
# Why (and how) do people seek acknowledgement?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-14)

I don't think I need to give evidence that people do seek acknowledgement; if it's not from parents, it's from lovers or friends. It can be things as big as life ambitions/achievements (e.g. 'I will support your dreams are!', to smaller things like acknowledging you understand ('I understand what you're going through').

Possible pointers:

* What makes us seek acknowledgement? (evolutionarily-wired or socially-induced)
* What is the process that turns this acknowledgement into a good feeling?

I've come across a lot of blogs and opinions, I am interested in seeing if there's any scientific research on this.

**Tags:** social-psychology, emotion, evolution

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Since I am not an expert, I will only post a comment. People seek acknowledgement because it reinforces their self image. It says to them that the person they have chosen to become has value that others recognize. That provides security for them within their social context, as well.  
> **username_2**: Have a look to the book your erroneous zones: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Erroneous-Zones-Step-Step/dp/0060919760  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-30. Score: 1

Looking for acknowledgment is so important trait that some authors extracted specific contruct which can be responsible for this tendency - need for social approval. Polish researchers use Social Approval Questionnaire (by Drwal, 1995) next to the other tests, in order to exclude from their data base unreliable responses. It can be interesting for you what kind of questions are in this Questionarie. They are for example:

* I have never been late for school.
* I have got friends who I don't like. etc.

These questions are obvious for people whose need for social approval is not pathological. ALL of us was late for school, even one time. And there is no person who like everyone. People who are looking for acknowledgment, whose need for approval is very big, answer YES in those questions.

You can also read more in some english sources.

Bibliography

1) Drwal (1995), Kwestionariusz Aprobaty Społecznej KAS (Social Approval Questionnaire)

2) Millham (1980) Need for social approval: Impression management or self-deception?

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I owe you another upvote (I've already used my maximum for yesterday), but I encourage you to add anything you might know about *why* some people have strong need for approval, as I think this was the main interest of the original post (OP). As the OP points out, some minimal need for approval seems nearly universal, so the basic mechanism underlying this motive is of interest, not just the degree of individual variation and associated measurement issues...but if you meant to suggest reading these articles for theoretical answers to those underlying questions too, that would be quite helpful!  
> **username_3**: I think reading more about social approval will result with better understanding its deeper conditions. In psychology there are many such constructs which we can describe and describe but always can still ask "But why?". I'm interested in psychoanalytic theories, and my understanding of human mind often leads to these deepest sources of our needs, traits etc. - I see these sources in sb's earliest years of life. Excpecially such contructs as seek for acknowledgment which are conected with society can be consider in psychoanalytic way. (more in the next comment)  
> **username_3**: An example of possible explanation is what kind of style of attachment has one person. There are 4 styles of attachment based on Ainsworth works: secure, ambivalent, avoidant and disorganised. Children wiht secure style will feel secure and self-confidently in their adult life, among other people. They will probably look for social approval less. In contrast, people with ambivalent attachment style feel  insecure in interpersonal contacts, so they will probably look for acknowledgment more.  
> **username_3**: --> Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment:  A psychological study of the Strange Situation. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.  

---

