Affluenza is a term that describes a set of negative psychological and social effects associated with the pursuit of material wealth and consumption in affluent societies. The term is a combination of “affluence” and “influenza,” implying that the pursuit of wealth and consumption can be as contagious and harmful as a viral infection.
The concept of Affluenza has been popularized by various social critics and scholars, including psychologist Oliver James and sociologist Zygmunt Bauman. They argue that the culture of consumerism and materialism that characterizes modern Western societies leads to a range of problems, such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and psychological distress. The psychological effects of Affluenza include anxiety, depression, and a sense of emptiness or meaninglessness, as people constantly strive for more wealth and possessions but never feel satisfied or fulfilled.
Oliver James, a British psychologist who has done extensive research into affluenza, has found that areas like Japan and mainland Europe had less unhappiness generated through wealth than English-speaking countries. James’ definition of affluenza is:
placing a high value on money, possessions, appearances (physical and social) and fame.
James asserts that those in English-speaking nations place wants over needs and through this affluenza is born.
The term “affluenza” can refer to rich kids who were so spoiled rotten that they’ve lost all empathy for other human beings. The word has even been used in court to defend them when they commit a crime. Their lawyers’ rationale is that these rich kids are so sheltered and privileged that they have absolutely no idea how horrible their actions truly are.
To the families of the victims, Ethan Couch was a killer on the road, a drunken teenage driver who caused a crash that left four people dead. To the defense, the youth is himself a victim – of “affluenza,” according to one psychologist – the product of wealthy, privileged parents who never set limits for the boy. To a judge, who sentenced Couch to 10 years’ probation but no jail time, he’s a defendant in need of treatment.
Longview News-Journal, Longview, Texas • Thu, Jan 7, 2016 Page A12
Socially, Affluenza can lead to a widening gap between the rich and poor, as well as a breakdown of social relationships and community ties, as people become more focused on their individual pursuit of wealth and status. Critics of the concept of Affluenza argue that it is a simplistic and reductionist view of complex social and economic phenomena. They point out that material wealth and consumption can also have positive effects, such as creating jobs and driving economic growth.
Those who believe in affluenza contest that a person’s wealth leaves them with a sense of worthlessness and dissatisfaction rather than happiness. Through this, those affected, have trouble with personal relationships and marrying consequences with actions.
One study on the condition showed “little evidence of the hypothesized level of affluenza in the American working population.” According to the Associated Press, The American Psychiatric Association[1] does not recognize affluenza as a legit condition. The association did so in its most recent manual in May. Despite the debate over its validity, the term Affluenza has gained widespread recognition and has been used to describe various social and cultural phenomena, such as the 2008 financial crisis and the rise of social media influencers promoting a lifestyle of excess and conspicuous consumption.
Australian researchers, Clive Hamilton, and Richard Denniss wrote a book on the subject called Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough. Through it, they discovered that many Australians were “downshifting” and relinquishing their incomes and personal belongings in exchange for more concrete life goals.
Affluenza has not just changed the world, it has also changed the way we see the world. Short of money? Borrow some. Caught in the rain? Buy an umbrella. Thirsty? Buy a bottle of water and throw the bottle away. Our embrace of “convenience” and our acceptance of our inability to plan ahead is an entirely new way of thinking, and over the past seventy years, we have built a new and different economic system to accommodate it. There is nothing inevitable about this current way of thinking, consuming, and producing.
My neighbors put 2 LCD monitor screens out for garage pickup. I asked them why they were throwing them away and they said they just didn’t need them. They said they had lost the power supplies. I purchased 2 power supplies from Amazon and they work flawlessly. They cost me about thirty bucks.
On the contrary, the vast majority of humans who have ever lived would find the idea of using our scarce resources to produce things that are designed to be thrown away absolutely senseless. The fact that our consumer culture is a recent innovation does not mean it will be easy to change. Indeed, the last few decades have shown how contagious affluenza can be. But we have not always lived this way, which proves that we don’t have to persist with it. We can change—if we want to.
Shirtloads of Science Podcast with Richard Denniss
When you buy big houses, cars, and “stuff” to impress your friends, it’s really just an illusion. The fact is, friends that need impressing are fickle people anyway. No matter how much you spend or what you buy, you’ll never make everyone happy.
That’s why spending money to impress others is the ultimate waste; when you shop to make other people happy, you’re not only failing by default but also depriving yourself of what you really want.
As my mother would say, the only way to win this game is “not to play.” Adulthood is a journey, not a race. Those who collect the most material possessions don’t earn a prize – no ribbon, no trophy, nothing. So, why does it feel like we need to compete? I’ll tell you why: Because every commercial on television, online, and the radio is aimed at parting us with our money. Every ad campaign on Earth was created to convince us that what we have is not enough and that we need this item or that service — and that we’re depriving ourselves and our families if we don’t buy it.
Don’t believe the hype. You have nothing to prove, and you’ll be a lot better off if you ignore the commercials, your friends, and the hype, and do what is best for you.
Footnotes
- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the largest professional organization of psychiatrists in the world, with over 38,000 members. The APA’s mission is to promote the highest quality patient care through research, education, and advocacy for mental health. The organization is responsible for publishing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is used by mental health professionals to diagnose and classify mental disorders. The APA provides resources and services for mental health professionals, engages in advocacy efforts to promote mental health policies, and has a public education campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources
- “Affluenza” https://shirtloadsofscience.libsyn.com/
- “Affluenza” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affluenza
- “Affluenza: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know” https://heavy.com/news/2013/12/what-is-affluenza-definition/
- “No, Affluenza Is Not a Real Thing” https://www.thedailybeast.com/no-affluenza-is-not-a-real-thing
- “6 reasons spending money to impress other people is a pointless waste” https://www.businessinsider.com/6-reasons-spending-money-to-impress-other-people-is-a-pointless-waste-2016-2
- James, O. (2007). Affluenza: How to be successful and stay sane. Random House.
- Bauman, Z. (2012). Collateral damage: Social inequalities in a global age. Polity Press.
- Hamilton, C. (2003). Growth fetish. Allen & Unwin.
- Kasser, T. (2002). The high price of materialism. MIT Press.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2021). About APA. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/about-apa
- American Psychiatric Association. (2021). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5). Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
- American Psychiatric Association. (2021). Member Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/join-apa/member-benefits
- American Psychiatric Association. (2021). Public Education Campaign. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/cultural-competency/public-education-campaign
