If a person is handed $20, the centers of their brain light up as if they were given food, sex or drugs. But that initial happy rush does not translate into long-term pleasure for most people. As we've talked about in class surveys have found virtually the same level of happiness between the very rich individuals to the middle class and beyond. Increases in income just don't seem to make people happier — and most negative life experiences likewise have only a small impact on long-term satisfaction. You always see in the movies the rich bachelor that has all the money in the world but isn't satisfied, the beautiful rich supermodel that isn't happy. It may be a cheesy story line but I supposed it's factual. If you accumulate all this money how will you know who are your real friends, and are you just spending to fill a hole. Money and riches are not the answer, the way you view and pursue your life does.
That pic is a great example of how our culture promotes these ideas. We will talk more about that in the next unit.
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