Final answer:
The belief that more challenging achievements are more worthwhile is known as the justification of effort in social psychology. This concept is exemplified by Aronson and Mills' study, where more effort led participants to value a group membership more. It also relates to why students value admission into elite private colleges and the social placement function of education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept in social psychology that encapsulates the belief that the more difficult something is to achieve, the more worthwhile we consider it, is known as the justification of effort. This concept suggests that we ascribe greater value to outcomes and memberships that require significant effort on our part. A classic study by Aronson and Mills (1959) provides empirical evidence for this phenomenon. In their experiment, college students went through different levels of initiation to join a discussion group about the psychology of sex. Those who experienced a harder initiation valued the group more, even after a deliberately dull first discussion. Justification of effort captures our desire to not feel that our efforts have been in vain and reinforces the perceived value of our achievements.
Education, particularly at elite private colleges, can be understood through this lens. Acceptance into such institutions is often difficult and thus seen as more valuable. Students may believe that the harder they work to get into college, the more they will value their education and the opportunities it affords, aligning with the social placement function of education. This function is foundational to upward social mobility. Moreover, the perceived contradiction in higher education - that success requires a college degree, yet obtaining that degree is ever more challenging - serves to heighten the value placed on higher education achievements, as noted by Davis and Moore (1945).