Scientific American, by Daisy Grewal, April 10, 2012
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| Money shifts the emotionsImage: iStock / pagadesign |
Who is more
likely to lie, cheat, and steal—the poor person or the rich one? It’s temping
to think that the wealthier you are, the more likely you are to act fairly.
After all, if you already have enough for yourself, it’s easier to think about
what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true: as people
climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people
decline.
Berkeley
psychologists Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner ran several studies looking at
whether social class (as measured by wealth, occupational prestige, and
education) influences how much we care about the feelings of others. In one
study, Piff and his colleagues discreetly observed the behavior of drivers at a
busy four-way intersection. They found that luxury car drivers were more likely
to cut off other motorists instead of waiting for their turn at the
intersection. This was true for both men and women upper-class drivers,
regardless of the time of day or the amount of traffic at the intersection. In
a different study they found that luxury car drivers were also more likely to
speed past a pedestrian trying to use a crosswalk, even after making eye
contact with the pedestrian.
In order to
figure out whether selfishness leads to wealth (rather than vice versa), Piff
and his colleagues ran a study where they manipulated people’s class feelings.
The researchers asked participants to spend a few minutes comparing themselves
either to people better off or worse off than themselves financially.
Afterwards, participants were shown a jar of candy and told that they could
take home as much as they wanted. They were also told that the leftover candy
would be given to children in a nearby laboratory. Those participants who had
spent time thinking about how much better off they were compared to others
ended up taking significantly more candy for themselves--leaving less behind
for the children.
A related
set of studies published by Keltner and his colleagues last year looked at how
social class influences feelings of compassion towards people who are
suffering. In one study, they found that less affluent individuals are more
likely to report feeling compassion towards others on a regular basis. For
example, they are more likely to agree with statements such as, “I often notice
people who need help,” and “It’s important to take care of people who are vulnerable.”
This was true even after controlling for other factors that we know affect
compassionate feelings, such as gender, ethnicity, and spiritual beliefs.
In a second
study, participants were asked to watch two videos while having their heart
rate monitored. One video showed somebody explaining how to build a patio. The
other showed children who were suffering from cancer. After watching the
videos, participants indicated how much compassion they felt while watching
either video. Social class was measured by asking participants questions about
their family’s level of income and education. The results of the study showed
that participants on the lower end of the spectrum, with less income and
education, were more likely to report feeling compassion while watching the
video of the cancer patients. In addition, their heart rates slowed down while
watching the cancer video—a response that is associated with paying greater
attention to the feelings and motivations of others.
These
findings build upon previous research showing how upper class individuals are
worse at recognizing the emotions of others and less likely to pay attention to
people they are interacting with (e.g. by checking their cell phones or
doodling).
But why
would wealth and status decrease our feelings of compassion for others? After
all, it seems more likely that having few resources would lead to selfishness.
Piff and his colleagues suspect that the answer may have something to do with
how wealth and abundance give us a sense of freedom and independence from
others. The less we have to rely on others, the less we may care about their
feelings. This leads us towards being more self-focused. Another reason has to
do with our attitudes towards greed. Like Gordon Gekko, upper-class people may
be more likely to endorse the idea that “greed is good.” Piff and his
colleagues found that wealthier people are more likely to agree with statements
that greed is justified, beneficial, and morally defensible. These attitudes
ended up predicting participants’ likelihood of engaging in unethical behavior.
Given the
growing income inequality in the United States, the relationship between wealth
and compassion has important implications. Those who hold most of the power in
this country, political and otherwise, tend to come from privileged
backgrounds. If social class influences how much we care about others, then the
most powerful among us may be the least likely to make decisions that help the
needy and the poor. They may also be the most likely to engage in unethical
behavior. Keltner and Piff recently speculated in the New York Times about how
their research helps explain why Goldman Sachs and other high-powered financial
corporations are breeding grounds for greedy behavior. Although greed is a
universal human emotion, it may have the strongest pull over those of who
already have the most.
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Christ Consciousness Is The Energy of The New World - Mar 7, 2012 - (Kryon channelled by David Brown)
Christ Consciousness Is The Energy of The New World - Mar 7, 2012 - (Kryon channelled by David Brown)
“… The days have gone
where the elders, those who were whole and conscious, led their tribe. There is
no respect anymore for those who are whole and conscious. The consciousness of
this planet has been driven to the lowest levels and the consciousness is going
no lower. There will be a polar shift on the 21st of December 2012. The polar
shift will be on an individual basis; you’ll be shifting from negative to
positive, and the love will begin to flow. There will even be love for your
politicians and bankers. Everything is going to begin to change….”
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