Does Working Hard Really Make You a Good Person? | Azim Shariff | TED

Individual Insights

At the individual level, effort is often moralized, meaning people view hard work as a sign of good character. Azim Shariff shares the story of his friend Paul, who consistently puts effort into his morning runs despite the struggle, illustrating how effort can be seen as a moral quality 1. This perception extends to various qualities like generosity and self-control, which are also seen as moral because they make someone a better cooperation partner 2.

We're all trying to surround ourselves with people who will help us out in a pinch, who won't slack off, who will share things fairly.

--- Azim Shariff

This heuristic that hard workers are good people is deeply ingrained in our social interactions.

   

Cultural Perspectives

The moralization of effort transcends cultural boundaries, suggesting a universal perception of hard work as virtuous. Azim Shariff notes that in studies conducted across different cultures, including South Korea, France, and among the Hadza people in Tanzania, hard workers are consistently viewed as more moral, even when their efforts do not yield additional value 2. This phenomenon, termed "effort moralization," highlights a deep-rooted belief that effort itself is inherently good.

This intuitive connection between effort and morality doesn't appear to be the quirk of any one culture, but potentially something very deep indeed.

--- Azim Shariff

Such findings challenge the notion that the Protestant work ethic is the sole driver of this belief, pointing instead to a broader, possibly universal, human tendency.