There’s no doubt money can make life easier in many ways. The more riches we accumulate, however, the harder it may be for us to relate to the tribulations of others.
Psychologists Paul Piff, PhD, and Dacher Keltner, PhD, of the University of California, Berkeley, conducted a series of experiments on the relationship between money and behavior. In one set of studies, they monitored drivers at a San Francisco Bay Area intersection and observed that luxury-car drivers, both male and female, were three to four times more likely to cut off other motorists or speed past pedestrians.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also suggests that people reporting higher levels of income are more apt to act with blatant self-interest. In another study, affluent participants took candy intended for children and cheated on a computerized dice game at about twice the rate of those with less wealth.
These self-interested behaviors are fostered in part by the independence money provides, hypothesizes Piff. Because affluent individuals are less likely to rely on others for support, they may feel they don’t have to consider the feelings and needs of anyone else.
Still, Piff emphasizes that anyone can cultivate more empathy: “Simply reminding [people] of the needs of others, through increased exposure and through our media outlets, would go a long way in restoring ethical conduct.”
No matter how much money you make, actively nurture a balance of economic and emotional capital, he advises — both for your own good and the good of others. “Practice compassion,” he suggests. “Seek out opportunities to be of help in your community. It will make you happier and healthier, and benefit the world around you.”
Here it is almost a year after reading this article and I finally decided to respond. It’s funny how many people equate wealth with greed. I equate it with success! Secondly,you can’t assume that someone driving a luxury car is wealthy- not at all. After reading the book “The Millionaire Next Door” I learned that many rich people drive modest used cars and live below their means. Many people want to appear wealthy and successful and will drive an expensive car just for the appearance- even if they can’t really afford it. You can’t decide how much money someone has by the car they drive.
Maybe its the other way around: people who are most independant, self-reliant, and minimalls empathetic end up rich because they are thinking mostly about their own success. They are who they are and ended up rich because of it, rather than becoming a selfish person because of the money they’re earned. In any case, there are always exceptions. My parents are rich and I am not. I work as a nurse and am very empathetic towards people’s stuggles. However, my parents, hold people responsible for their stuggles. Just a difference of perspective I suppose.
The “ME” generation of the 70’s and 80’s are very selfish unless raised otherwise. Instant gratification, and materially motivated. They drive their luxury cars as if “I dare you to hit me” and do drive like bullies. The older generation is more graceful, not acting entitled as you say.
Possibly a false attribution of causality going on here. Most wealthier people are also older; and the older we get, the more entitled we feel, in general. So it is possible that the lack of empathy has more to do with age than money. (It’s also possible, regarding the luxury cars, that they have poorer visibility. I know my larger car has poorer visibility than my smaller ones.) I think the conclusion is mostly bogus.
This article is not saying that wealthy people are incapable of performing generous acts. They are reporting that in their findings, people who had more money generally do not feel the need to help as much. It makes sense that the majority of the rich in this country will not be ringing a bell for the Salvation Army or helping in soup kitchens. They are independent enough that they have a hard time putting themselves in the position of someone who is struggling to make ends meet. It represents a larger disconnection in this country between the 1% and the 99%.
I have also found that many wealthy people give both their time and their money to serve others. Many of the volunteers I work with are wealthy enough that they don’t have to work, but spend their time driving the elderly to doctor’s app’ts or out for groceries. And they won’t take “gas money” if it’s offered to them.
So totally untrue. I know all kinds of wealthy people and they are extremely generous and kind. Hate this kind of biased article.