# data[].attributes.body
Definition: The act of biting off more than you can chew. The innate desire to consume/indulge in more than you are required or needed to.

An example of Gluttony is shopaholics.

The article speaks about how shopping till you drop is an act of greed. A quote that stood out to me is Greed is a product of fear, often the fear of not having enough. Our Greed is not counted in gold coins, but in pairs of shoes or technology items. We do not keep the objects of our Greed in bank accounts but in rental storage units because there is no longer any room in our homes. The question that stood out to me is Does spending more on ourselves imply generosity or Greed. We have seen the word deserve in advertising. We deserve what others have, so we must spend on ourselves.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Few people think they are prone to greed.

That was the result of an anecdotal I conducted recently as I was preparing a sermon on this topic.

Folks admitted to anger, envy and gluttony, but no one confessed a problem with greed. A few attributed greed to others, but not to themselves.

These isolated responses backed up my assumption: The face of greed has changed and few of us see it as a spiritual problem affecting us.

The old image of greed is a character like Ebenezer Scrooge, sitting in a cold room, counting gold coins while wearing fingerless gloves.

Or, we visualize Michael Douglas in the nearly 30-year-old movie, "Wall Street," saying, "Greed is good."

Most of us think that greed is something that afflicts hermits who count their money or Wall Street "fat cats," none of whom we identify with. Therefore, greed is someone else's problem, not ours.

Anyone teaching or preaching on greed today must overcome the listeners' rationalizations of why they are not greedy. We need images of greed that fit our generation.

One modern portrayal of greed is shopping.

People joke about it all the time - with bumper stickers such as "shop until you drop," shopaholic" or simply "gone shopping."

Our greed is not counted in gold coins, but in pairs of shoes or technology items. We don't keep the objects of our greed in bank accounts but in rental storage units because there is no longer any room in our homes.

We find sweaters or shirts in the bottom of a drawer that we forgot we had purchased. Older relatives die and we find item after item in the house - unused and with the price tags still affixed.

We can't stop shopping or spending on ourselves. We must possess - and that impulse is greed.

The second way the greed of our generation expresses itself: The more we have, the less we give.

We convince ourselves we will be more generous when we have more, but statistics show that as we have more, we give away a decreasing percentage of what is ours.

Does spending more on ourselves imply generosity or greed?

Greed is a product of fear, often the fear of not having enough. The financial industry preys on this fear all the time: You won't have enough to retire, to send children to college and so on.

Or fear may express itself as the anxiety of missing out on what everyone else has. Consider how many times we hear the word "deserve" in advertising. We deserve what others have, so we must spend on ourselves.

Emil Brunner, in his book, "Sowing and Reaping," suggested that fear and greed are synonymous.

"Fear tells us that things might take a turn for the worse," he explained. "A sparrow in one's hand is better than a pigeon on the rooftop. I am sure of what I possess, but I am not so sure of what I shall receive upon letting go what I have."

What a terrible way to live. The anxious life of greed reveals its toxic nature. It is a "deadly" sin because it murders joy.

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus invites us to consider a better way, calling us to "not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on."

"Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" he asks. "Look at the birds of the air: They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

After setting forth several additional comparisons noting God's provision, Jesus instructs, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Trusting God is the antidote for greed.
Joel Snider is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia. A longer version of this article with resources for additional reflection first appeared on his website, The Substance of Faith, and is used with permission.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Greed: The Sin You Think Doesn't Affect You

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Few people think they are prone to greed. That was the result of an anecdotal I conducted recently as I was preparing a sermon on this topic. Folks admitted to anger, envy and gluttony, but no one confessed a problem with greed. A few attributed greed to others, but not to themselves.

# data[].attributes.body
Definition: Often portrayed as an irrational desire for self-satisfaction and an irregular affection towards someone.

An example of the sin called Lust is Hypersexuality.
Another example of the sin called Lust is Hypersexualization/Oversexualization.

