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RainDog

(28,784 posts)
Sat Apr 26, 2014, 12:55 AM Apr 2014

Income inequality: We're Off the Rails (Malcolm Gladwell)



And this leads to less compassion (which Gladwell talks about when talking to the wealthy about wealth.) We cannot expect the .01&, much less the 1% to agree to wealth distribution through taxes (and, I would hope, a basic minimum income.) They will have to be forced to accept laws that benefit the 99% - unless they prefer a stable society more than ostentatious, obscene, really, in the face of suffering, wealth.


http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-wealth-reduces-compassion

In order to figure out whether selfishness leads to wealth (rather than vice versa), Piff and his colleagues ran a study where they manipulated people’s class feelings. The researchers asked participants to spend a few minutes comparing themselves either to people better off or worse off than themselves financially. Afterwards, participants were shown a jar of candy and told that they could take home as much as they wanted. They were also told that the leftover candy would be given to children in a nearby laboratory. Those participants who had spent time thinking about how much better off they were compared to others ended up taking significantly more candy for themselves--leaving less behind for the children.

A related set of studies published by Keltner and his colleagues last year looked at how social class influences feelings of compassion towards people who are suffering. In one study, they found that less affluent individuals are more likely to report feeling compassion towards others on a regular basis. For example, they are more likely to agree with statements such as, “I often notice people who need help,” and “It’s important to take care of people who are vulnerable.” This was true even after controlling for other factors that we know affect compassionate feelings, such as gender, ethnicity, and spiritual beliefs.

In a second study, participants were asked to watch two videos while having their heart rate monitored. One video showed somebody explaining how to build a patio. The other showed children who were suffering from cancer. After watching the videos, participants indicated how much compassion they felt while watching either video. Social class was measured by asking participants questions about their family’s level of income and education. The results of the study showed that participants on the lower end of the spectrum, with less income and education, were more likely to report feeling compassion while watching the video of the cancer patients. In addition, their heart rates slowed down while watching the cancer video—a response that is associated with paying greater attention to the feelings and motivations of others.

These findings build upon previous research showing how upper class individuals are worse at recognizing the emotions of others and less likely to pay attention to people they are interacting with (e.g. by checking their cell phones or doodling).
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Income inequality: We're Off the Rails (Malcolm Gladwell) (Original Post) RainDog Apr 2014 OP
I love this man. He's nothing short of brilliant - and TRUTHFUL! nt Sarah Ibarruri Apr 2014 #1
KnR to view later. I love Gladwell's books; just saw him live recently too. nt Hekate Apr 2014 #2
Perhaps the upper class is raised to be psychopathic, so they can run over others for money diane in sf Apr 2014 #3

diane in sf

(3,904 posts)
3. Perhaps the upper class is raised to be psychopathic, so they can run over others for money
Sat Apr 26, 2014, 03:30 AM
Apr 2014

and not suffer from inconvenient feelings of guilt and remorse. The bushes and kochs come to mind. And I recall quite a bit of alcohol abuse on the part of affluent college classmates and a willingness to do all sorts of stuff for money I would never even consider.

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