The Psychology of Greed

The Cost of Never Enough

What is the cost of our inability to feel satiated? Research shows materialistic individuals report lower life satisfaction, more depression, and greater anxiety despite their wealth. The pursuit of material possessions becomes a source of suffering in which we are always wanting more, while rarely savoring what we already have.

Our relationships deteriorate when acquisition becomes our focus. Partners, children, and friends fade into the background while we instead focus on our wealth-building or status-seeking projects.

Perhaps most profound is the spiritual emptiness that accompanies our fixation on material objects. This creates a painful gap between what we have and what we think we need to finally make us happy.