Paradox of Affluence
Sandra Nelli
PSY/220
February 22, 2015
Yvonne Moore
Paradox of Affluence The term of “ paradox of affluence” explains the great difference that has developed over the last 40 to 50 years in America between material well-being and psychosocial well-being. It also provides extensive statistical evidence that indices of material affluence and of well-being have gone in opposite directions since the 1950’s. We measure affluence in dollars or by others crude material measures. A person with more is more affluent. A million dollars spent on prisons and toxic waste clean up counts as much as toward the gross domestic product as a million spent on education, food, or art. Measurement of happiness may be even more complex. Some have argued that we can’t trust people to rate their own happiness- that people do in fact get happier as they get richer. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is most often displayed as a pyramid. The lowest levels of the pyramid are made up of the most basic needs, while the more complex needs are located at the top of the pyramid. The bottom of the pyramid are the basic physical requirements including the need for food, water, sleep and warmth. Once the lower level needs have been met, people can move on to the next level of needs, which are safety and security. The research on happiness and wealth relates to Maslow’s hierarchy because of the five different spots on the pyramid. There is the physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization needs. People can say