Research
Exploring Americans’ Visions of the Future
As an existential psychologist who studies human motivation, I believe that cultivating a positive vision of the future is essential to building a better tomorrow. Unfortunately, existing research suggests that there is much work to be done. Numerous surveys indicate...
Patriotism and Hope for America’s Future
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Executive Summary
This report investigates the current state of patriotism in the United States and its relationship to hope for the country’s future. Drawing upon data from a national survey conducted by Archbridge Institute’s Human Flourishing Lab, the findings reveal that most Americans maintain a positive national identity.
Hope in America
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Hope is a critical component of individual and societal flourishing, and it plays an important role in advancing human progress. When people are hopeful, they are more driven, resilient, open-minded, creative, innovative, and effective at solving problems.
Nostalgia in America
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Executive Summary
The term nostalgia was coined in 1688, but it has only been in the last quarter century that scholars have begun to systematically study this phenomenon and how the human tendency to longingly reflect on past experiences influences psychological functioning.
The Science of Hope
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Executive Summary
WHAT IS HOPE?
When people are going through tough times, they will often say, “I hope things get better soon.” People may also feel hopeful when they are dreaming about a positive future.
Millennials Lead American Optimism For the Future
This article was originally published in the Harris Poll. With the latest advances in generative AI and large language models, virtual reality, robotics, and more, the role technology plays in modern life is rapidly evolving and expanding. The Harris Poll recently...
Americans Yearn for Tradition—Old and New—This Holiday Season
This article was originally published in the Harris Poll. Before the start of the winter holiday season—defined as the period beginning in mid-November and running through New Year’s Day—The Human Flourishing Lab at The Archbridge Institute and The Harris Poll...
The Social Power of Patriotism: Americans Who Are Proud of Their National Identity Are More Likely To Trust Their Fellow Citizens
Click here to open the PDF in a new tab. Key Findings: 1. Most Americans (61%) agree that most of their fellow Americans can be trusted. This includes 63% of men and 58% of women. 2. There are no differences in social trust between political groups. Around 60% of...
Personal Independence Behind Declining Birth Rates
This article was originally published in the Harris Poll. World fertility rates—defined by the World Bank as “the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with...
The Meaning Mindset: Existential Agency in America in 2022
Click here to open the PDF in a new tab. Key Findings: Most Americans (69%) agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life (high existential agency). This is the case for both men and women and across regions of the country. The percent of...
American Dream 2022 Snapshot: The Health and State of the American Dream
Click here to view the PDF in a new tab. Key Findings: 1. As in previous years most Americans, regardless of race, income, or education, believe that they haveeither achieved the American Dream or are on their way to achieving it. And the trend shows that fewerpeople...
Patriotic Progress: National Pride and Optimism about the Future
Click here to open the PDF in a new tab. Optimism plays a central role in human progress. Therefore, it is concerning that many Americans are pessimistic about the future of the United States and its role in the world. For example, according to a Pew Research Center...
Existential Agency in America
Click here to view PDF in a new tab. Existential psychology plays a central role in human progress and flourishing, in part, because meaning in life is a self-regulatory and motivational resource that helps people live healthy, productive, prosocial, and goal-oriented...
American Dream 2021 Snapshot: How Americans view the American Dream and Economic Mobility
Click here to open the PDF in a new tab. Key Findings: 1.Most Americans, regardless of race, income, or education, believe that they have either achieved the American Dream or are on their way to achieving it.2. Most Americans regard living better and fuller...
Who Is Proud To Be An American?
Regardless of political ideology, religion, race/ethnicity, gender, age, education level, or income, most Americans are proud to be American.
American Dream 2020 Snapshot
Click here to view the PDF in a new tab. Key Findings: Most Americans, regardless of race, income, or education believe that they have either achieved the American Dream or are on their way to achieving it. The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected Americans’...
Why Meaning Matters For Freedom And Flourishing
May 2020Clay Routledge Click here to open the PDF in a new Tab Social, behavioral, and health scientists are increasingly appreciating how important meaning in life is to both mental and physical wellbeing. People who view their lives as full of meaning and purpose...
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The Archbridge Institute is a non-partisan, independent, 501(c)(3) public policy think tank. Our mission is to lift barriers to human flourishing.
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