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By Veronica J. Motley, EdD., LPC on behalf of the Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates
Forty-two days before the 2020 Presidential election, I received an absentee ballot in the mail. It surprised me that the ballot arrived so soon, and I did not anticipate its immediate impact on my mood. In the midst of a global pandemic, racial unrest, healthcare disparities, climate change, and other competing concerns, I felt… empowered? I reveled in this transformative moment. My superpowers ignited and at long last, I could contribute to change.
Voting is beneficial for the community and its importance is seldom more emphasized than during an election year. Yet many eligible citizens do not vote. A comparison of the last national election cycles indicates that while the number of eligible citizens grew by 8 million, voter turnout declined from an estimated 131 million voters in 2008 to an estimated 126 million voters in 2012. Moreover, 93 million eligible citizens did not vote. Voter suppression efforts notwithstanding, it appears that many nonvoters need an apathy antidote.
Sometimes a civic superhero inspires people and policy. U.S. Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis believed in the importance of voting as a vehicle for societal and political change. A shining example of one who dedicates his life to preserving social justice, he believed in the importance of democracy.
My brief encounter with Congressman Lewis informs the perspective that he was effective not only because he demonstrated an unwavering dedication to social justice, but because he made everyone he encountered feel as though they mattered. John Lewis embodied a quality that feels a bit more transient these days, but like an absentee ballot, is welcome when it arrives. He typified fortitude.
Perhaps highlighting the internal benefits of civic engagement is one antidote to voter apathy. What if every eligible citizen believed that their vote matters as John Lewis did? That they matter? A 2009 study in Political Psychology found evidence that regardless of who wins an election, engaging in civic life positively impacts well-being, increases one's sense of life satisfaction, provides opportunities to feel positive, and facilitates connection to others. Who doesn’t want to feel better?
Here are three superpowers John Lewis’ activism reflects:
Altruism
Altruism involves acting on behalf of and in the interest of others. When an altruistic act takes place, pleasure centers in the brain are activated. John Lewis believed that he had the ability to enact change in public policy. His ideological leanings did not overshadow his balanced view that every individual’s right to vote should be protected. He was driven by what he believed to be in the best interest of himself and society, the very essence of altruism.
Efficacy
“The boy from Troy,” a nickname given to John Lewis by Dr. Martin Luther King II, is a powerful reminder of Lewis’s humble beginnings and his persistent determination. Born an indigent child from rural Alabama, he learned to navigate his environment so well that he ascended from the Jim Crow South to civil rights leader and United States Congressman.
Lewis embodied self-efficacy, the belief that he had a purpose, and the power to influence social and political affairs. Other meaningful actions that intimate self-efficacy and pursuance of purpose include journeying away from the familiar, surrounding himself with ambitious like-minded individuals, and overcoming obstacles. Repeated obstacles. The brutality that he endured as a result of his activism is a testament that efficacy buffers distress.
Social Connectedness
There is a reciprocal relationship between mental health and social connectedness. People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression. They also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, are more cooperative, and are likely to live longer. The good news for registered voters is that they are more likely to have strong social connections, and that can improve quality of life. Likewise, whether Lewis engaged in coalition-building efforts with the American Jewish Committee or jogged alongside a Pride parade, his open and jovial public demeanor left the impression that social interactions energized and benefited him throughout his 80 years.
John Lewis made fighting for the disenfranchised his life’s work and modeled for each of us that we can make a difference. Let’s give it a try this November. It’s the least we can do.
References
Dwyer PC, Chang Y-P, Hannay J, Algoe SB. (2019). When does activism benefit well-being? Evidence from a longitudinal study of Clinton voters in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0221754.
Kim S, Kim CY, You MS. (2015). Civic participation and self-rated health: a cross-national multi-level analysis using the world value survey. J Prev Med Public Health, 48(1), 18–27.
Klar, M., & Kasser, T. (2009). Some Benefits of Being an Activist: Measuring. Political Psychology, 30(5), 755-777.
Sanders, L. M. (August 30 - September 2, 2001). The psychological benefits of political participation. Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. San Francisco.