The article represents the first example mentioned above. The article goes over a medical condition where people feel "excessive/excesses" of sexual behavior. This is a medical condition that more often than not occurs in people who had a history of sexual harassment, especially in their younger years. This medical condition causes many other side effects like stress and morbidity because they are unable to hold back their sexual desire even if they wanted to. This is an example due to how hypersexuality is an irregular feeling towards others whether they like it or not and is often considered an irrational feeling. The article goes over what it is, introduces it, and also explains what exactly it does through and through.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Abstract

Sexual addictions are behavioral addictions. Hypersexuality is used to describe non-paraphilic "excesses" of sexual behavior. Hypersexual disorder (HSD) can be accompanied by clinically significant social, personal distress, and medical morbidity. Common medical comorbidities seen with HSD are the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We present one such case with management. A psychodermatology liaison clinic would be the ideal one-stop for screening patients with STDs for HSD.

Key words: Hypersexual disorder, hypersexuality, psychodermatology liaison

INTRODUCTION

Sex is the basis of humanity and fundamental for the survival of species.[ 1] Despite the advances in medical sciences, a surge in the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like syphilis since the year 2000 has been seen in the US, the UK, Australia, and Europe, especially among men who have sex with men.[ 2] The need for excessive reckless sexual contact may lead to be a harbinger for STDs.

The dictionary defines hypersexuality or hypersexual disorder (HSD) as "exhibiting unusual or excessive concern with or indulgence in sexual activity." We have known it historically, in the form of Don Juanism and satyriasis among males[ 3] and nymphomania in females.

The term "Hypersexuality" itself is vague and often misinterpreted by most. It may begin in a benign way, presenting as excessive masturbation while watching porn or just the want of need of sex. It typically develops into a constant need of some or other types of sexual activity, at times even proving to be risky. As these cases often go unreported, it is difficult to estimate the incidence in the general population. We present here a case of HSD, which was referred to us from the Department of Dermatology. The case highlights the need for continued liaison between departments.

CASE REPORT

An 18-year-old young male was referred by the Dermatology Department to the psychiatry outpatient department (OPD) of our tertiary care hospital. Parts of his face and body were visibly covered in lesions. He was undergoing treatment for secondary syphilis for the past 2 months.

Third in sibship of 3, uneducated, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, the patient reported excessive urge to have sex since the past 6-7 years, which was now causing him woes.

Sexual history

The young man narrated his first sexual encounter dated back to the age of 13 years, when he had intercourse with a slightly older consenting male. In his own words, he was "addicted" to seeing pornographic content up to 8-9 times a day, mostly only heterosexual content. Initially, the activity did not hinder his daily life and work; however, over the past 3 years, he was unable to think of anything but "sex" and ways to procure it. He began visiting brothels, engaging in unprotected sex. On occasion, he had sex with consenting older males due to ease of availability, or finally resorted to masturbation.

A year ago, he developed a single sore over his penis and gradually lesions over face, trunk, back, abdomen, and all four limbs, despite which he continued his risky behavior. The lesions worsened and inguinal lymph nodes became palpable. The dermatological workup was detailed stating he was on regular treatment.

Laboratory investigations

The diagnosis of syphilis was confirmed as his rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test showed 1:8 titers. ELISA test was negative. Testosterone and thyroid function tests levels were normal.

Management

He was administered 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin after test dose, which he did not tolerate. Later, he was started on tablet doxycycline 100 mg BD and antihistaminic at night for itching. He was counseled and recommended to abstain from unprotected sex. Failing to do so, the dermatologist recommended a psychiatric consult.

On mental status examination

A young boy, lean frame, dressed in unclean clothes came into our OPD. He was quite guarded initially but soon opened up. The patient reported no affective or psychotic features, substance use.

Obsessive recurrent thoughts about sex (egodystonic) were noted. He wished to decrease the frequency of being able to think of sex. Compulsion presented in the form of masturbation and sex, up to 4-5 times a day. These were pleasurable to him. There were no homosexual impulses, or paraphillic behavior.

