Whenever I find a book that deals with civics, I buy it. I might need it someday! But my latest find costs $75, so I’ll request it from the library. But until then, I want to share some VERY surprising bits taken from a summary of The Psychology of Citizenship and Civic Engagement, by S. Mark Pancer. (He wrote both the 2015 book and the summary.)
Pancer’s exhaustive studies showed that—
- Children whose families discuss politics in the home are two or three times as likely to follow politics, sign petitions, and volunteer when they became adults.
- Children who attend schools that provide opportunities for students to do community service, encourage respect among students and teachers, and offer a wide range of extracurricular activities, are much more likely to become active citizens when they reach adulthood.
- Young people that participate in civic life by joining clubs and teams, volunteering, or participating in their church, mosque or synagogue, are less likely to smoke, abuse drugs and alcohol, engage in delinquent acts, become pregnant, or drop out of school. They are more likely to have high self-esteem, a greater sense of social responsibility, and healthier social relationships.
- Civically involved adults have greater self-esteem, better personal relationships, fewer illnesses, lower levels of depression, and live longer.
- Neighborhoods with higher levels of civic participation have a greater sense of community, lower levels of crime, and citizens who are healthier and happier.
From the summary, it’s clear that civics is good for you!
One Response
Great advice