The Scrooge Effect: Scientists Confirm That the Rich Are More Selfish
From Charles Dickens’ Ebeneezer Scrooge to The Simpsons’ Mr. Burns, popular culture has no shortage of rich, mean, and selfish characters.
Now, psychologists say there may be more to this “Scrooge effect” than just a stereotype.
Research has shown clear links between wealth and unethical behavior like fraud and theft. Wealthier people are more focused on their own interests and show less compassion for the suffering of others.
But according to Dr. Steve Taylor, a psychologist at Leeds Beckett University, the opposite can happen: people who strive to get rich often do so out of a sense of lack or dissatisfaction. He explains:
“Essentially, the desire for wealth is related to a state of frustration and dissatisfaction. Happy people don’t usually strive to get rich.”
Studies on Wealth and Morality
A study by the University of California, Berkeley, found that upper-class individuals are more likely to lie during negotiations, cheat to win a prize, and engage in unethical behavior at work. This phenomenon was largely linked to a more favorable attitude toward greed.
Meanwhile, people from less affluent groups show more compassion for the suffering of others. But it is not just social status that predicts selfish behavior. Studies have shown, for example, that drivers of more expensive cars are less likely to stop for pedestrians. A study by the University of Nevada showed that the likelihood that a driver will stop for pedestrians decreases by 3% for every $1,000 in the car’s value.
Self-centeredness and the “Dark Side”
Dr. Taylor argues that the personality traits that make a person selfish also make him more likely to be wealthy. These traits include psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, known as the Dark Side.
These individuals often achieve positions of power and wealth, but are unhappy. Taylor explains:
“Some people experience a profound psychological disconnect. Their psychological boundaries are so strong that they feel disconnected from others and the world, lacking in empathy.”
This inner void drives them to seek status and power to fill it. This may explain why rates of clinical psychopathy are three times higher on corporate boards than in the general population.
Dark Side traits make individuals colder and less concerned about the harm they may cause others in the pursuit of wealth. According to Dr. Taylor, connection with others is essential to well-being, and without it, wealth does not bring happiness.
Wealth is not bad
However, not all rich people are bad. Some become rich because of talent, innovative ideas, or inheritance. People like Bill Gates give away large portions of their wealth to humanitarian causes, rather than hoarding it like Scrooge.
Finally, wealth is often negatively correlated with compassion and empathy, and this may explain why some of the wealthiest people are always aiming to have more, rather than enjoying existing possessions.
Dr. Taylor concludes:
“Connection with others is essential to human well-being. Without connection, there is a perpetual state of dissatisfaction, no matter how rich or successful you become.”