Management (psychiatric)

Counseling the patient was a difficult task. Tablet fluoxetine 20 mg was initiated, gradually escalated to 60 mg. After 20 days, he reported slight improvement in his obsessions and compulsion to masturbate. Cognitive behavioral therapy was then started. Over the next few weeks, there was some decrease in his compulsions. In his last follow-up with the dermatologist, he reported a noteworthy improvement. To our dismay, he had to move to another city for work and hence was lost to follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Kafka is a pioneer in the work related to HSD. The proposal for making HSD a valid diagnosis was rejected due to insufficient data.[ 4] Kafka has given provisional diagnostic guidelines for HSD [ Table 1 ].

Table 1

One may reasonably argue that the case described above can be diagnosed as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the overlap between OCD and OCD spectrum disorder along with HSD can be tricky. In OCD, the person does not derive pleasure from performing the activity, unlike HSD.

The term "HSD" does not find a place in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classification. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-ICD-10 of the WHO, however, makes a provision for two relevant disorders-"Excessive Sexual Drive" (F52.7) and "Excessive Masturbation" (F98.8). Management of HSD is as unclear as the diagnosis. There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications. Case reports suggest the use of antidepressants, especially serotonin selective repute inhibitors, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and anti-androgens.[ 5, 6]

In the West, sexaholic/sex addict anonymous, based on the model of alcohol anonymous, is widely used. A group of men and women, who share their experiences, help each other become sexually sober. In our country, where sex is still considered a taboo subject, the patients rarely use such bodies.[ 7]

The purpose of discussing this case is to highlight the importance of consultation-liaison. Often, the patients suffering from STDs can be frowned upon and they themselves are ashamed to broach topics related to sexuality. Dermatology-psychiatry liaison clinics are common in Western countries but are still an emerging concept in India.[ 8] In our country, dermatologists refer cases to psychiatrists, but a dedicated liaison clinic is virtually unknown. Quite often patients express displeasure when a psychiatric referral is made due to the stigma of visiting the psychiatry department. A major advantage of a combined clinic will be the easy availability of help at one stop.

CONCLUSION

A dermatologist should liaise with psychiatrists or clinical psychologists when screening, managing psychosomatic dermatoses, STDs, or other chronic skin conditions.[ 9] The representation of psychiatry in undergraduate curriculum is scant. We should sensitize other medical fraternities about the significance of psychiatry. The dermatologists should be taught to be psychologically minded and help screen for psychiatric conditions. Dermatology joining forces with psychiatry can help further reduce the burden of STDs.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES

1. Frascella J, Potenza MN, Brown LL, Childress AR. Shared brain vulnerabilities open the way for nonsubstance addictions: Carving addiction at a new joint? Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010;1187:294-315. [[ PMC free article] [ PubMed] Google Scholar]

3. Waxman SM. The Don Juan legend in literature. J Am Folkl. 1908;21:184-204. [ Google Scholar]

7. Jayaraman G. Led by Libido: India is Waking Up to the Illness and Finding Ways to Treat It: Chronic Obsession with Sex. India Today. 2013 May 3; [ Google Scholar]

Articles from Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS are provided here courtesy of Wolters Kluwer -- Medknow Publications

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hypersexuality - a cause of concern: A case report highlighting the need for psychodermatology liaison

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sexual addictions are behavioral addictions. Hypersexuality is used to describe non-paraphilic "excesses" of sexual behavior. Hypersexual disorder (HSD) can be accompanied by clinically significant social, personal distress, and medical morbidity. Common medical comorbidities seen with HSD are the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We present one such case with management.

# data[].attributes.body
Definition: An emotion/feeling that is often associated with negative notions as it is usually portrayed as an inner desire for something that someone else possesses that you don't own but, want to own.

An example of the sin called Envy is when people bash/nitpick celebrities for every little thing just because they are successful or just because they were able to get something that they wanted that is far out of their reach.
Another example of the sin called Envy is when people scheme against a successful person to try and drag them down so, they stand on the top at the end.

