GRIT
The Paired Statements for Grit:
“Setbacks only encourage me more. I finish whatever I begin.”
Figure 1. GRIT espousers
Demographically this is skewed to over 65s and under-indexed in the 18-21s; significantly over-indexed among the ABs; and with differences between genders.
About 48% of the UK population agrees with the above statement to a greater or lesser extent – but 52% say this is not like them. The profile of the espousers is skewed toward both Pioneers and Prospectors, with the Settlers responding in line with their overall profile.
Behaviour driven by this attitude is seen as a virtue by many people – the ability to stick to what you started and to see obstacles as opportunities – yet fewer than 50% population agrees it describes them.
Not surprisingly, those espousing the Grit Attribute rank the Searching Attribute as the highest among their top half dozen. These people are committed to looking for their purpose in life. In their search they are open to new experience in a way that may seem alien to others. They choose to try new ways of being, by immersing themselves in a variety of different ways. Once immersed in the experience they will want to find out what it is like to complete the task.
This ‘stick to it’ attitude is not a mindless “I must finish this because others will think less of me if I don’t”. It is much more about “I choose to finish this because I want to experience the feeling of fulfilment” that comes from immersion in and completion of a task. They are coming to realize that meaning is derived from understanding the dynamics within situations, and this is why, for them, a ‘limited’ numbers of immersive experiences is better than a wide range of ‘superficial’ experiences. With this in mind, they approach most situations in life with a deep awareness that their search for meaning, and the task itself, are inextricably bound together. Sticking to something, even when it is difficult, is part of their journey, not an obstacle to it.
This orientation creates its own dynamic and leads to a deep appreciation of their own life. They are 65% more likely than the population to believe they have “so much in life to be grateful for”. Their immersion in tasks, thoughts and behaviours reveals the little things within any and every experience - the little details that are missed or misinterpreted by those with only a passing awareness of or engagement in the situation. There is a virtuous cycle of sticking to something, knowing that it will lead insights into life’s journey, and the feeling that comes with being aware of fine nuances that come from ‘really knowing’ something. This is why they feel the list of things they are are grateful for in life would be “a very long list”.
Grit espousers highly rank the Ambition Attribute – agreeing that they are ambitious to create something of lasting value, and that is the highest goal in life. This is a very energetic approach and strongly suggests why they stick with any path they chose to follow. They would concur that achieving great things, those of highest value, is not something that occurs overnight. Master practitioners of any ilk are the result of grit and perseverance, not a result of luck and random happenstance. Having ambitions to create something of lasting value, they will be aware that it will take time; and it would seem that they are becoming aware that their striving is likely to transform them into people with even longer “gratitude lists” – a self-reinforcing loop of motivation and reward.
This desire to create something of lasting value is, for the most part, NOT driven by a propensity to acquire and display symbols of value. The Prospectors are the exception to this – but more of that in the Maslow Group analysis. This general profile indicates that most of those espousing Grit are driven by their core values to create their version of a ‘better world’, rather than driving to accumulate and display more ‘things’.
The Grit espousers, filtering the world through their own high-standards and long-term orientation, can be brutal in their honesty and understanding of themselves and others. They try to be clear in terms of their values and objectives – both with themselves and others. They believe that lying leads to a loss of trust; and they are not willing to lie, even if that brings them trouble.
They realize that this stance can cause discomfort in others when they testify to their truths. They are not just unwilling to lie about their objectives; they are clear as to why they hold those values and objectives. It is hard work for them in the beginning. It is common for them to challenge rules and behaviours that have brought them to a point where they want to transcend the mundane and just its ‘going along to get along’.
This may result in the loss of friendships that helped define their identity at one time – a crisis situation. But, on the other hand, they are realizing that happiness is derived from focus and resilience in the face of adversity- becoming self-defining rather than being defined by others.
In truth this is not so hard for them to undertake and live up to – they believe this way of living is ‘just common sense’.
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Conclusions: They want to achieve something lasting in life and realize this is a higher ambition than many of the people they may have considered important in earlier times in their life. Living in harmony with their ambitions is not easy, at first. But the longer they stick to their objectives the easier it is to live up to their own expectations – because of the sense of gratitude that comes with the knowledge and experience they accumulate - because of their grit. |
Only the Pioneers significantly over index on Grit. Both the Prospectors and Settler under index but not significantly so. Breaking down the general profile of into Maslow Groups:
| Maslow group | Population (base) % | Attribute % | Index |
| Pioneers | 37.7 | 42.7 | 113 |
| Prospectors | 36.8 | 33.7 | 92 |
| Settlers | 25.5 | 23.6 | 93 |
Grit is an interesting example of an ethical approach to life – yet interpreted in very different ways in accordance with differing values systems.
Let’s look at the Pioneers first.
