What Is Society's Biggest Problem?

June 11, 1993

What is the biggest problem confronting our society? Dr. Roy Baumeister, psychologist at Case Western Reserve University, believes it is the shortage of firm values upon which we govern out lives.

In his book "Meaning of Life," Baumeister analyzes four ways we find meaning for our lives: purpose, efficacy, sense of self-worth and values.

By purpose, he means the goals and fulfilment for which we strive. By efficacy, he means ability to make a difference - to have control or an illusion of control.

By sense of self-worth, he means feeling superior to others because of achievements and abilities, By values, he means that way we judge and justify our actions as good and bad right and wrong.

Values are accepted for their own sake. They are fundamentally good. They need no further justification.

Baumeister contends that our society provides an abundance of goals and fulfillment, a variety of ways to test our skills and exert control and plenty of criteria for finding selfworth.

What he finds lacking is the ability of society to convince everyone to stick to the same set of standards and to agree on what is right or wrong.

Older ways of morality no longer have the emotional force or social power they once had. Financial value has become the dominant theme of modern life.

Pursuit of self-interest

Much of our time is taken up with the pursuit of self interest and for the recognition and power that comes from economic success.

Religion has become a matter of private personal choice. God has been banished from the classroom, mass media, popular entertainments, business and government dealings. Fewer and fewer people judge their actions as following the will, commandments or love of God.

Traditions have been undermined by science, technology, advertising and faith in modern progress.

Sexual morality has been tainted with the brush of Victorian prudishness. Sexual restraint has begun to be seen as an enemy to .health, happiness and fulfillment.

Social norms are difficult to enforce in a society characterized by geographic and social mobility.

Popular media celebrate the clever rule breaker while making traditional authority figures laughable or sinister in their use or abuse of authority.

Our institutions have become value free and morally neutral. Moral duty has been replaced by legal concerns and obligations. Where we used to have morality, we have moral relativism and cynicism.

The self as a value

What eautnetster proposes is that we have trade the self into a value base. something that is good m and of itself and a guide to moral decision making - to replace the decline of traditional values.

It's hard to argue against ideas we practically take as self-evident. Know yourself 9e true to yourself. You owe it to yourself. Get in touch with your feelings. Cultivate and develop your talents. Do what is right for you. 9e yourself. Express yourself Assert yourself. Love yourself.

The duty of self takes on the quality of a semi- sacred obligation.

The self becomes its own moral authority. Events are judged by how they affect the self. In the past, the self was subjected to the moral code of society; now the moral code of society is judged by how it affects the self.

Society has benefited by the emphasis on individual worth and dignity. Mutual tolerance, equality, creativity, personal growth and accountabtity are results of the emphasis on self as a value base.

Problems with self

The ideology of self has its downside. Work and career can be overvalued as an expression of self. Career has become a record of the self.

The demands of self are great. We pay a price in terms of insecurity. We depend on others for approval, recognition and admiration. Our accomplishments seem never enough.

Moral values used to reign in the excesses of self. With the ideology of self, we feel less restraint on our impulses and desires. The connection with the group or community is weakened.

Enlightened self-interest shades over into self-conceit and self indulgence. Morality and self-interest are on the same side. But are they really? Our own capacity for self-deception can justify being selfish and turning away from others.

A critique of modern marriage finds fewer and fewer people willing to sacrifice their own interests and deny themselves for the sake of their partner. A real cost to self is seen as "wrong 1.

In the 40s, marriage was the measure of self. By the 60s, the self became the measure of marriage. Marriage was discarded if it was perceived as not allowing personal growth and rewards. Love had to benefit the self.

The values of self and family life collide. To be a good parent requires sacrifice and unselfIsh devotion to the needs of the child. The home Ss an excellent training ground for teaching the values of cooperation, mutual help and teamwork.

Unfortunately, as more parents get caught up in their own self-interest and pursuits, and with the decline of traditional moral values, children lack the moral background they need.

