Előadás | Michał Główczewski (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland)

Michał Główczewski (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland): Why do we want to matter in history? Introducing and validating the Need for Historical Significance
 

The lecture introduces a novel psychological construct – need for historical significance – defined as a psychological and social drive in individuals and groups to feel that they or their actions hold meaningful and lasting value in the broader context of history. This need reflects a desire to leave a lasting legacy, gain recognition beyond one’s lifetime, and contribute to causes perceived as historically important.
In the first part of the talk, I will present the theoretical foundations of the construct, situating it within existing frameworks of meaning, identity, and social motivation. I will argue that the need for historical significance represents a distinct dimension of human motivation that extends beyond individual-level concerns and connects personal agency with collective and historical narratives.
The second part will focus on several empirical works conducted in Poland and the United Kingdom. I will present the development and validation of a psychometric scale designed to measure individual differences in the need for historical significance. The studies provide evidence for the scale’s reliability, factorial structure, and cross-cultural applicability.
Finally, I will discuss how this construct operates across different psychological and social contexts. In particular, I will present findings demonstrating how the need for historical significance relates to attitudes, identity processes, and engagement in collective causes. The lecture will conclude with a discussion of potential implications for understanding social behavior, collective action, and the role of historical narratives in shaping contemporary psychological processes.