The Surprising Link Between Wealth and Selfishness

It has long been established in the fields of psychology and economics that wealth doesn’t necessarily lead to greater happiness. However, a recent study from the University of California set out to explore whether there’s a difference in the type of happiness experienced by people with higher incomes compared to those with lower ones.

The researchers conducted a survey among a sample of 1,519 Americans. Participants were asked about their household income and responded to a series of questions aimed at measuring their tendency to experience seven specific emotions considered central to happiness: amusement, awe, compassion, contentment, enthusiasm, love, and pride. To measure compassion, for example, participants were asked to rate their agreement with statements such as: "Helping others gives me a warm feeling."

The survey found that individuals with higher incomes were more likely to experience self-focused positive emotions, such as contentment and pride. On the other hand, those with lower incomes reported more other-focused positive emotions, specifically compassion and love. Those with lower incomes also reported experiencing more awe and greater appreciation of the beauty in the world around them.

“These findings show that wealth is not unequivocally linked to happiness,” the researchers noted. “It appears that income level steers people toward different kinds of happiness. Wealthier individuals tend to find joy in their achievements and status, whereas less wealthy individuals draw happiness from their relationships and connections with others.”

The results explain why wealth can feel more isolating than poverty: the higher our income, the more we tend to retreat into our own bubble and become increasingly self-focused.