affluenza
Prosperity's psychological toll
Affluenza is a portmanteau of affluence and influenza, treating wealth as a kind of sickness.
It describes the psychological malaise supposedly afflicting the wealthy—guilt, lack of motivation, or dissatisfaction despite material comfort.
The term gained notoriety in a 2013 legal case where a teenager's lawyers argued his privileged upbringing left him unable to understand consequences: His defense team claimed affluenza made him incapable of knowing right from wrong.
Often used critically or sarcastically.
Preoccupation with acquiring goods
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- possessionsThings one owns
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- designerOne who plans appearances
shopping · bling · trophy · collectibles · gadgets · upgrades
Excessive self-importance
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- self-importanceExaggerated sense of significance
snobbery · conceit · hubris · spoiled · bratty · tone-deaf · oblivious · sheltered
Excessive use of resources
- overindulgenceExcessive consumption or enjoyment
- decadenceMoral decline through excess
- wastefulnessCareless use of resources
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
profligacy · splurging · squandering · gluttony · surfeit · immoderation · superfluous · disposable
Moral self-reproach
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
meaninglessness · ennui · malaise · disconnection · isolation · therapy · rehab · intervention
Good fortune, success
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- richesAbundant valuable possessions
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- billionairePerson worth ten figures
millionaire · assets · portfolio · dividends · capital · endowment · opulence · estate
Superior select group
- exclusivityState of being limited
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- accessRight to enter
- connectionsRelationships between things
nepotism · classism · plutocracy · insider
consumerism
Preoccupation with acquiring goods
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- possessionsThings one owns
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
designer · shopping · bling · trophy · collectibles · gadgets · upgrades
arrogance
Excessive self-importance
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
self-importance · snobbery · conceit · hubris · spoiled · bratty · tone-deaf · oblivious · sheltered · coddled
overconsumption
Excessive use of resources
- overindulgenceExcessive consumption or enjoyment
- decadenceMoral decline through excess
- wastefulnessCareless use of resources
extravagance · profligacy · splurging · squandering · gluttony · surfeit · immoderation · superfluous · disposable · McMansion
guilt
Moral self-reproach
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
depression · meaninglessness · ennui · malaise · disconnection · isolation · therapy · rehab · intervention · enabling
prosperity
Good fortune, success
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- richesAbundant valuable possessions
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
billionaire · millionaire · assets · portfolio · dividends · capital · endowment · opulence · estate · dynasty
elite
Superior select group
- exclusivityState of being limited
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- accessRight to enter
connections · nepotism · classism · plutocracy · insider
- greedgreed, avarice, covetousness, cupidity, materialism
- portmanteausbrunch, smog, motel, spork, chortle
- money disordersshopping addiction, compulsive spending, compulsive buying, gambling addiction, compulsive gambling
- consumerismconsumerism, consumers, consumer, shopping, buying
- wastefulnesswaste, squandering, extravagance, profligacy, dissipation
- wealthriches, wealth, fortune, prosperity, money
affluenzapoverty
Severe lack of resources
destitution · penury · indigence · impoverishment · want
affluenzaaccountability
Obligation for one's actions
personal responsibility · humility · gratitude · grit · resilience
affluenzaasceticism
Severe self-denial practice
simple living · minimalism · frugality · contentment · anti-materialism
- affluent neighborhoodProsperous residential area
- affluent suburbsProsperous areas near cities
- affluent areaProsperous residential zone
- affluent communityProsperous residential area
- affluent communitiesNeighborhoods of the wealthy
- affluent lifestyleWay of wealthy people