What is it about affluence breeds ignorance to how one's affluence actually occurred?
The idea that "affluence breeds ignorance" about the origins of one's wealth often stems from a mix of psychological and social factors.
When people achieve or inherit prosperity, they can become detached from the struggles, systems, or sheer luck that paved the way for it. Comfort insulates them from the gritty realities—
whether it’s the labor of others, historical privileges, or random chance—that built their affluence. Over time, this detachment can morph into a belief that their success is purely self-made, ignoring the broader context.
Take generational wealth, for example. Someone born into money might never have to grapple with the sacrifices or exploitation their ancestors leveraged to amass it. They see the mansion, not the sweat behind it. Psychologically, this ties into self-serving bias—people like to credit themselves for good outcomes and downplay external help. Add in a society that often glorifies individual achievement, and you’ve got a recipe for obliviousness.
It’s not universal, though. Some affluent folks do dig into the roots of their wealth—whether out of curiosity, guilt, or a sense of responsibility. But for many, affluence offers a cushy bubble, and popping it means facing uncomfortable truths. Why question the golden goose when it’s still laying eggs?
Take generational wealth, for example. Someone born into money might never have to grapple with the sacrifices or exploitation their ancestors leveraged to amass it. They see the mansion, not the sweat behind it. Psychologically, this ties into self-serving bias—people like to credit themselves for good outcomes and downplay external help. Add in a society that often glorifies individual achievement, and you’ve got a recipe for obliviousness.
It’s not universal, though. Some affluent folks do dig into the roots of their wealth—whether out of curiosity, guilt, or a sense of responsibility. But for many, affluence offers a cushy bubble, and popping it means facing uncomfortable truths. Why question the golden goose when it’s still laying eggs?
My response back
Until the golden goose is cooked and the spoiled affluent child is left rudderless!
Exactly. The golden goose—be it family wealth, a booming market, or some unearned advantage—can keep laying eggs until it doesn’t. When it’s finally cooked, whether by economic collapse, bad decisions, or just the passage of time, the affluent child who never learned to navigate without it is screwed. They’ve got no rudder because they never had to steer; the wind always blew their way. Picture a trust-fund kid who’s never balanced a checkbook suddenly facing a world where the checks bounce—panic sets in fast. The ignorance that affluence bred leaves them clueless about resilience or adaptation. It’s not just poetic justice; it’s a practical fallout of living in that bubble too long.
