The Myth of the Self-Made Person

In today’s society, we often assume that meritocracy provides a level playing field where anyone can succeed through hard work and talent. However, psychology research reveals that meritocracy has an insidious dark side.

First, believing in meritocracy makes people more likely to legitimize inequality. In a 2014 study, participants played two games: one of luck and one of skill. Afterward, they had the opportunity to subtract from the winnings of the other player. Those who had just played a game of skill were less supportive of income redistribution than those who played a game of chance. When we see success as solely stemming from merit, we overlook how arbitrary factors, like upbringing and luck, can shape outcomes.

This blind spot allows inequalities to fester. At top U.S. universities, more students come from the top 1 percent of the income scale than the entire bottom 60 percent. Competitive exam scores strongly correlate with parental income and education level. This suggests that the children of elites can consolidate their advantages more successfully.

But meritocracy doesn’t just fail the underprivileged. It also harms the psyche of the “winners.”

First, it breeds arrogance. Research shows that believing in meritocracy is linked to more prejudice against the less educated. When we attribute our success to our talents, it’s tempting to see others’ failures as due to their inferiority.

Second, meritocracy fuels self-blame. Children applying to elite colleges often feel their entire self-worth hinges on their getting accepted. Adults working at top firms burn themselves out trying to prove their merit. Winners and losers alike end up evaluated solely by narrow definitions of success.

This toxic brew damages social cohesion. The elite meritocrats, laser-focused on status, have little sympathy for those “left behind.” Meanwhile, those excluded from meritocracy’s rewards experience humiliation and resentment.

How can we transcend the flawed psychology of meritocracy? Some solutions include:

1. Design affirmative action plans that level the playing field for the disadvantaged.
2. Teach children early about how arbitrary factors shape outcomes as much as individual effort.
3. Make admissions criteria for elite institutions more holistic.
4. Encourage self-acceptance that is not tied to narrow measures of achievement.
5. Foster empathy and connection across social divides.

With more nuanced policies and mindsets, we can retain meritocracy’s ethic of rewarding hard work while mitigating its psychological harms. The goal should be to advance human potential in all its diversity, not just ratify the privileged.