The article represents the first example I mentioned above. The article talks about how there are three phases of obsession under an obsessive addictive disorder called celebrity worship syndrome that quite a few fans seem to fall under. The three phases are labeled as entertainment-social, intense-personal, and borderline pathological. The fans that ended up residing in the borderline pathological have been seen to be completely overly obsessive to the point of making up unrealistic fantasies about them which leads them to be vicious to the others around that celebrity. Fans in this phase are often seen cyberbullying and bashing the lover of the celebrity they worship saying things like how they "stole" their celebrity away from them. This part represents envy as the fans who are being vicious are basically envious of the lover to be able to get together with the celebrity that they obsess over to point of having fantasies that they are their celebrity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fans' obsession can damage celebrities' relationships

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Constantly showcased in magazines, newspapers and television, celebrities are inevitably idolized by the general public and play a large role in American culture. Nonetheless, some fans have a tendency to take things too far, hurting not only themselves but the celebrities they worship.

# data[].attributes.body
Definition: Wrath is usually considered an uncontrollable set of intense emotions that portrays feelings of hatred, anger, and rage, which sometimes or frequently leads to violent tendencies to show.

An example of the sin Wrath is killers/murders.
Another example of the sin Wrath is Political relations.

This article represents the first example I have mentioned above. This article goes over the case of a murder in which a person had been rescued by the police and that person confessed to the police as to how the person who put them there had killed several others and had seen their grave. The killer after being arrested later confessed to killing 7 people in three separate cases. It is shown that he represents wrath since he is said to have killed them out of pure anger of for being teased or made fun of or doing something of offense to him. There also is said to be a history of violent behavior/nature to how he reacts to everything around him as he is hypersensitive and often retaliates and portrays violence. Besides that there is another murder case being mentioned as another person who acted out as a serial killer simply to do being angry/seeing red.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Punitive anger sparks violence in killers like Todd Kohlhepp.

# data[].attributes.body
- Saving of one's face (ego), or of being self conscious

Example: Good Leadership

Speaks of ego that is shown as success from many people. When actually pride makes anyone susceptible to manipulation and that ruins you behavior that causes you to act against your own values. We all some kind of power, maybe not all of people, but with that we want to please people. If we hold on to that ego, it will just corrupt us and it won't give our self a break.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On his first day as CEO of the Carlsberg Group, a global brewery and beverage company, Cees 't Hart was given a key card by his assistant. The card locked out all the other floors for the elevator so that he could go directly to his corner office on the 20 th floor. And with its picture windows, his office offered a stunning view of Copenhagen. These were the perks of his new position, ones that spoke to his power and importance within the company.

Cees spent the next two months acclimating to his new responsibilities. But during those two months, he noticed that he saw very few people throughout the day. Since the elevator didn't stop at other floors and only a select group of executives worked on the 20 th floor, he rarely interacted with other Carlsberg employees. Cees decided to switch from his corner office on the 20 th floor to an empty desk in an open-floor plan on a lower floor.

When asked about the changes, Cees explained, "If I don't meet people, I won't get to know what they think. And if I don't have a finger on the pulse of the organization, I can't lead effectively."

This story is a good example of how one leader actively worked to avoid the risk of insularity that comes with holding senior positions. And this risk is a real problem for senior leaders. In short, the higher leaders rise in the ranks, the more they are at risk of getting an inflated ego. And the bigger their ego grows, the more they are at risk of ending up in an insulated bubble, losing touch with their colleagues, the culture, and ultimately their clients. Let's analyze this dynamic step by step.

As we rise in the ranks, we acquire more power. And with that, people are more likely to want to please us by listening more attentively, agreeing more, and laughing at our jokes. All of these tickle the ego. And when the ego is tickled, it grows. David Owen, the former British Foreign Secretary and a neurologist, and Jonathan Davidson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University, call this the " hubris syndrome," which they define as a "disorder of the possession of power, particularly power which has been associated with overwhelming success, held for a period of years."

An unchecked ego can warp our perspective or twist our values. In the words of Jennifer Woo, CEO and chair of The Lane Crawford Joyce Group, Asia's largest luxury retailer, "Managing our ego's craving for fortune, fame, and influence is the prime responsibility of any leader." When we're caught in the grip of the ego's craving for more power, we lose control. Ego makes us susceptible to manipulation; it narrows our field of vision; and it corrupts our behavior, often causing us to act against our values.

