Roy Orrock: Affluenza, Money Word
on Sunday, December 18, 2016
A one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and overconsumption. You can learn more about the show, get an Affluenza diagnosis and check out resources for treatment.
First Use 1973, by Ray Orrock
“Affluenza”
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The money word “affluenza” was coined in 1973 by psychologist Ray Orrock and refers to a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy people. Some key points:
- It combines “affluence” meaning great wealth and “influenza” to suggest the negative symptoms wealth can bring.
- Orrock used it to criticize rampant consumerism and materialism among the rich as causing spiritual discomfort.
- It since has been used more broadly to denote negative personality traits like irresponsibility, lack of empathy and entitlement associated with growing up very wealthy.
- The term gained more usage in the late 1990s as a criticism of the excessive lifestyles and behaviors enabled by extreme affluence in certain communities.
So in summary, “affluenza” was created by Ray Orrock to call attention to the supposed psychological and social costs that come with living in a very rich, materialistic society that over-prioritizes wealth and consumption.
Money Words – Finance Neologisms
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