I can feel it in our society. Can't you?

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	What Is Society's Biggest Problem? June 11, 1993 What is the biggest problem confronting our society? Dr. Roy Baumeister, psychologist at Case Western Reserve University, believes it is the shortage of firm values upon which we govern out lives. In his book "Meaning of Life," Baumeister analyzes four ways we find meaning for our lives: purpose, efficacy, sense of self-worth and values. By purpose, he means the goals and fulfilment for which we strive. By efficacy, he means ability to make a difference - to have control or an illusion of control. By sense of self-worth, he means feeling superior to others because of achievements and abilities, By values, he means that way we judge and justify our actions as good and bad right and wrong. Values are accepted for their own sake. They are fundamentally good. They need no further justification. Baumeister contends that our society provides an abundance of goals and fulfillment, a variety of ways to test our skills and exert control and plenty of criteria for finding selfworth. What he finds lacking is the ability of society to convince everyone to stick to the same set of standards and to agree on what is right or wrong. Older ways of morality no longer have the emotional force or social power they once had. Financial value has become the dominant theme of modern life. Pursuit of self-interest Much of our time is taken up with the pursuit of self interest and for the recognition and power that comes from economic success. Religion has become a matter of private personal choice. God has been banished from the classroom, mass media, popular entertainments, business and government dealings. Fewer and fewer people judge their actions as following the will, commandments or love of God. Traditions have been undermined by science, technology, advertising and faith in modern progress. Sexual morality has been tainted with the brush of Victorian prudishness. Sexual restraint has begun to be seen as an enemy to .health, happiness and fulfillment. Social norms are difficult to enforce in a society characterized by geographic and social mobility. Popular media celebrate the clever rule breaker while making traditional authority figures laughable or sinister in their use or abuse of authority. Our institutions have become value free and morally neutral. Moral duty has been replaced by legal concerns and obligations. Where we used to have morality, we have moral relativism and cynicism. The self as a value What eautnetster proposes is that we have trade the self into a value base. something that is good m and of itself and a guide to moral decision making - to replace the decline of traditional values. It's hard to argue against ideas we practically take as self-evident. Know yourself 9e true to yourself. You owe it to yourself. Get in touch with your feelings. Cultivate and develop your talents. Do what is right for you. 9e yourself. Express yourself Assert yourself. Love yourself. The duty of self takes on the quality of a semi- sacred obligation. The self becomes its own moral authority. Events are judged by how they affect the self. In the past, the self was subjected to the moral code of society; now the moral code of society is judged by how it affects the self. Society has benefited by the emphasis on individual worth and dignity. Mutual tolerance, equality, creativity, personal growth and accountabtity are results of the emphasis on self as a value base. Problems with self The ideology of self has its downside. Work and career can be overvalued as an expression of self. Career has become a record of the self. The demands of self are great. We pay a price in terms of insecurity. We depend on others for approval, recognition and admiration. Our accomplishments seem never enough. Moral values used to reign in the excesses of self. With the ideology of self, we feel less restraint on our impulses and desires. The connection with the group or community is weakened. Enlightened self-interest shades over into self-conceit and self indulgence. Morality and self-interest are on the same side. But are they really? Our own capacity for self-deception can justify being selfish and turning away from others. A critique of modern marriage finds fewer and fewer people willing to sacrifice their own interests and deny themselves for the sake of their partner. A real cost to self is seen as "wrong 1. In the 40s, marriage was the measure of self. By the 60s, the self became the measure of marriage. Marriage was discarded if it was perceived as not allowing personal growth and rewards. Love had to benefit the self. The values of self and family life collide. To be a good parent requires sacrifice and unselfIsh devotion to the needs of the child. The home Ss an excellent training ground for teaching the values of cooperation, mutual help and teamwork. Unfortunately, as more parents get caught up in their own self-interest and pursuits, and with the decline of traditional moral values, children lack the moral background they need. I can feel it in our society. Can't you?