The psychology of greed ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

In this BBC Learning English episode, Neil and Beth discuss the concept of greed. Neil argues that greed, such as wanting material possessions, increases social status, while Beth highlights greed as a negative trait, even one of the seven deadly sins. They explore how greed is tied to the brain's reward center, and psychologist Paul Piff’s study reveals how wealth can diminish empathy. The show concludes with a discussion on the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi, 'The world has enough for everyone's need, but not everyone's greed,' alongside useful vocabulary related to the topic.

Takeaways

• 😀 Greed is seen as a natural desire to acquire things that improve one's social status.
• 🤔 Greed is also considered one of the seven deadly sins, representing selfishness and lack of sharing.
• 🧠 Greed is controlled by the brain's reward center, influencing people to feel good about acquiring things.
• 🎲 Professor Paul Piff's Monopoly experiment showed how privileged players attributed their success to skill, ignoring the unfair advantage.
• 🍀 The phrase 'flip of a coin' describes how chance plays a role in outcomes, yet winners often claim personal responsibility.
• 👢 The idiom 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' means improving one's situation through hard work without help.
• 🏠 Wealth can lead to social independence, reducing reliance on others and potentially decreasing empathy.
• 💭 Rich individuals may have less empathy because they don't need to rely on others as much.
• 🌍 Mahatma Gandhi famously said, 'The world has enough for everyone's need, but not everyone's greed,' emphasizing the dangers of excessive greed.
• 📚 Vocabulary from the program includes 'stuff' (material possessions), 'take credit' (accept recognition), 'flip of a coin' (random chance), 'well-off' (financially comfortable), and 'empathy' (understanding others' feelings).

Q & A

What does Neil want to include in his birthday wish list?

Neil wants a new laptop, a gold Rolex watch, and a red sports car.

How does Beth react to Neil's wish list?

Beth thinks Neil's wish list is a bit greedy and questions if he really needs all those things.

What is Neil's perspective on greed?

Neil believes that greed is good and that humans are genetically wired to desire things that enhance their social status, such as power, material possessions, and money.

What is the quote Beth refers to about greed, and who is attributed to saying it?

The quote is, 'The world has enough for everyone's need, but not everyone's greed,' attributed to Mahatma Gandhi.

According to the programme, how does greed operate at a neurological level?

At a neurological level, greed is controlled by the reward center of the brain, which makes people feel good when they acquire things they want, often unconsciously, without considering how it affects others.

What was the outcome of Professor Paul Piff's Monopoly experiment?

In the experiment, the 'rich' players who were given advantages took credit for their wins, believing it was their decisions and actions that led to their success, despite the fact that the game was rigged in their favor.

What does 'taking credit' mean in the context of the Monopoly experiment?

Taking credit means that the players accepted praise and recognition for their success, even though the outcome was based on random chance and not their personal skill or effort.

What is meant by the idiom 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps'?

The idiom 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' means improving your situation through your own hard work and efforts, without any external help.

How does financial well-being affect empathy, according to Professor Piff?

Professor Piff suggests that wealthier people tend to be more socially independent and rely on others less, which can result in lower empathy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

What vocabulary terms were discussed in the programme, and what do they mean?

The vocabulary terms discussed include: 'stuff' (material possessions), 'take credit' (accept recognition for something), 'flip of a coin' (an action based on luck), 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' (improving your situation through hard work), 'well-off' (being financially comfortable), and 'empathy' (the ability to understand others' feelings).