Personally, I find these findings quite intriguing when I reflect back on the "money issues" my clients have brought to me over the years. One fear often stated by individuals I have spoken with is that they associate wealthy individuals with such characteristics as selfishness and lack of compassion for those of lower socioeconomic status and harbor concerns that money may cause them to develop some of these same qualities. Knowing these individuals the way I did, I was disinclined to share their fears, as I knew them to be generous, conscious, and socially minded individuals. Perhaps they had been attuned to the subtle effects that money played upon their psyches as demonstrated in this research, making their caution warranted.
There is quite a delicate balance to be struck as we live in a world that requires greater sums of money every year to maintain a basic standard of living with access to food, clothing, shelter, transportation, education, and healthcare. Particularly for those who are self-employed or business owners, for whom so much thought must be given to income streams and the monetization of their lives, the issue of money and the place it has in one's life may be a psychological minefield. The costs of attaining financial prosperity may pose more of a threat to the peace of mind and sense of security we assume money will bring than we realize.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. In your experience and observation, have you seen the trend toward selfishness or more narrowed self-focus play out?
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