More Money Less Empathy
Several studies have shown that wealth may be at odds with empathy and compassion. Research published in the journal Psychological Science found that people of lower economic status were better at reading others facial expressionsan important marker of empathythan wealthier people.
A lot of what we see is a baseline orientation for the lower class to be more empathetic and the upper class to be less , study co-author Michael Kraus told Time. Lower-class environments are much different from upper-class environments. Lower-class individuals have to respond chronically to a number of vulnerabilities and social threats. You really need to depend on others so they will tell you if a social threat or opportunity is coming, and that makes you more perceptive of emotions.
While a lack of resources fosters greater emotional intelligence, having more resources can cause bad behavior in its own right. UC Berkeley research found that even fake money could make people behave with less regard for others. Researchers observed that when two students played Monopoly, one having been given a great deal more Monopoly money than the other, the wealthier player expressed initial discomfort, but then went on to act aggressively, taking up more space and moving his pieces more loudly, and even taunting the player with less money.
I Am Rich Successful And Have Everything But Unhappy Why Science Reveals Answers
Imagine hitting all your life and financial goals. Sounds great, right?
Not always. Many people who get there hit a funk.
Pat Flynn, an online entrepreneur, received this chilling email one day. He shared this email in his book Will It Fly? Read it if you think money alone is all that matters:
This man is not alone. Through my hundreds of hours of study of successful people, Ive found many celebrities and successful entrepreneurs come forward with the same conclusion that wealth and/or fame doesnt guarantee happiness.
What separates them from happy people?
In his book, Pat explains that he frequently meet entrepreneurs like this who have put their ladder on the wrong building and made it to the top. Theyve built businesses they didnt enjoy, not considering what fulfilled them. Passion matters. But even if you become rich and passionate about what you do the following questions may still pop up: Is this all there is to it?, What do I do now? and I dont feel any happier pop up.
If you want my thorough explanation on why money alone doesnt guarantee happiness, read on. If you prefer audio, this is an extra special episode of Wills Personal Development Podcast because it is a theme that I see is a problem for billions of people who are told by mainstream entertainment that money or fame will make them happy when it does not. And I will prove it to you, with science.
Without further ado, please enjoy the episode:
Contents
More Money = More Wants
Once youve got sufficient income to meet your basic needs and buy any small treats or repay your debts, the extra money you have in the bank simply serves to fuel your desires. You end up pursuing more material items and, in the long-run, these only serve to reduce your well-being.
This is a phenomenon known as the treadmill effect. We tend to believe that material items that we purchase make us happier. However, once weve acquired them, we begin to wonder what we can buy next. Of course, the next purchase must be better and bigger than the last, and it has to be more than others around us have.
While this all sounds like a positive thing, there is a lot of research out there to show that the majority of material things we possess dont actually make us happy at all. Instead, the things that drive our happiness are experiences having enough time to enjoy the things that we love and to spend with loved ones. The greatest pleasures we can find are from warm relationships, interpersonal live, appreciation, gratitude and giving.
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How Does Wealth Affect Happiness
Most people think that the richer they are, the happier they become. However, evidence shows that this isnt necessarily the case. In fact, recent studies have shown that the more money you have, the more likely you are to suffer from depression and other mental health problems.
A recent study pointed out that once a certain annual income has been reached , we are more likely to have worse life satisfaction and reduced well-being.
Even more interestingly, it isnt only adults who feel the impact of this phenomenon. Children of affluent parents are also more at risk of suffering from anxiety, substance abuse and depression than those coming from less well-off families.
So, why are rich people more likely to be depressed? How does wealth influence depression? Lets take a closer look.
What Are The Causes Of Depression Here Are 14 Surprising Triggers You Should Know About
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the US. Its estimated that one in six people will experience depression at some point in their lives, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Depression might negatively affect the way you feel, think, and act. It can cause feelings of sadness, a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, or an inability to function at work and home.