Figure 2. GRIT espousers - Pioneers
Pioneer Grit espousers under-index amongst the 25-34s; and over-index on those over 65. They also over-index amongst the upmarket ABs. There is no significant difference between the genders.
These Pioneer espousers share three Attributes with the general population – Meaning, Gratitude and Reason. Being clear about the reasons for pursuing the bigger things in life, and being grateful for their life, is key to their overall approach.
For them, having a sense of life-purpose enables them to be flexible in how they react challenges. They have the ability to tack as the winds of change blow – yet still be aware of the most reasonable course to get to their objective. To others, this flexibility in the face of adversity may seem to be wishy-washy; intermittently changing thoughts and opinions when faced new evidence. In actuality, they are changing tack to react to new situations - not really changing their main orientation which is to be open to new experiences and to react in terms of their core values – which include being good at making unplanned changes.
This way of thinking is amplified by their desire to make their own choices about their own life – to react to life in their own way – at a rate 72% more than the general population. Previously we showed that being able to react to unexpected changes (76% more likely than the UK population) is balanced by their propensity to have a plan for life and the grit to stick to it - with the ability to tack as necessary, yet maintain the direction of their journey.
Today, many people are changing their opinions about the existence and causes of climate change, and whether or not they accept that it is happening They are also asking what are the best things they can do to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. GRIT espousing Pioneers take responsibility for their own actions to be part of the solution and expect others to do the same; over-indexing 172 - 72% more likely than the UK population.
This presents a picture of very committed people understanding that they are ‘part of the environment’ and that they have the self-agency to ‘do something’; and this something may indeed be part of their life’s purpose. These are the type of people who are unlikely to follow rules or laws they perceive to harm the environment – even in the face of legal or social sanction. Challenging others, from their standpoint of clear reasoning, they know why they challenge the status quo. Consequently, they are likely to be creative in their opposition to it - and react to pushback in a very flexible way.
This helps explain the actions of many ‘green activists’ (from Greenpeace to Extinction Rebellion and beyond ) who persist, with creative and constantly changing campaigns, to oppose people, organizations and governments who, in their view, continue to ‘do business’ in ways unfriendly to the environment. They continue (Grit) their creative challenges, even in the face of decades of denial and distortion of evidence that shows clearly that harm is being done They are motivated to do this because they are persuing a greater purpose (Meaning).
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Conclusions: Self driven and self-accountable, Grit espousing Pioneers have a strong purpose in life that allows them to be flexible, yet maintain a clarity of purpose and a strong sense of values-defined objectives; i.e. behaviours may change but the motivation for them remains the same. They are led by a sense of gratitude for what life has already given them, and they realize that changes can bring even more happiness. Their own deep awareness of the physical, psychological, social and spiritual ‘ecology’ of life means that they are steadfast allies if they agree with your aims, and implacable enemies if your aims are in opposition to theirs. |
Let's look at the Prospectors
Figure 3. GRIT espousers - Prospectors
Demographically the Prospector Grit espousers are opposite to the Pioneers; over-indexed in the 25-34 age group and under-indexed in the over 65’s. There are no significant indexing differences between socio-economic groups or genders.
The Grit espousing Prospectors share only one highly ranked Attribute with the general Grit espousers – Meaning. They largely know what they want, and it is part of their purpose in life. In this they are similar to the Pioneers; but there a strength of belief that differentiates them from the other Groups. The Prospectors with Grit are also more likely to rank Searching amongst their top six over-indexed Attributes. Many of them will also still be searching for their life-purpose. This is likely to be connected with their over representation in the younger 25-34 age group. It would be fair to say they are aware that life holds more for them than mere surface appearances or appearing 'cool' to other people.
They are more than twice as likely, compared to others, to agree with the statements that define the Ambition Attribute, i.e. achieving something of lasting value is important to them. Among the Pioneers this tends to be in terms of gaining a deep awareness of the nuances of a thought process or behavioural action. They understand this form of awareness has its own rewards in terms of an organic gratitude with the life they lead.
Grit espousing Prospectors are different.
They have a sense of being on a journey, still searching, and with many of them seeming to have arrived at defining their purpose. They over-index on two very materialist and interconnected Attributes that help us understand their purposes.
Over-indexing on the Show Home Attribute (index 158 - rank 1 of 118 Attributes) and Looking Good Attribute (index 132 – rank 5 of 118) provides a frame for the materialistic scaffolding of all Prospectors. The Grit espousers index to an even greater extent; Show Home at 178 and Looking Good at 173.
The combination of these two and the previous duo of Meaning and Searching highlights their ‘quest driven’ search for ways to acquiring and displaying symbols of value – from homes to the way they present themselves to others. Unlike Pioneers the opinions of others are important to them and they want to be seen as role models; someone others look to as models of success.
