Is hard work a true measure of moral character?
We often equate diligence with virtue, even when that effort yields no tangible results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff examines why this global belief persists and proposes a more meaningful way to evaluate human effort.
In this 2023 episode, Azim Shariff explores the widespread tendency to view hardworking individuals as morally superior. This perception often persists even in cases where the labor produces little to no actual output. Shariff investigates the psychological roots of this association between effort and goodness, ultimately suggesting that we should move away from admiring work for its own sake and instead adopt a perspective focused on more meaningful outcomes.
Source: Azim Shariff: Does working hard really make you a good person?