Our ego is like a target we carry with us. And like any target, the bigger it is, the more vulnerable it is to being hit. In this way, an inflated ego makes it easier for others to take advantage of us. Because our ego craves positive attention, it can make us susceptible to manipulation. It makes us predictable. When people know this, they can play to our ego. When we're a victim of our own need to be seen as great, we end up being led into making decisions that may be detrimental to ourselves, our people, and our organization.

An inflated ego also corrupts our behavior. When we believe we're the sole architects of our success, we tend to be ruder, more selfish, and more likely to interrupt others. This is especially true in the face of setbacks and criticism. In this way, an inflated ego prevents us from learning from our mistakes and creates a defensive wall that makes it difficult to appreciate the rich lessons we glean from failure.

Finally, an inflated ego narrows our vision. The ego always looks for information that confirms what it wants to believe. Basically, a big ego makes us have a strong confirmation bias. Because of this, we lose perspective and end up in a leadership bubble where we only see and hear what we want to. As a result, we lose touch with the people we lead, the culture we are a part of, and ultimately our clients and stakeholders.

Breaking free of an overly protective or inflated ego and avoiding the leadership bubble is an important and challenging job. It requires selflessness, reflection, and courage. Here are a few tips that will help you:

Consider the perks and privileges you are being offered in your role. Some of them enable you to do your job effectively. That's great. But some of them are simply perks to promote your status and power and ultimately ego. Consider which of your privileges you can let go of. It could be the reserved parking spot or, like in Cees 't Hart's case, a special pass for the elevator.

Support, develop, and work with people who won't feed your ego. Hire smart people with the confidence to speak up.

Humility and gratitude are cornerstones of selflessness. Make a habit of taking a moment at the end of each day to reflect on all the people that were part of making you successful on that day. This helps you develop a natural sense of humility, by seeing how you are not the only cause of your success. And end the reflection by actively sending a message of gratitude to those people.

The inflated ego that comes with success - the bigger salary, the nicer office, the easy laughs - often makes us feel as if we've found the eternal answer to being a leader. But the reality is, we haven't. Leadership is about people, and people change every day. If we believe we've found the universal key to leading people, we've just lost it. If we let our ego determine what we see, what we hear, and what we believe, we've let our past success damage our future success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The inflated ego that comes with success - the bigger salary, the nicer office, the easy laughs - often makes us feel as if we've found the eternal answer to being a leader. But the reality is, we haven't.

# data[].attributes.body
- Lack of effort and or lazy

Example: Social media, screen time linked to depression in teens

Their is a high rate of teens that look at social media and were associated with depressive symptoms. It says that people with depressive symptoms should take a safe pathway when viewing anything on social media. Teens that view posts, videos, etc. can be negative and put an harsh effect on them and one of them could lead to hopelessness which is a symptom of depression and with hopelessness, you will lack of motivation of doing anything.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For today's youth, taking a selfie is like second nature. But their connections with social media may be skewing their view of their world.

Being a teenager is tough already -- is too much screen time making it tougher?

A new study shows frequent social media use and television viewing is linked to depression in teens.

Previous research has revealed increased rates of depression among teenagers, but researchers at the University of Montreal wanted to determine whether increased screen time could help explain the rise.

"If screen time changes and you see depression changing, you can begin to start considering whether it is a causal relationship," the study's lead author, Dr. Patricia Conrod, said in an interview with ABC News.

Researchers followed almost 4,000 Canadians aged 12 to 16 over four years. Every year, students completed a survey about the amount of time they'd spent in front of digital screens and the specific type of activity they had engaged in -- social media, television, video-gaming or computer use. Surveys also asked them to self-score their depressive symptoms.

Over the course of four years, as little as a one-hour annual increase in social media or television viewing was associated with more severe depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem.