Experts think multiple factors cause depression, including genes, changes in brain chemistry, personality, and environment. Many times, its a combination of two or more of these factors that bring on depression or make it worse. Going through trauma, grief, financial troubles, job loss, and major life transitions can also trigger depression. While those triggers might be more well-known, there are others that are less obvious. Here are some depression triggers to keep in mind.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression thats related to changes in seasons. SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year, typically lasting four to five months per year, the National Institute of Mental Health reports.
About 5% of people in the US have SAD, according to the American Psychiatric Association. While the disorder is most commonly associated with the winter season, some people do experience it during the warmer months.
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How Common Is Depression
Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the country. An estimated 17.3 million adults in the US reported having at least one major depressive episode over the course of a year, a 2017 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows.
Thats 7.1% of all adults ages 18 and older. Women have a higher prevalence of experiencing a major depressive episode than men .
Depression is especially crushing for the workforce: Its the number one leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The total economic burden of MDD is estimated to be $210.5 billion per year in the United States alonea figure that reflects costs associated with missed days, reduced productivity, treatment for depression, and suicide.
Ii Problem Areas Among Affluent Youth: Suggestions In Press Reports
Since the start of the 21st century, there have been increasing reports of problems related to alcohol and drug use among upper class youth. A news feature in the fall of 2002 reported several disturbing incidents of underage drinking in Westchester County, a prosperous suburban area north of New York City . Among these was a party held in September 2001, where a high school football team in Chappaqua celebrated the start of the season with heavy drinking and a professional strip show at the home of one of the players. On a day the following April, Harrison High School let out early because of a power failure. An impromptu beer party ensued, during which a 17-year-old boy was fatally injured when he was punched in the face and hit his head on a concrete patio. As he lay unconscious, other teens tried to hide evidence of the party rather than call for help. In September 2002, as many as 200 Scarsdale High School students were drunk on arrival at the annual homecoming dance 5 had to be taken to hospitals and 28 were suspended .
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Depression Is Different From Sadness Or Grief/bereavement
The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being depressed.
But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grief and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities. They are also different in important ways:
- In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depression, mood and/or interest are decreased for most of two weeks.
- In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.
- In grief, thoughts of death may surface when thinking of or fantasizing about joining the deceased loved one. In major depression, thoughts are focused on ending ones life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depression.
Grief and depression can co-exist For some people, the death of a loved one, losing a job or being a victim of a physical assault or a major disaster can lead to depression. When grief and depression co-occur, the grief is more severe and lasts longer than grief without depression.
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Depression: What You Need To Know As You Age
If youre one of the more than 14.8 million American adults who experiences major depression, you may feel so bad that you cant get out of bed, be around the people you love or participate in activities that you usually enjoy. Actually, there are more than 50 different symptoms of major depression, ranging from the well-knowncrying and sadnessto those you might never associate with depression, such as anger, workaholism and back pain.
Depression is a disease that affects every aspect of a persons life, not just mood, says Johns Hopkins expert Andrew Angelino, M.D., Chair of Psychiatry at Howard County General Hospital. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second-leading cause of disability in the world, just behind cardiovascular disease.
People who are depressed are far more likely to have other chronic medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, back problems, arthritis, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and to have worse outcomes. Untreated depression can even affect your immune response to some vaccines.
Depression is not just debilitating it can be deadly. An estimated one out of five people with depression will attempt suicide at some point.
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Common Reasons Why Rich People Are Unhappy
Ever since the term rich was coined by human society, it seems that achieving this has become a common dream among people. Those who are not-so-wealthy dream of becoming rich, while those who are already rich work hard to maintain that status.
So why do people want to be rich? What makes money so appealing that virtually no one resists joining this rat race?
Money sets the world in motion. Some may not agree with this but it is a reality in the current world that we are living. Having money is equivalent to having power. With enough cash at your disposal, you can have better control over your life, and a certain degree of control over your surroundings. Money opens many doors in a world where almost anything can be bought.
But despite the comfort and convenience that money brings into our lives, we still often hear stories about unhappy millionaires. News about rich people being involved with drug abuse, depression, and even suicide cases. This, in turn, creates several misconceptions and worries whether chasing after riches is as rewarding as many claim it to be.
