One of the most remarkable macro-level trends in the scholarship of work is the durability of perceived job quality since 1972. The durability of this trend suggests a consistency in the interaction between the typical psyche of the worker, the typical work arrangements they find themselves in, and the economic organizations that define the conditions of work. This chapter uses classic social psychological theories to shed light on why these trends in job quality have been so consistent. In locating social psychological theories of the self, society, and job satisfaction in enduring trends of job qualities from 1972 to 2023, we elaborate how micro-theories of each component scaffold to intermediary and broader considerations on the relationship between the worker and the economy. By pointing to the longevity of these trends, we argue that social psychological theories help explain the basic value that work has for many—if not most—workers: opportunities for challenge, connection, and other features of work that connect self and society. As much as the structure and organization of work has changed, perceived job qualities remain relatively stable over time, suggesting confluences between the economy as a whole and the motivations that guide most workers to work.