Turn on the television, scroll through social media or listen to political commentary, and it's easy to conclude that America has never been more divided. Yet beneath the headlines and heated debates lies a different story: one of shared beliefs, common values and surprising agreement.
As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, sociologist Wayne Baker, professor emeritus of organizational behavior and human resource management, says Americans have far more in common than many realize.
Drawing on years of research, Baker found that people across political, religious, geographic and demographic lines continue to share fundamental values, and even agree on hundreds of public policy issues. In this Q&A, he explains why July 4 became America's Independence Day, what his research reveals about common ground, and why understanding our shared values may be more important than ever.
Many Americans associate July 4 with the Declaration of Independence, but most delegates actually signed the document on Aug. 2, 1776. Why do you think that part of the story has largely been forgotten, and what can it teach us about America's founding?
Declaration was a process. Several dates could qualify as the "official" date of American independence. July 2, 1776, was the date when the Continental Congress voted to approve the resolution that declared independence. John Adams, then a congressional delegate from Massachusetts, thought that July 2 would become the date Americans celebrated. Congress formally approved the written Declaration on July 4 and it was signed by the delegates on Aug. 2, 1776. And a case could be made that September 3, 1783, is the best official date, because that's when Britain signed the Treaty of Paris and formally recognized the independence of their former colonies.
July 4, 1776, is the date printed on the Declaration of Independence and distributed to the general public. That's why we celebrate the 4th of July as the official date of independence. I wouldn't say the story has been forgotten per se as much as it's been simplified. The process of independence-the grievances, various proposals of independence and all the steps taken-is taught in our schools. We may not remember the details of our civics classes, but we do remember the main result, and the 4th seems like the best official date for the reason stated above.
What are the values that consistently unite people across political, demographic and geographic differences?
Using data from four representative surveys of the American people, I identified 10 values that are "core" in the sense that they are widely shared among Americans, strongly held, stable over time, and supported across political, religious, regional and demographic differences. Here are five:
- Respect for others: Acceptance and appreciation of diversity, of people of different racial, ethnic and religious groups.
- Symbolic patriotism: This is an emotional form of patriotism, meaning that we feel good (perhaps even get shivers) when we hear the national anthem or see the American flag. Another kind of patriotism-the love-it-or-leave-it kind-is not a core value.
- Freedom: This means having the right to participate in politics and elections, and to express unpopular ideas, without fearing for your safety. Freedom is not the same as liberty, which means doing whatever you want, no matter what. Freedom means being able to do whatever you want within the rules, norms and bounds of a community.
- Individualism: Personal autonomy, self-reliance and independence, with an emphasis on individual strengths and accomplishments. Individualism stands in contrast to collectivism, which places the group above the individual, emphasizing group cohesion and priorities.
- Equal opportunity: A level playing field. People have access to jobs, education, voting and so on, regardless of age, sex, race, location or other factors. Another definition of equality-equal outcomes-is not a core value.
If Americans agree on many fundamental values and even on more public policies than many assume, why does the perception of deep division remain so strong?
The perception of a deep division is the result of a confluence of factors. At the most basic level, it's human nature to think of the world in dual opposites: day and night, heaven and earth, land and sea, and so on. Add to that the tendency for Americans to view political and social issues as morality battles between good and evil. Add to that the psychology of group polarization. And, of course, there's social media, which exaggerates our differences, and politicians who benefit by fanning the flames of division and discord.
Why do you believe focusing on our shared values matters now more than ever?
What holds together a nation as large and as vast as America? Each person knows or meets a tiny fraction of the population. So, what holds us together is a belief of a common ideology, a sense of solidarity and belonging to the same people. This "imagined community" is threatened by the pervasive rhetoric of division. So, I hope that the findings from my research will remind people that yes, indeed, we do have a lot in common, including 10 core values and agreement on hundreds of policy proposals.
In everyday life, this means pausing to consider that the next person you meet is likely to share a lot with you, even if outward appearances suggest otherwise. It means starting with the assumption of good intentions and common ground. It means giving the other person the benefit of the doubt. And, if you find differences, to explore them with a sense of curiosity and willingness to understand.
