Essay

Cultivating Intellectual Humility in Children to Prevent Social Vigilantism

By Sandra S. Szczygiel, MS, LPCC

Social Vigilantism, which is the tendency to think that your beliefs are superior to others’ beliefs and that you have a responsibility to assert those beliefs on others for the “greater good,” is prevalent in our society. One only needs to pay attention to the daily news to see social vigilantism prominently displayed by our nation’s leaders.  It is likely that you have experienced social vigilantism in your personal life as well, be it from family, friends, or others we encounter in daily life. Social vigilantism, which is found in both the political left and right, contributes to dehumanization, divisiveness, and conflict, which at times can become violent. 

In contrast, Intellectual humility facilitates openness to other people’s views, helps with the acceptance that you may not have all the answers, helps prevent forcing beliefs on other people and acting as a “know-it-all”.  Importantly, it helps with the recognition that one’s point of view may need review/revision and to accept this without feeling defensive or threatened. 

The simplest way that research has found that intellectual humility can be cultivated in children is to have them listen to each other and come to the realization that other people have something to teach them. This can be accomplished in a classroom setting, at home, or in the community.

Other types of humility, which are all worth pursuing, include moral/personal (accurate self-assessment rather than seeing oneself as perfect or as a superior moral authority), cultural humility (respecting other traditions with a willingness to learn), and spiritual (humbling oneself before God).