selfapprobation

Self-approbation is the act or state of approving of oneself, reflecting self-satisfaction with one’s actions, beliefs, or character. In English usage it can carry neutral or positive connotations of internal moral endorsement, but it is also used pejoratively to denote complacency, smugness, or self-righteousness that lacks external accountability.

The term blends self- with approbation, the latter meaning formal or enthusiastic approval. Historically, it appears in moral and religious discourse as a criterion of virtue: a person may seek internal self-approval as a compass for conduct, independent of public praise. In rhetoric, discussions of self-approbation are often weighed against the importance of external judgments or communal norms.

In contemporary language and psychology, self-approbation is not a strict technical term but relates to self-esteem, self-evaluation, and moral self-regulation. A healthy level of self-approbation aligns actions with personal values, while excessive self-approbation can indicate narcissism, vanity, or a disconnect from feedback and social consequences.

See also: self-esteem, self-regard, self-criticism, self-approval.