Moving away from the WEIRD Grit: A Critical Review

Grit was conceived as the compound of consistency of interests and perseverance of effort. It has further evolved to include adaptability to situations and steadfastness in adverse situations in non-Western contexts. Researchers worldwide have studied grit in the context of education, academic achievement, job performance, athlete success, and physical and mental health outcomes. Grit literature has attracted criticism in recent times with respect to the theoretical and empirical foundations of grit as a construct. This critical review provides a comprehensive analysis of the conceptualization of grit beyond the WEIRD context, its measurement, correlates, and cross-cultural efforts at studying grit and enhancing grit. Future suggestions for grit research are provided including the diversification of population and methodology, with an emphasis on health and well-being outcomes associated with grit.