We, do not believe that money is entirely to blame for a persons failure to achieve happiness. This article aims to bring a deeper understanding of why rich people fail to achieve happiness despite having an abundance of money.
Rich people are unhappy because they too, are human. The rich are susceptible to pain, fear, worry, negativity, and may still fall prey to a poor mindset towards money.
What Are Ways They Overcome Depression
For a wealthy person to cope with depression they need to invest some of the energy they have put into their careers and professional life into their healing. They are extremely focused people, who are very creative and energetic, they need to set goals for their recovery.
In that sense, therapy can be a great way for them to cope with depression. It is a way they can feel like they are putting their efforts into solving their situation. And because they are usually so focused, it might be easier for them to figure out where their depression is coming from.
Business people are also extremely used to moving in the world through the fake it until you make it way. This is something that can allow them to move even when depressed. And if they know how to balance it to not overdo it in a way they are in denial about their condition, this can help them find ways to feel better.
People of wealth need to cope and look for treatment when they feel depressed. Studies have shown that being depressed can cause people to go into financial meltdown. This happens because they might start to take risky decisions, or not take care of their business properly.
If youre facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.
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A Rich People Can Be Unhappy
Although the American Dream is predicated on the belief that financial success creates opportunities for maximizing happiness, substantial research suggests that high material wealth can be associated with low psychological well-being. In a special issue of the American Psychologist devoted to this topic, Buss reviewed cross-national epidemiological data and determined that rates of depression, which have increased in recent years, are higher in more economically developed countries. Considering the United States specifically, historical trends show that Americans have far more luxuries than they had in the 1950s, with twice as many cars per person, plus microwave ovens, VCRs, air conditioners and color TVs. Despite this, they are no happier . In fact, survey data have shown that between 1958 and 1998, the number of people saying that they were very happy went down from 35 to 30%, and the proportion who said they were pretty well satisfied with their financial situation went from 42 to 30% . In short, are twice as rich and no happier. Meanwhile, the divorce rate doubled. Teen suicide tripledDepression rates have soared, especially among teens and young adults1 call this conjunction of material prosperity and social recession the American paradox. The more people strive for extrinsic goals such as money, the more numerous their problems and the less robust their well being .
Wealth And Health Connection
Today the word wealth is used to mean an abundance of valuable possessions or money being rich material prosperity. But to understand the connection between todays problems it helps to understand from where the word is derived.
When it was first largely used in the English language during the 12th Century it was from a word meaning well and it was used to indicate good health. The word health itself is of Germanic origin meaning whole, a word that can still be used to mean healthy certainly in terms of emotional wellbeing.
Todays meaning of wealth is part of our modern world that started with the Industrial Revolution in Britain in the late 18th Century. Since then, most of the Western world has become increasingly materialistic.
We are taught from early years the idea that having money means we are successful. We learn that being financially rich means happiness and that this is guaranteed despite what might have happened in someones childhood or how someone lives their day-to-day life now.
Stark statistics from such as the WHO research reveal this is often not the case that financial wealth assures someone of a happy life. Yet Western society seems to continue in its direction, unabated but with ever-increasing numbers of people struggling with emotional problems and suffering from various mental health conditions.
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The Reason Many Ultrarich People Arent Satisfied With Their Wealth
At a certain point, another million dollars doesnt make anything newly affordable. Thats when other motivations take over.
As the number of millionaires and billionaires in the world climbsever higher, there are a growing number of people who possess more money than they could ever reasonably spend on even the lushest goods.
But at a certain level of wealth, the next million isnt going to suddenly revolutionize their lifestyle. What drives people, once theyve reached that point, to keep pursuing more?
There are some good explanations, I found, after talking to a few people whove spent significant amounts of time in the presence of and/or researching the really, really rich. Michael Norton, a Harvard Business School professor who has studied the connections between happiness and wealth, had a particularly elegant model for understanding this pattern of behavior.
Norton says that research regularlypoints to two central questions that people ask themselves when determining whether theyre satisfied with something in their life: Am I doing better than I was before? and Am I doing better than other people? This applies to wealth, but also to attractiveness, height, and other things that people fret about.