Have you ever wondered if people with more money tend to be less considerate or more self-centered? We decided to explore whether affluent individuals are indeed more likely to display unkind behavior.
Think about the last time you were cut off while driving. Did it happen with a luxury car? Studies suggest that the more expensive your vehicle, the more likely you are to engage in behaviors like cutting off other drivers or ignoring pedestrians at crosswalks. In one study, drivers of the most expensive cars cut off pedestrians 42% of the time.
Imagine waiting in line for 10 minutes to buy a coffee and a muffin, only to realize the cashier gave you change for a $20 bill instead of the $10 you provided. Would you keep the extra money or return it? Research indicates that individuals with more financial resources are more inclined to keep the extra money. Additionally, wealth influences how much you engage with others. A study using Google Glass to track eye movements found that wealthier individuals spend significantly less time making eye contact, suggesting a tendency to overlook social interactions.
One might assume that wealthier individuals are more generous. While they may donate larger sums, survey data shows that wealthier households contribute a smaller percentage of their income to charity. For example, U.S. households earning under $25,000 donate about 4.2% of their income, whereas those earning $100,000 or more contribute only 2.7%.
Even when individuals are placed in positions of power, they may become more self-centered. In a group tasked with making important decisions, if one person is designated as the leader and a plate of cookies is presented, studies show that the leader is more likely to take an extra cookie while others leave the last one out of politeness.
So, are rude individuals more likely to become wealthy, or does wealth lead to unkind behavior? Contrary to common belief, those who gain power in a group often have high emotional intelligence, prioritize others, and practice generosity. Research shows that college students at the top of the social hierarchy often exhibit pro-social and compassionate behaviors. This behavior can be traced back to our hunter-gatherer roots, where sharing resources helped individuals rise in status.
However, this creates a power paradox: to gain power, one needs empathy, but once in power, individuals may become more self-focused. Brain imaging studies reveal that areas of the brain responsible for understanding others’ mental states are less active in individuals from higher social classes. Conversely, those with fewer resources often demonstrate a greater ability to perceive others’ emotional states and engage in more interpersonal interactions, such as maintaining eye contact and sharing laughter.
While not all wealthy individuals lack empathy, research suggests that as wealth increases, empathy tends to decrease, making affluent individuals statistically more likely to exhibit unkind behavior.
For today’s video, we’ve partnered with Audible, offering a free 30-day trial. Visit audible.com/ASAP or text ASAP to 500 500 to start listening. We recommend “The Influential Mind” by Tali Sharot, which explores how data isn’t always the best way to change someone’s mind. Audible allows you to switch seamlessly between devices, ensuring you can always pick up where you left off.
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to sharing more insights with you next time!
Engage in a role-playing activity where you and your classmates are assigned different socioeconomic statuses. Discuss scenarios where you must make decisions that affect others. Reflect on how your assigned status influences your choices and behavior.
Analyze case studies or real-life incidents involving driving behaviors and vehicle types. Discuss in groups whether the findings align with the article’s claims about wealth and driving habits. Present your conclusions to the class.
Participate in a debate on whether wealthier individuals are inherently less generous. Use data from the article and additional research to support your arguments. Consider both percentage of income donated and total amount given.
Conduct a research project exploring the power paradox. Interview individuals in leadership positions to understand their perspectives on empathy and power. Present your findings in a report or presentation.
Attend a workshop focused on developing empathy and understanding social dynamics. Engage in activities designed to enhance your ability to perceive and respond to others’ emotional states, drawing connections to the article’s themes.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Do you ever get the impression that wealthy individuals tend to be less considerate or more self-centered? We decided to investigate whether affluent people are indeed more likely to exhibit unkind behavior.
Have you ever experienced being cut off while driving? It seems more likely to happen with a luxury vehicle than an older, less expensive car. Multiple studies indicate that the more expensive your car is, the more likely you are to engage in behaviors like cutting off other drivers or ignoring pedestrians at crosswalks. In one study, those driving the most expensive cars cut off pedestrians 42% of the time.
