The Social Development of Grit

• In Event: 499 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Roundtable Session.
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 02. Psychosocial Influences on Well-Being

Abstract

Sociologists have long been concerned with individual and social factors that contribute to status attainment. Grit, the disposition of pursuing effort and interest over the course of years, is introduced as an individual-level attribute that is highly predictive of educational and professional achievements (Duckworth et al. 2007). Despite their clear stance of viewing grit as being essential to achievement, grit researchers have not provided a clear explanation about where grit comes from. We examine the socio-demographic profiles of grit and empirically demonstrate the relationship between grit and a sense of control, which refers to the belief that people can control their life outcomes (Mirowsky and Ross 1991), illustrating how social structure influences this psychological component, grit, that is closely linked to achievement. Using data from a new survey, the Moral Schemas, Cultural Conflict, and Socio-political Action (2014), this study presents evidence that education, religiosity, and self-rated health are associated with grit, and particularly the sense of control is highly predictive of grit. The findings of this study suggest that grit, as a measurable skill, has a great deal to add to sociological discussions of status attainment and life course.

Authors

• Hye Won Kwon, University of Iowa

• Steven Hitlin, University of Iowa

• Rengin Bahar Firat, Georgia State University