The study didn't suggest all screens were a problem. Increasing video gaming and computer use was not associated with increases in depressive symptoms, most likely because these platforms are more interactive and are less likely to make teens directly compare themselves with others.

"Television and social media, more than any other types of media, expose young people to content and images that accentuates the unrealistically positive and idealized presentation of other young people," Conrod said. "Kids form unrealistic expectations of what is normal, which makes them feel like they are not measuring up."

For those in the study who were prone to higher levels of depression, as social media use went up, so did their symptoms. The relationship suggested a spiral, as teens who were more depressed were more likely to view content that validated their state of mind.

The algorithms of social media, in particular, send suggestions for similar content depending on what users have viewed before. Researchers said that could aggravate users' depression and increase feelings of hopelessness, leading to more offerings that depress them further -- possibly even to the point of suicidal ideation.

The solution? Rather than telling kids to avoid screens, researchers suggested teaching them how to be savvy digital users.

"Young people should be advised to be more critical of how they interpret the world and social norms on the basis of what they are exposed to," Conrod said.

Doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics agree, suggesting that parents "treat media as you would any other environment in your child's life."

Here are their recommendations for parents:

Set limits. The same rules set in the real world should be set in the virtual world. Limit the time your kids spend online. Be knowledgeable about the apps and websites your children are using and what information they're accessing online.

Screen time should not equal alone time. Engage with your children when they are using screens. Offer to watch their television shows or play their video games. This way their screen time becomes a more social event, where you have the chance to discuss the content.

Technology should not be a reward. Screens are an easy way to calm your child or keep them quiet, but pacifying them with media is forming a very bad habit. Children should learn how to handle their emotions and manage boredom without the aid of a screen.

Find a balance. Kids will inevitably interact with screens as more schools provide children with tablets and computers in the classroom. Set a good example and teach your kids about the importance of privacy and the dangers of predators and sexting.

Listen to your kids. Ask your children how the digital content they consume makes them feel. Remind them that what they see online is not an accurate measure of reality, that someone may have taken 30 photos to post that one "candid" shot.

The bottom line: Teach your kids to use screens in a smart way.

Reading articles online, watching interesting videos, sharing pictures and memories with friends and family on social media can feed their curiosity, enrich their understanding of the world, and allow them to connect with others.

So before you store away the very screen you're using to read this article, talk to your kids about how their screen can be a tool for good.
Eden David is a rising senior at Columbia University majoring in neuroscience, matriculating into medical school in 2020 and working for ABC News' Medical Unit.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Social media, screen time linked to depression in teens, study says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For today's youth, taking a selfie is like second nature. But their connections with social media may be skewing their view of their world. Being a teenager is tough already -- is too much screen time making it tougher? A new study shows frequent social media use and television viewing is linked to depression in teens.

# data[].attributes.body
- Over obsession of need of one self and or being extremely selfish

Example: Wealthy people wanting more money

This article was explaining the people who have money have the less need of reaching out to get by and would rather be on their own because of it. They are selfish and put their own needs first and they show less compassion towards others. It says that studies have shown that wealthy people agree that selfishness is true because of the amount of money they have. As well agree that being greedy is true.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Who is more likely to help out someone in need: a poor person or someone who is rich? We are inclined to think that the wealthier you are, the more you are able to reach out to others, so you will do so. If you already have enough (house, job, vacation time, etc.), the easier it will be to think about what others need. Research tells us that the opposite is true. As people become more affluent, their sense of compassion toward others declines.

Psychologists at the University of California, Berkeley conducted a series of studies that examined the way social class (measured in wealth, occupational prestige and education) influences how much empathy we have for others. In one study, researchers observed drivers at a busy four-way intersection. People driving luxury cars were more likely to cut off other cars instead of waiting their turn at the intersection. This happened regardless of whether the driver was a man or a woman. It didn't matter what time of day it was or how much traffic was at the intersection.

