Greed is... The psychology of greed

And the quality of the personality. It is also a socio-cultural phenomenon that can manifest itself in relation to anything - money, power, values, food, people. Greed manifests itself in the active desire to accumulate, in the desire to have more. However, much more can be said about this quality.

Briefly about the concept

Greed is not the most attractive feature of a person. However, it is characteristic of each of us in one way or another. And this trait manifests itself in everyone in relation to different things.

Many see greed as an exaggerated desire to possess something or someone. Often it brings a positive start. For example, when a person is obsessed with the idea of ​​mastering as much knowledge and skills as possible.

And in general, greed is a very active trait. It forms a powerful incentive for a person who will go to great lengths to get what he wants. It seems to be good, right? Yes, but you just need to be able to distinguish between determination with perseverance and greed.

The last quality is characterized by unhealthy love and veneration of the object of adoration, bordering on dependence. Also, a greedy person is characterized by an obsession that does not leave his head about satisfying his desire at any cost. Where do assertiveness and perseverance come from, as well as unwillingness to share the received good, even if it is in abundance. This often develops into senseless hoarding, accompanied by an irrational fear of losing what is available and a chronic desire to benefit from everything. Looking at all of the above, one can understand why some experts believe that greed is a disease.

Aggression

I would like to note that the discussed quality has its own classification. And the first thing you need to talk about aggressive greed.

This quality can be considered akin to ambition, selfishness and vanity. It manifests itself in a chronic desire to achieve the best results in everything. People who are characterized by aggression and a certain excitement achieve impressive success. They are always short of everything, they want to have more than they already have. These people never stop at anything. Or, one might even say, not saturated.

It cannot be said that the aggressive greed of a person is a bad quality. There is nothing shameful in improving one's own position. But sometimes this desire clouds the mind. And when a person ceases to control this quality, he becomes its hostage. Desires take precedence over principles. And in order to achieve the goal, a person becomes capable of doing anything.

Fear

The psychology of greed refers this feeling to the reasons that can provoke the emergence and development of the desire to have everything and even more. And this is logical.

Greed, caused by fear, is characterized by the desire of a person to keep everything that he already has. Although the element to increase wealth, as in the case of aggression, is also present. But in this case, fear motivates a person to hold on to everything that he has. The individual is simply not sure of his abilities and capabilities. He is afraid to lose even what he does not need.

By the way, greed, provoked by fear, manifests itself in many in early childhood. The most common example is the appearance of a second child in the family. The first-born begins to be jealous and afraid that they will stop loving him. He is afraid to lose the location of his parents and be replaced. This is just one of many examples, but this principle is observed in many situations in which greed is manifested.

Other Causes of Greed

There are countless suggestions as to why this quality appears and develops in some people.

There is an opinion that greedy people suffer from spiritual emptiness, which is formed because we are born in the material world. And many seek to fill it with various material values. Debatable, of course, but many people agree with this point of view.

A more plausible reason lies in the lack of love in childhood. Some parents simply do not teach their children to share, but only pamper them with benefits, replacing their attention with them. Others do not spend time with the kids at all, and those, growing up, compensate for what they did not receive with various values.

But most often the cause is dependence on desires. If a person really wants something, he will do everything to get it. And having gained value, he will not give it to anyone.

Benefit

It has already been said at the very beginning that greed is a quality inherent in every person. Many believe that we do not have those features that we would not need and useful. And it is true.

First, greedy people are more resilient to various shocks that can harm their well-being. Their frugality, expressed in an extreme form, is lacking for many. People, especially those whose greed is driven by fear, do not suffer much from financial problems and crises. Because they have material "airbags" and savings for all occasions.

Secondly, such people always take a responsible approach to the resources available to them. Thirdly, it is these individuals who have a highly developed motivation, which plays the most important role in the life of every person. After all, it is she who pushes people to work, to the manifestation of activity, to new achievements. Yes, greed for money and other goods is not the best source of internal energy and not the most ethical incentive. But the most effective.

What can it all lead to?

Talking about why people are greedy, it is necessary to mention the negative consequences of this quality.

What should be noted first of all is the lack of a sense of proportion, because of which people often go to extremes and make mistakes. Because of them, in turn, they can lose everything. Take, for example, the excitement that comes from an unhealthy love of money. Some people are willing to bet their entire fortune just to win the lottery or the casino. This is the real recklessness. Often the risk that greedy people expose themselves to is completely unjustified.

Harm

But even stinginess and greed are reflected in health. In such people, there is often a violation of sleep, diet and neuroendocrine regulation, an increase in the level of norepinephrine and adrenaline in the blood, which affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system and the development of hypertension. If a person is obsessed with some kind of obsession, then it will not leave him even in a dream.

But that is not all. Often greed and frugality reach such an extent that people save on everything. Starting with food and hygiene products, ending with medicines. Practice knows cases in which people completely ignored serious symptoms. And when the disease “finished off” them, it was too late to return the lost health.

Attitude in society

Well, greed is common to everyone, but for most, this quality is regulated. In addition, each of us can understand the desire to please ourselves.

But stingy and greedy people are shunned in society. Many frankly call them defective people. They cannot even be called personalities, because they are slaves of their desires, which devour them from the inside. Such individuals are devoid of human traits. They are prudent, stingy, hypocritical, shameless. They are characterized by coldness, arrogance, egocentrism, deceit. These people are faceless, because they evaluate everything from the standpoint of their mercenary interest. Naturally, no one wants to communicate with them and have any connections. Often they live life alone.

Of course, not all people need communication and a "second half", however, those individuals who are meant in this particular case are often unhappy at heart. And not because they have no one. And because they are hostages to a single paranoid idea of ​​owning everything. But no one can have everything that exists on the planet. Accordingly, their meaning of life is inaccessible. And therein lies a deep misfortune. After all, their whole life turns into a race for nothing.

Is it possible to get rid of this quality?

Quite. But this is not easy, because greed becomes a part of a person over the years. To embark on the path of correction, he must first of all come to the realization that this quality spoils his life. He is greedy, not naturally frugal.

Then you need to find out the source of this quality. Is it aggression or fear? If the former, then you will need to think about the consequences, what everything can lead to, assess the risk that you have to take, wanting better and more. And find other ways to achieve what you want. Greed doesn't need to be fought. You just need to learn how to properly manage it.

Is it caused by fear? Then it will not be superfluous to work on yourself and develop self-confidence. Being afraid of losing something is not always a good thing. It is better to think about what exactly is necessary for life and in what quantity. Sometimes answering your own questions helps you understand yourself. Does the person want to have as much money as possible? So what are his doubts, that he is afraid of not being able to earn them? Why, what obstacles hinder him? Can you get rid of them? If so, you need to start doing it right now!

In general, you need to strengthen your weaknesses. And having gained power and confidence, you will be able to get everything you want.

folk wisdom

Sayings and proverbs about greed are of particular interest. They were built by the people a very long time ago, but they remain topical and vital to this day.

Here is a well-known and short expression: "Greed is the beginning of every grief." It clearly reflects a negative attitude towards this quality, and it is not even necessary to disassemble it to understand the meaning. But in the phrase “If you chase big, you lose small,” there is a reference to excitement, which was already mentioned above. Approximately the same is embedded in the expression "Chasing the awl, you will lose the ax."

But there are more profound proverbs about greed. For example, this one: "A miserly rich man is poorer than a beggar." This phrase suggests that a greedy person is a slave to his condition. He is attached to him and is forced to protect him, hold him and protect him. The beggar is deprived of this. His wealth is freedom, which is highly valued.