The Validation Theory

n 2008 I graduated with a degree in Psychology/ Sociology and have been wondering since what I was going to do with my degree. Thus, like any other any sociologist I will finally give a term to something that people have noticed all long but never classified.

I would like to introduce what I call The Validation Theory. It is highly likely to yield its self in the insecure and/ or persons with low self esteem.

Person A does not do a particular task, but someone close (Person B) in his/her life does this particular task. Albeit fairly well. Person A looks up to person B because of their ability to do this task. Person A feels lacking because they don’t do what ever it is that Person B does, and perhaps feels afraid that Person B looks down upon them because they don’t do this particular job. Thus, when anything that closely resembles the before mentioned task arises Person A will jump at it in an attempt to prove to Person B that they can fulfill that certain task. If Person B is not present to view Person A doing this task, Person A will look for opportunities to tell Person B about how they did something like Person B.

This process will continue over and over again until Person A receives validation in some form from Person B. This may be immediate or over several years.

The task that Person B does that Person A mimics can be anything from a job, hobby, cultural taste, or even a sort of athletic performance.

Take notice of those around you. Do you see anyone around you who yearns for the validation of a friend, parent, sibling, co-worker, pastor, etc… so badly enough they seek to mimic them in an attempt just to earn their acceptance?