Speaking of Psychology The psychology of wealth, empathy and entitlement, with Paul Piff, PhD
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Jun 25, 2025 Dr. Paul Piff, an Associate Professor at UC Irvine, delves into how wealth shapes behavior and relationships. He discusses the striking findings from a Monopoly experiment showing that money can lead to increased entitlement and dominance. The conversation explores the connection between wealth and happiness, asserting that true satisfaction comes from experiences, not material goods. Piff also touches on philanthropy, questioning whether wealthy individuals give out of genuine altruism or social obligation, illuminating the complex psychology of economic disparity.
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Monopoly Experiment on Wealth
- Paul Piff's rigged Monopoly game experiment modeled wealth privilege in the lab.
- Rich players acted more dominant and felt entitled to their win despite luck playing a role.
Gender Differences in Behavior
- Men generally score higher in competitiveness and entitlement than women.
- Women tend to be more empathetic and oriented toward others' well-being, though differences are subtle.
Wealth and Traffic Norm Violations
- Wealthier drivers are more likely to break traffic laws, like not stopping for pedestrians.
- This was observed by coding cars by expense and their willingness to stop at crosswalks.