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Why must we think of ourselves?

 

Though with much debate, the conclusion is that we humans are instinctively selfish. It makes sense, this is where we see the survival of the fittest idea, and only the strong willed will make it. Its part of our survival instinct. A study was done on humans testing one’s willingness to set aside selfish tendencies for the greater good. The outcome was the outcome was such that it was more advantageous to be selfish than cooperating.

 

Although other test also prove the opposite outcome, there is some form of selfishness that sneaks up on most humans. DNA was put to study and the result was more of evolutionary explanation related within genetic lines. In order for families genetic line to continue, it was more likely to see cooperative behavior. Also some other plausable explanation is humans might have cooperated together to gain an advantage like a reputation. Even as this possible explanation sounds selfish, it has some form of selfishness since humans our only working together to gain an advantage rather than the common good. Lastly groups of high cooperation have a better chance of survival than a less cooperative group. No behavior is genetic and almost always is influenced by culture, parenting, and environment. When we relate these three influences, we can put together what circumstances may make someone more selfish or selfless depending on their situation.

 

Why as humans do we need to be paid back?

Going back to a trade system before money physical existed, humans would give something like cattle in exchange for wheat. To put this into perspective, a winning party some time ago would survive much longer than the some other party who gained less from a trade. Even before money existed, we found a way to take something as simple as helping someone else into a benefit for ones own ideal, meaning even when there was no money we still found ways to be selfish. This thinking stems from the thrills money can give us even without a monetary value. Instinctively we make money have more value than its actual worth because of the need to benefit oneself.

What does behavior affect?

Research was conducted and concluded that in some society’s run by a communistic government, and idea of “money is all” creeps up. Versus democratic societies whom have a more lenient mindset, communist society’s often alienate themselves because of their “is all view” thinking which came to define their success with status. It’s not only in communistic society’s that we see status seeking ideals, we can all think of individuals in our own lives where status defines their place in society. Conspicuous consumption is this very ideal put in practice. Such term is defined as spending money or luxury seeking to show off economic power to public. We can infer that this is one possible reason to why there is a large gap between classes in our society, middle and upper class.

 

Aside from showing off wealth, there is also the selfish mindset that creeps up within class systems. A study was done in which two groups were given the power to distribute money among members of their groups. One group used the surplus money and distributed it evenly among members which represented an altruistic behavior; the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. In the other group, the surplus money was distributed by ranking method in which the person with highest rank got to decide the distribution among members. The reason in bringing up this test is that with hierarchal society, when given power, there is less room for altruism and more room for selfish behavior. This is the basis of how hierarchal systems have been made in society, even in modern day US. Human behavior tends to lean toward selfish thinking but by being aware of the effect money has within ourselves, we could break the barriers between classes in societies.  

How to be less emotianally attached to money?

 

It's simple! 

We all have that part of our conscious constantly nagging at as with i should save up, let me splurge a little, don’t go shopping. These thoughts stem from our foundation as children and environment which follow us through our adulthood. For example, a family with little money can either make you a bargainer when you get older or big spender if you broke from poverty.

 

We have the emotional connection with money when we connect money with happiness, success, status, and acceptance. Because of these connections we have stemming from childhood, such start to define who we are whether we try not to let it. We often embody these beliefs and it comes to develop into anxiety, guilt, and or fear. We have to come to accept these beliefs and emotional attachments to money and slowly shed them if they become problematic. Some ways we can is through asking ourselves;

 

  • How do I feel when I lose/ gain money?

  • What impact does money play in my daily life?

  • Did having/ not having money affect my upbringing?

  • Do I get upset when I am tight on money?


The more you can realize the affect of money in your daily life, the less emotionally attched you’ll become to money. This will allow all of us to achieve true goals not defined under the auspices of money and no longer marginalize our definition of life, success, happiness, love, etc.

 

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