Now, imagine you waited in line for 10 minutes to purchase a coffee and a muffin, and later realize the cashier gave you change for a $20 bill instead of the $10 you provided. Would you A) enjoy your coffee and the extra $10, or B) return the change? Research shows that individuals with more financial resources are more inclined to keep the extra money. Additionally, the amount of wealth you possess influences how much you engage with others. A study using Google Glass to track eye movements revealed that wealthier individuals spend significantly less time making eye contact with others, indicating a tendency to overlook social interactions.
However, one might think that wealthy individuals are more generous. While they may donate larger sums, survey data reveals that wealthier households contribute a smaller percentage of their income to charity. For instance, households earning under $25,000 in the U.S. donate around 4.2% of their income, while those earning $100,000 or more contribute only 2.7%.
Even when individuals are placed in positions of power, it appears to make them more self-centered. For example, in a group tasked with making important decisions, if one person is designated as the leader and a plate of cookies is presented, studies show that the leader is more likely to take an extra cookie while others leave the last one out of politeness.
So, are rude individuals more likely to become wealthy, or does wealth lead to unkind behavior? Contrary to common belief, those who are most likely to gain power in a group tend to be emotionally intelligent individuals who prioritize others and practice generosity. Research indicates that college students at the top of the social hierarchy often exhibit pro-social and compassionate behaviors rather than selfishness. This behavior can be traced back to our hunter-gatherer roots, where sharing resources helped individuals rise in status.
However, this creates a power paradox: to gain power, one needs empathy, but once in a position of power, individuals may become more self-focused. Brain imaging studies show that areas of the brain responsible for understanding others’ mental states are less active in individuals from higher social classes. Conversely, those with fewer resources often demonstrate a greater ability to perceive others’ emotional states and engage in more interpersonal interactions, such as maintaining eye contact and sharing laughter.
While not all wealthy individuals lack empathy, research suggests that as wealth increases, empathy tends to decrease, making affluent individuals statistically more likely to exhibit unkind behavior.
For today’s video, we’ve partnered with Audible, which is offering viewers a chance to try their service for free for 30 days. To take advantage of this offer, visit audible.com/ASAP or text ASAP to 500 500. Download your first title and start listening. Audible provides a vast selection of audiobooks, including our recommendation for today, “The Influential Mind” by Tali Sharot, which explores how data isn’t always the best way to change someone’s mind.
Audible allows you to switch seamlessly between devices, ensuring you can always pick up where you left off. That’s audible.com/asap or text ASAP to 500 500.
Thank you for watching, and we look forward to seeing you next Thursday for a new science video!
—
This version maintains the core ideas while removing any potentially offensive language or phrasing.
Wealth – The abundance of valuable resources or material possessions, often measured in terms of money, assets, and economic power. – In social studies, wealth distribution is a critical factor in understanding economic inequality within a society.
Empathy – The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, which is crucial for effective interpersonal relationships and social cohesion. – In psychology, empathy is considered a key component of emotional intelligence and is essential for fostering compassionate social interactions.
Behavior – The actions or reactions of an individual in response to external or internal stimuli, often studied to understand human psychology and social dynamics. – Researchers in psychology analyze behavior patterns to determine the influence of environmental factors on human actions.
Resources – Assets that are available and useful for individuals or groups, including natural, economic, and human resources, which are essential for development and sustainability. – The allocation of resources is a major topic in social studies, as it affects economic growth and societal well-being.
Generosity – The quality of being kind and willing to give more of something, such as time or money, than is strictly necessary or expected, often enhancing social bonds. – Studies in psychology suggest that acts of generosity can lead to increased happiness and social connectedness.
Power – The ability or capacity to influence or control the behavior of others, often examined in the context of political, social, and economic structures. – In social studies, power dynamics are analyzed to understand the relationships between different social groups and institutions.
Social – Relating to society or its organization, encompassing interactions, relationships, and structures within a community. – Social networks play a significant role in shaping individual behavior and societal norms.
Interactions – The reciprocal actions or influences between people, which are fundamental to understanding social relationships and communication. – In psychology, studying interactions helps to reveal patterns of social behavior and group dynamics.
Income – The monetary payment received for goods or services, or from other sources, which is a key factor in determining an individual’s economic status. – Income inequality is a major topic of study in social sciences, as it impacts social mobility and quality of life.
Psychology – The scientific study of the mind and behavior, exploring how individuals think, feel, and act in various contexts. – Psychology provides insights into human behavior, which can be applied to improve mental health and social functioning.
