Civic Pride Makes People Happier Than Ethnic Pride

Patriotism looks different depending on how you spin it. It can create a fascist, racist monster, or it can be a symbol of justice and independence. The difference, according to a new global study published in Psychological Science, is the source of the pride in question. The study found that people who love their country for its laws and institutions, rather than its lineage, are happier.

The researchers surveyed 40,677 people from 31 countries to draw a distinction between ethnic pride, which stems from racial and religious affiliation, and civic pride—how the government functions. They found that the proudest ethnic nationalists' happiness barely surpassed that of people with the lowest level of civic pride, and that civic patriots' well-being was higher overall.