Because they have the grit to continue with something until they finish it they are likely to achieve some degree of public or peer success - often through sheer perseverance rather than optimal performance. Their actual performance may generate some ambivalence in others, but they have the chutzpah to feel they richly deserve the accolades that come their way.
The chutzpah is derived from the almost limitless positivity they have about their own abilities. They are 67% more likely than the population to espouse the Optimism Attribute; believing that life has its ups and down but ultimately things turn out OK. This enables them to take a perspective on their journey; they may be down today or missing their targets, but there is always tomorrow. And they believe that they have a bright future.
Life can be a struggle to attain the material and social success to which they aspire – but with grit and perseverance they plan on being at least ‘the last man standing’.
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Conclusions: Searching and finding their purpose in life, these Prospectors have the grit and chutzpah to believe they can become the success they optimistically believe they will achieve. |
Figure 4. GRIT espousers - Settlers
This Attribute is skewed significantly to the over 65’s among the Settlers, with no differences between
gender or socio-economic groups.
Like the other two Groups they feel they have found their life purpose.Taken as a whole from their hot half dozen Attributes, this means surviving in a hard world. Their grit provides them a method of survival – being constantly on alert for dangers to them and the life that has been handed to them. The Grit espousing Settler is more likely than others in the population (index 166) to agree that they have a clear purpose in life.
In their minds they believe that everyone should obey rules, even when there is no one to observe the rule breaking; i.e. people should do as they are told. These Settlers are 64% more likely to agree with this idea. Part of their clear purpose is following the rules in any situation, which makes them feel like a good citizen. It is worth comparing this orientation with the Pioneers who are likely to challenge any status quo and refuse to follow rules that are not in alignment with their own values.
Whereas the Pioneers are likely to react in creative ways if they are found to be in breach of ‘unreasonable’ rules, the Settlers will tend to believe that rules are black and white for all, and if ‘you do the crime you do the time’.
Their approach to sanctions (primarily for others because they themselves ‘don’t break rules’) is to apply harsh punishments (indexing at 191 on Discipline and 168 on the Whip attribute) to teach criminals to learn a lesson; or to be in agreement that it is in a child’s best interest to learn to conform to strict rules, so they grow up to be law abiding adults.
Because this is part of their Grit identity, they are unlikely to be open to thoughts and behaviours that question or change the overall orientation. Changing these opinions is, in their minds, akin to opening themselves up to danger. This is a values orientation to leads to ‘apocalyptic thinking’, i.e. seeing danger in small transgressions, which lead to ‘the thin end of the wedge’ type arguments. To them all rules should be obeyed and those that don’t follow the rules are likely to make bigger and more dangerous transgressions at some time in the future. Nipping rule breaking in the bud seems to them to be a sensible way to ensure the ‘safety of living within the rules’ in the future.
While the Settlers as whole tend to seek to live in a ‘small world’, when they opine about world politics this orientation translates into versions of the Domino theory that posits a conspiratorial motivation to opponents seeking to advance their influence beyond their rightful territories. This type of thinking can lead to massive interventions in limited circumstances that can mire country-level militaries in inappropriate ways. Politicians with this mind set will believe they must halt the ‘spread of x, y, or z’ (pick any issue over the last 75 years) before it destroys our way of life. The Grit espousing Settlers will be motivated by this kind of appeal as it aligns with their values.
If there was no mitigation to this view, many countries would be embroiled in long wars – but fortunately there is mitigation in the form of the over-indexing of the Complacent Attribute (index 168, second highest of 118 among the Settler Grit espousers). Basically, as long as they are comfortable, they see little need to want more from life. Essentially content to let the world go by, they just want to follow what others are doing and fit in as necessary.
They are classic ‘followers’, who see their life-purpose as surviving to live another day. They may espouse Grit, but their espousal has a weak foundation in the larger world as opposed to their ‘small’ (personal) world.
These Settlers feel confused by a lot of what goes on around them, which is why survival is deemed the marker of success. Getting involved in situations with no clear-cut rules or cloudy desired outcomes spells danger to them. They will follow leaders who offer a simple analysis of complex situations and who promise clear results.
Perhaps this an explanation why some Settler voted for Brexit, based on a simple analysis (Take Back Control) and continued to maintain the view in spite of predictable ‘unanticipated consequences’ along the way (Get Brexit Done). Initially open to simple memes they fall back on other simple memes. Their grit prevents change in the face of evidence that conflicts with the initial and continuing promises.
This is likely to continue until their sense of dissonance and discomfort becomes too great and they look for modifying positions and thoughts to bring back their comfort levels.
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Conclusions: These Settlers’ steadfastness in the face of adversity is a bulwark against change. Seeing survival as success, they support actions and behaviours that maintain the status quo. They can be exploited by leaders who expound harsh familial and social actions. |