“The rich are different – and not in a good way, studies suggest”

An article written on August 10th, 2011 by Brian Alexander says that the rich are different and not in a good way; “The experiences that one encounters makes us either “less empathetic, less altruistic, and generally more selfish” (Brian Alexander). The people who are already rich or have a high-paying/successful job are less likely to have to deal with debt and defaults but does that mean that they are less likely to suffer from stress? Not necessarily. Psychologist and social scientist Dacher Keltner and his team have done 12 separate studies calculating one’s empathy and social behavior in every way and found that people to be less successful are the ones to show more compassion and “prosocial behavior” which is any action intended to help others. Research shows that the “rich” focus only on earning which steers them down the less prosocial path. If you are rich, you are looked upon differently. Lower income people have to depend on others for survival. That must play a role in what they consider themselves as (less important, unsuccessful?)

Alexander, Brian. “The Rich Are Different — and Not in a Good Way, Studies Suggest.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 10 Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Jan. 2017. <http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44084236/ns/health-behavior/t/rich-are-different-not-good-way-studies-suggest/#.WHXA0moiwqM>.