Praise and Blame from "summary" of The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
In his work on human behavior, Adam Smith emphasizes the importance of both praise and blame for motivating individuals to act in accordance with their moral values. He argues that through both forms of recognition, people can be rewarded for their positive behavior and discouraged from their negative actions.- We can all agree that praise or blame is essential for our moral compass. Being praised reinforces good behavior while being blamed makes us seek to do better in the future.
- On one hand, too much praise might make us arrogant or overconfident. On the other hand, too much blame can get us stuck in negative feelings which block our progress.
- All of us experience emotions from external praises and blames, but sometimes we use our own judgment when deciding how to take it.
- Generally speaking, criticism helps us stay accountable, whereas compliments boost our confidence.
- People tend to crave both positive and constructive feedback; while praising our accomplishments keeps us motivated, thoughtful advice allows us to constantly learn and grow.
- Every individual has a unique way of interpreting both appreciation and criticism. What matters the most is that responsibility lays on ourselves to make smart decisions with each one of them.
