Is there a greed gene?
By Karim Premji - Published on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 12:04
Everyone wants more. The industrial world must become increasingly aware of consumer demographics when attempting to market a product. Even as a consumer, it may be helpful to know what drives you to make the purchases you do. Evolutionary psychology, one of the most promising branches of the cognitive field, seems to indicate that men are more materialistic than women, though ironically as a consequence of trying to attract the opposite sex.
Thus far, most conclusions drawn from studies indicate that there is no ‘greed’ gene; people are not predisposed to spend a pay cheque frivolously. Perhaps, counter intuitively, the accumulation of material goods actually degrades one's sense of satisfaction and can cause friction in personal relationships. It seems that individual notions of ‘necessities’ versus ‘desires’ are key in of terms maintaining a stable financial situation, and that one’s personality has more of an effect on their level of materialism than one’s biological predisposition. Gender, personality, and upbringing are all ultimately responsible for influencing how one spends both their time and money.
Source URL: http://www.psychologytoday.com/node/46623