Vanity and fear, particularly ghost fear, were influential forces that drove primitive human beings into society, along with food hunger and sex love. [1] Vanity was an early cause of war, driven by the desire to exhibit tribal prowess and impose superior ways of life on inferior groups. [2]
Early humans exhibited considerable vanity in addition to admiration for objects and other beings, marking a significant advance in emotional development towards worshipful feelings like awe, reverence, humility, and gratitude as the foundation of primitive religion. [3] Wearing extra clothing was an early badge of distinction, appealing to the pride of man in displaying property accumulations. [4]
Vanity, pride, ambition, and honor hold men together and contribute to the formation of human associations, as they are futile without an audience to parade before. [5] Refrain from oppression, condemnation, and vanity to fulfill your purpose and bring restoration to the world. [6] Secrecy appeals to vanity, as it bestowed a sense of mystery and social aristocracy upon the members of these societies. [7] Vanity threatens to swamp present-day civilization, as unbridled self-gratification replaces legitimate social aims of self-maintenance. [8]