We Need to Expand Our View of Societal Contribution

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In my last newsletter, I shared the Human Flourishing Lab's latest Progress Pulse survey which revealed an encouraging picture: most American adults believe they have the power and responsibility to improve the world and that they are actively doing so. However, we also found that over one-third of Americans don't believe they are making important contributions to the world. In this week's newsletter, I want to explore how our culture's narrow view of what counts as a meaningful societal contribution might help explain this finding. 

Before exploring how our culture potentially shapes perceptions of contribution, I should acknowledge other important factors. Some Americans might feel they aren't making important contributions because they face external barriers to pursuing their ambitions and reaching their full potential. Such barriers often require public policy solutions. Our team at the Arcbridge Institute is doing work in this space, focusing on topics such as barriers to social mobility. 

But here I want to focus on culture and psychology. More specifically, I want to examine whether we undervalue certain types of contributions in our culture. Our views about what counts as a valuable contribution could affect both how people recognize their own impact and their engagement in activities that are critical to human flourishing and progress. As noted, just over one-third of American adults don't believe they are currently contributing to improving the world. What's more, education correlates strongly with whether individuals believe they are making a difference. We found that 70% of college graduates believe they are contributing to improving the world, compared to only 57% of those without a college education.

A recent series of studies published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology offers valuable insight into why so many Americans, particularly those without college education, don't see themselves as making meaningful contributions to society.

Similar to our Progress Pulse findings, the researchers found that Americans with less formal education reported feeling they contributed less to society than those with more education. This pattern extended beyond personal assessment. Those with less education also believed others saw their contributions as less valuable.

To understand why this disparity exists, the researchers conducted studies examining how Americans evaluate different types of helping behavior. For example, in one revealing study, participants evaluated two people who each spent one evening per week tutoring a younger student who needed academic help. The only difference was that one person tutored a student in an after-school program while the other tutored their younger cousin. Participants consistently rated the after-school program tutoring as more of a contribution to society than the family tutoring, even though the help provided was identical. This preference emerged regardless of participants' education level. The researchers also found this difference stemmed, in part, from perceptions of choice. Helping individuals outside of one’s family was seen as more of a free choice, while helping family was viewed as more of an obligation. 

The researchers' final study drew on data from a large, representative sample of Americans tracked over several years. They discovered that people with more formal education spent more time doing volunteer work for strangers and people with less formal education spent more time helping family members and close others. Moreover, these differences helped explain why those with less education have lower perceptions of societal contribution. Specifically, volunteering for strangers emerged as a stronger predictor of self-perceived societal contribution than providing unpaid assistance to family and close others.

These findings reveal that our cultural conceptions of societal contribution and human agency are too narrow. The fact that we feel a stronger sense of duty to help family members doesn't make these contributions any less valuable to society. Strong families are essential building blocks of free and flourishing societies. When family members invest time and energy in helping each other develop capabilities, pursue opportunities, take creative and entrepreneurial risks, and overcome challenges, they are making important contributions to both individual and societal wellbeing. 

In addition, the presence of family obligations doesn't diminish our agency. Choosing to act on our perceived duties to family and other loved ones represents a meaningful expression of personal agency. While we may feel strong pressures or obligations toward family, each individual must ultimately decide whether to embrace these responsibilities and how best to fulfill them. Even in the face of powerful family expectations, we exercise choice when we decide to invest our time and energy in supporting those close to us.

Better recognizing family support as agentic action and meaningful societal contribution could help many Americans understand that serving loved ones is also serving society. Recall that over one-third of Americans, and 43% of those without college degrees, don't believe they are making important contributions to society. Many Americans are engaged in activities focused on helping their families, friends, coworkers, and neighbors thrive. It appears that many don't view these vital efforts as contributing to society. What's needed is a broader cultural recognition of how serving those in our immediate social networks enriches our communities and advances human flourishing and progress.

Have a great weekend!

Clay