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Pride: A positive emotion produced by an object in relation to the achievement of a positive goal or event. It's polar opposite is shame which is produced by an object in relation to the achievement of a negative goal or event.

The ability to "take pride in ones good works" is beneficial for the being producing it. Not only is the feeling of pride most agreeable but the positive re-enforcement of a positive in relation to a good act helps to create habitual patterns of good behavior.

Pride is not always good though. When the positive of pride is produced by an object in relation to a bad act or event this can have a detrimental effect on the being and society. This positive stimulus in relation to a bad action can have the effect of causing the reinforcement of the bad actions leading to habitually bad behavior in an irrational being who is led about by it's emotions.

Pride has traditionally been considered as a negative by Christianity. But this is caused by the being having absolutely no definition for the word or depth of understanding of the emotion. When defined and explained Pride is shown to be good in relation to good acts and bad in relation to bad acts.

The production of the positive emotion pride by an object exhibiting a certain property in relation to another being who exhibits the same property is also a positive. Good competition is healthy and leads to societal advancement and furthers the growth of beings. Whenever two beings share a similar property, that property is almost never exactly equal between them. For example, by comparing any two beings who can run, one will always be able to run faster then the other or for a longer duration. Taking pride in ones ability to do a specific good thing better then another being is positive. While taking pride in ones ability to do a specific bad thing better then another being is a negative. For example, if I felt pride in my ability to cause the production of fear or another negative emotion such as envy or hate in another being.
It is bad to take pleasure (pride) by causing another being to suffer either emotionally or physically.

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