Interesting question.

I suppose the question is also what leads one to develop a sense of internal praise? And whether for someone who doesn't seek praise from others, or to respond to it, is it a part of personality or a defense?

You know what? Praise always came at a price for me growing up. It was a set up somehow almost every time. The person wanted something even MORE from me. Oh, that was great, now how about THIS? Do this now, since you proved you can do that. Or ... it was a situation where they would praise one thing I did well as proof I deliberately screwed up something else. They would say nice things ABOUT me to other people -- offering things I did well as proof of what great people or parents they were. Praise was never a good thing, or really about me.

This was my experience, too. Praise always came with strings attached. And it wasn't for my benefit, but a reflection of my parents' esteem. Somehow, it always felt demeaning, as though it were given not as a gift, but used as a way to humiliate.

My T rarely praised me. I definitely never sought his praise. The only instance I can think of was once when he said something about my doing good work in a session. And I felt peeved because what I heard was him saying that I hadn't done good work in other sessions. And disappointed because it made me feel disconnected from him since he hadn't perceived how hard I'd worked in every session. Pure transference, of course, but very powerful. So for me, not looking for praise, and feeling uncomfortable with it, was definitely a defense against past pain.