validation

everyone needs a little validation now and then.

in fact, life is one huge process of validation.
you act, someone acknowledges, and you respond further to that acknowledgment.

in itself, that is validation.
the affirmation that a certain action that you take has value to someone else.

validation is therefore important as a social reinforcer, and as a nurturer of what we deem as appropriate actions and responses. the importance of validation is seen in many social theories, and is a primary backbone to Erikson's psychosocial dissertation. people build themselves up from childhood all the way to adulthood through the process of positive and negative validations.

hence relationships, any relationships, are a product of some sort of validation process. constant validation is needed to ensure that all parties in the relationship are a part of, rather than apart from. consider working in a group, and you do a mass email. some reply and some don't. for those who replied, it is a direct signal and validation that they have processed the email (positive validation). for those who don't, you are not too sure if they feel strongly, or even have read the email (negative validation).

so we begin to see that in building relationships, validation remains crucial to ensuring the relationship works. many a times, we quarrel and disagree, because there is a lack of validation.
one party perceives a lack of affirmation, and based on certain social rules and norms, judges that situation to be uncharacteristic of a good relationship. cumulative effects from multiple incidents may result in a biased analysis, and cause disharmony.

point in note - everyone needs a little validation now and then. do not take things for granted.