Going from rags to riches - that´s the core of the American Dream which promises that everybody has the same opportunities to achieve economic wealth. 

The reality is different. According to a study published on the 16th of Jan 2017: '8 men own the same wealth as half the world' (Source). 

It seems that the American Dream (same chances for everybody) is hardly threatened with extinction. 

The following article will show you an interesting correlation between psychological effects of money and the current distribution of global wealth. 

Money and mindset 

Possessing money has always been considered one of the most respected pursuits. Especially during the postwar period there was grown an undoubtable need for prosperity. The postwar generation has grown a very money-driven mindset - and the current generation has brought this idea forward. 

Our thoughts, behavior, and actions are inseperably linked to our psychology, which depends both on genetical and educational factors. While money doesn’t exactly shape our belief system, it truly can influence the way we think and behave towards other people. 

Paul Piff, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Social Behavior at the University of California, Irvine. He studies how social hierarchy, inequality, and emotion shape relations between individuals and groups. 

Piff says: 'As a person’s levels of wealth increase, their feelings of compassion and empathy go down, and their feelings of entitlement, of deservingness, and their ideology of self-interest increases.' 

Through numerous surveys and studies, the psychologist and his colleagues have found that wealthier poeple are more likely to moralize greed and self-interest as favorable, less likely to be prosocial, and even more likely to cheat and break laws if required. 

Paul Piff: 'Does money make you mean?' That´s a brilliant YouTube video of Piff´s speech only 15 minutes long and very worth watching:

The strange global distribution of wealth - consequence of a self-interested rich elite? 

The Oxfam’s report which has been mentioned in my introduction reports the following: 

An economy for the 99% * shows that the gap between rich and poor is far greater than had been feared. It details how big business and the super-rich are fuelling the inequality crisis by dodging taxes, driving down wages and using their power to influence politics. It calls for a fundamental change in the way we manage our economies so that they work for all people, and not  just a fortunate few.  

*Note: Half of the world´s wealth is in hands of 1% of the population, the other 99% represents the remaining - not rich - population. 

If we added the studies and related results described by Paul Piff, we could deduce the following: On one hand the world´s wealth is in hands of a few people. On the other hand the possession of money lets people become more and more self-interested, less empathic and losing compassion, thus impedes them to share. 

That means, that the gap between rich and poor would get even bigger and bigger if we didn´t intercede. 

Fighting for the American Dream

Money is a character ´s amplifier but doesn´t change our personality! 

Money affects our behavior but lacks the power to effectively change us. It does, however, frequently reveal or expose how we really are. The people who are truly kind and generous could find themselves able to exhibit their characteristics on a significantly larger scale. The ones who were already greedy and grasping would be likewise enabled to become even more in that direction. 

What does that mean for our American Dream? If money doesn´t really change personalities, there is still a chance for change. As Paul Piff mentioned in his brilliant speech, COMMUNICATION and COMMUNITY are key in this educational process. Give people the feeling that they are doing well by sharing their wealth, doing good to others, being empathic, then they surely will do so. 

The following project is a perfect example of how communication works in that context:
http://westandwiththe99percent.tumblr.com/

THE example amoung the 8 richest men in the world who perfectly knows how to stand for a healthier distribution of wealth is Bill Gates: 'Humanity´s greatest advances are not in its discoveries but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity.'  

The other 7 richest men should learn a lesson from him.
Following pictures from top left: Inditex founder Amancio Ortega, Veteran investor Warren Buffett and Mexico's Carlos Slim. Bottom from left: Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle's Larry Ellison and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. 

Conclusion:
Regardless if we were born wealthy or not, if we win the lottery or not, money can affect the way we think and behave. Some of the generated effects can be inherently negative. Still, by being conscious about the social pitfalls of wealth - such as lack of empathy and compassion, conflict between classes, isolation, and a deterioration of ethics - we are able to protect ourselves from being affected by some of the negative aspects of having money. We have to remember that money neither changes our genetics and our identity nor our family history. In the end, our ideals and values likely determine more about us than the size of our paycheck. Plus: if we showed others how beneficial empathy, compassion (and in the end equity) can really be, they would at least consider to reset their self-interested minds. And.... there would be a small chance to revive our American Dream. 

I hope you enjoyed the read and will leave you with one of my favorite quotes about wealth...
Cheers,
Marly - 

Title: http://brandonsneed.com/
Animated GIF: http://68.media.tumblr.com/
Flavio meme: http://www.loonyhumor.com/
8 richest men: https://c.o0bg.com/
Quote true rich man: http://www.lovethispic.com/