Could it be that people who focus more on themselves wind up making more money? Maybe selfishness leads to wealth, rather than wealth begets selfishness. To test this idea, researchers ran another study in which they asked subjects to either think about how they compared to people better off or worse off than they were financially (psychologists call this priming). Afterwards, participants were shown a jar of candy, and were asked to help themselves to as much as they wanted to take home. It was explained that any leftover candy would be given to children who were in another lab. People who had spent just a few minutes thinking about how much better they off they were compared to others took more candy for themselves, leaving less for the children.

This tendency for affluent people to focus more on themselves extends to the way they see people who are suffering. One study found that wealthy people are less likely to report feeling compassion towards others on a regular basis. Less well-off people are more likely to agree with statements like, "I often notice people who need help," or "it's important to take care of people who are vulnerable." This was true regardless of gender, race or spiritual beliefs.

Not surprisingly, other research has demonstrated that more affluent people are worse at recognizing the emotions of others. Further, the wealthy pay less attention to people they are interacting with by checking their cell phones or doodling.

Why does affluence decrease one's feeling of compassion? Why doesn't having fewer resources make people behave more selfishly?

The answer may be that having more gives people a greater sense of independence from others. People who are well-off don't often need to get by with a little help from their friends, to paraphrase the Beatles. As sad as it sounds, it seems that the less we have to rely on others, the less we care about their feelings.

And, to beat Turnkey's old drum, behavior leads to belief. The Berkeley researchers also found that wealthier people are more likely to believe that selfishness is a virtue. They are more likely to agree with statements that say that being greedy is justified, even beneficial.

So it shouldn't surprise us that the wealthiest 20 percent of Americans give significantly less to charity as a fraction of income (1.4 percent) than the poorest 20 percent do (3.5 percent), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

How do we break out of this cycle of disinterest in others? It turns out to be pretty simple. Contact with members of different groups (think, poor people) results in greater feelings of empathy. Exposure to diversity is reflected in patterns of giving. Rich people who live in neighborhoods with many other wealthy people give a smaller share of their incomes to charity than rich people who live in more economically diverse communities.

So, tactically, what to do? Get people involved in the mission before asking for money. And what's the best way to do that? Having a peer ask will exert more influence than anything the organization itself can do.

I will use myself as a case in point, although I am certainly not a member of the 1 percent. I did not have an affinity for serving homeless people until the last couple of years. How did I get it? A friend asked me to serve dinner one night with several other close friends to a group of women experiencing homelessness. I didn't want to do it. I wasn't comfortable with the idea. But I didn't want to say no to her. And, how bad could it be? It was only one night.

From the moment I looked into the eyes of a woman who was homeless and realized that she was intellectually disabled, I was hooked. I have a special needs child who, but for a clear and recognizable disability (Down Syndrome) and a good support network (our family), could be homeless. My baby girl could be the woman staring across the counter at me, trying to understand which food I was offering her, trying to understand my too-fast questions. She needed help. It might as well have been my own 27-year-old baby girl standing there. All people experiencing homelessness aren't intellectually disabled of course, but that was the one that got me. And she got me good.

Now, I spend every Christmas week and Easter week working with other volunteers to raise money, get clothing donations, cook meals, help with resumes-literally anything this group needs for the time that they live in our church, sleeping on our floor. We take these weeks because holidays are hard to fill by the organizing group. The Christmases and Easters doing this have been more fulfilling than any I have spent before. All because my friend asked, "Would you serve dinner with me one night?" Peer influence got over my hesitation and my affluence to give me affinity for this cause.

All our organizations have those wealthy few who, somehow, someway, gained an affinity for our mission and are in it to win it. Use their influence with their peer group to ask for engagement, instead of money. Have your wealthy influencers put their friends in proximity to the people your mission serves. There is no more powerful method to create this kind of contact, which can defeat the generosity-killing influence of personal wealth.

Katrina VanHuss and Otis Fulton have written a new book, Dollar Dash, on the psychology of peer-to-peer fundraising. Click here to download the first chapter, courtesy of NonProfit PRO!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why the Rich Are Greedy (and What to Do About It)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Who is more likely to help out someone in need: a poor person or someone who is rich? We are inclined to think that the wealthier you are, the more you are able to reach out to others, so you will do so.