Recognition (sociology)

Recognition in sociology is the public acknowledgment of a person's status or merits (achievements, virtues, service, etc.).^[1]

In psychology, excessively seeking for recognition is regarded as one of the defining traits of a narcissistic personality disorder.^[2]

Another example of recognition is when some person is accorded some special status, such as title or classification. ^[3]

According to Charles Taylor, recognition of one's identity is both a fundamental need and a right, and non- or misrecognition is a form of oppression.^[4]

In the workplace, recognition has been suggested to increase employee engagement, continuous improvement behaviour, trust in the organization, intention to stay, and satisfaction with management.^[5][6][7] Others, like Alfie Kohn in Punished by Rewards, point out the dangers of using praise to show recognition, since it may induce compliance in the short-term, but negatively impact quality in the workplace long-term.^[8]