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Answering a reader’s question, psychologist Alexander Tkachenko talks about identifying pride at its roots.<\/em><\/p>\n I would view the development of pride as a path of throwing down authority. Instead of learning something useful from others, a person who follows that path looks for reasons to devalue them in his own eyes. And suddenly it turns out that it doesn’t take much effort to find plenty of weaknesses in our neighbour. It\u2019s only natural, because all mortals have them.<\/p>\n Pride begins with an unhealthy desire to compare to others and to elevate oneself in that comparison. Such self-exaltation always entails distancing or even separation from others, because it is impossible to consider yourself more beautiful, clever, successful or more talented than others while at the same time remaining on a par with them. If we see that our self-esteem consistently separates us from one person after another, to the point of making us disconnected from the entire team, then it\u2019s time to question its adequacy.<\/p>\n Pride is always opposed to humility, and it seems to me that one of the possible meanings of humility is reconciliation. Humility helps us reconcile and reunite with the people, that, because of our pride, we move away from. It brings us together, ultimately making us closer to God.<\/p>\n Abba Dorotheus of Gaza gives a very accurate description of pride\u2019s beginnings in his Teachings. \u201cTruly, my brethren, I know one person who once came to this miserable state. At first, he disparaged everyone who said anything to him, and objected, \u201cWhat kind of authority is such and such? There is no one worthy except Zosima and his like. \u00abThen he began to condemn these just as well and say, “There is no one worthy but Macarius.” A little later, he began to speak differently, \u201cWho is Macarius? There is no one worthy except Basil and Gregory.” But soon he began to condemn those also, saying, \u201cWhat is Basil? Who is Gregory? There is no one worthy but Peter and Paul.” I told him, “Truly, brother, you will soon begin to humiliate them also.” And believe me, after a while he began to say, \u201cWho is Peter? What is Paul? Nobody means anything except the Holy Trinity. “Finally, he became proud against God Himself and thus lost his mind.”<\/p>\n Oddly enough, ostentatious and exaggerated self-belittling can also be a manifestation of pride, separating us from people and from God. That does not relate to situations when a person evaluates himself sensibly, admits his imperfection and acknowledges the need to work on himself. But there are cases when a person simply keeps repeating \u201cI am the worst of all\u201d, as if testifying to his correct spiritual mood by emphasizing his \u201cworthlessness\u201d. That kind of \u201cworst of all\u201d also presumes separation from people and from God, Who expects a person to combat his sins with His help rather than give up joy and hope because of them.<\/p>\n