Name: Does working hard really make you a good person?
Uploaded: 2023-05-11T14:58:34Z
Duration: 12 min 27 s
Description: Around the world, people who work hard are often seen as morally good -- even if they produce little to no results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff analyzes the roots of this belief and suggests a shift towards a more meaningful way to think about effort, rather than admiring work for work's sake.

Azim Shariff: Does working hard really make you a good person?

Does working hard really make you a good person?

Around the world, people who work hard are often seen as morally good -- even if they produce little to no results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff analyzes the roots of this belief and suggests a shift towards a more meaningful way to think about effort, rather than admiring work for work's sake.

Society often equates working hard with being a good person, even when that effort produces nothing meaningful. In studies across cultures, people viewed those who struggle more at a task as more virtuous, despite no extra results. This deep-rooted belief drives people to signal effort for its own sake, fueling unhealthy work habits and pointless labor. Shifting focus from effort to meaningful outcomes could foster more purposeful lives and workplaces.