Protestant Work Ethic

Abstract

Abstract The notion of the “Protestant work ethic” (PWE) has its roots in Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism , first published in 1904, in which he espoused that the success of capitalism and economic growth throughout Western Europe and North America was partly the consequence of Puritanical values such as a calling to one's work and frugality with one's resources. Although Weber's writings emphasized how the Protestant Reformation was responsible for the rise of modern capitalism, psychological research has focused on PWE endorsement irrespective of religious affiliation or depth of religious commitment. Certainly, the essence of the “Protestant” work ethic can be seen in other religious teachings. For instance, the Prophet Mohammed preached that hard work absolved sins and that “no one eats better food than that which he eats out of his own work.” Indeed, as illustrated in the two quotations that began this article, the Protestant work ethic is a socially ubiquitous phenomenon no longer tied directly to religion. Today, psychologists use the term to refer to a conglomeration of beliefs encompassing (a) the belief that hard work yields desirable outcomes; (b) the importance of work in one's daily life; (c) the avoidance of wasting time; (d) an abhorrence of idleness; (e) the delay of immediate rewards for future rewards; (f) an emphasis on self‐reliance; and (g) the importance of behaving morally and ethically. Although there are several measures of PWE, the most commonly used measure asks respondents the extent to which they agree or disagree (typically using a 1–7 response range) with statements such as “The credit card is a ticket to careless spending,” “Most people who do not succeed in life are just plain lazy,” and “Our society would have fewer problems if people had less leisure time.”