“I’m proud of you”: Investigating the antecedents and functions of vicarious pride

Abstract

Over the last two decades, pride has attracted substantial interest from affective scientists. Curiously, however, considerations of pride have, for the most part, omitted one key feature of this emotion: that it can be felt in relation to the achievements of others. To date, no research has systematically investigated the nature and functions of pride arising from the success of others, that is, vicarious pride. The research presented in this dissertation addressed this gap by providing initial evidence regarding potential antecedents and functions of vicarious pride. The research presented herein tests novel proposed accounts of the antecedents and functions of vicarious pride. Potential antecedents were drawn from extant theorising, results from a qualitative study, and previous research on the affective responses to others’ achievements. A functional account of vicarious pride, comprising both intrapersonal and interpersonal functions, was proposed based on theoretical considerations. In line with recent trends towards the differentiation of positive emotions, the present research also sought to determine the extent to which vicarious pride is a unique affective experience. The proposed antecedent and function accounts of vicarious pride were tested across a series of nine studies that adopted a range of sampling techniques (university participants, community samples), methodological designs (correlational, experimental), emotion induction techniques (interpersonal, vignette), measurement techniques (self-report, behavioural), and analysis techniques (structural equation modelling, multiple regression, t-tests). The studies reported in this dissertation suggest that vicarious pride is a distinct affective experience that has unique antecedents and drives adaptive outcomes at both the intrapersonal and interpersonal level. Specifically, the results suggest that vicarious pride arises in response to achievements of close, highly liked others, when the achievement has positive implications for the future, and the achievement does not represent a personal cost to oneself. The results also suggest that vicarious pride serves to motivate personal goal pursuit, support for others’ goal pursuit, and relationship maintenance behaviours. Finally, results suggest that vicarious pride is, at least in part, distinct from generalised positive affect and self-oriented pride. Advancing both theory and methodology, these findings are the first to shed light on the antecedents and functions of vicarious pride and, as such, pave the path for continued research into the dynamics of this socially-oriented emotion.