APPROBATION

an expression of praise of approval

official recognition or approval

"If you were really a man you wouldn't need approbation."

"The insecure person understands their self worth as the opinion others have of them, whereas the secure strong man does not need any sort of approbation to know he is great.

"As he grew up it was these small approbations that his parents believed were keeping him on the right track, in reality, these experssions of praise and approval were a crutch which prevented Tim from standing solely on his own two feet."

"He new it was silly but he attended these ceremonies because he couldn't resist the effect these approbations had on his self-esteem."