While greed is commonly dismissed as simple selfishness, pathological greed involves the insatiable pursuit of wealth beyond any reasonable need. This form of greed has become increasingly prevalent in our society and is related to psychopathology, including depression, anxiety, and aggressive behaviors. It operates more like an addiction than rational self-interest.

The American healthcare system provides numerous examples of pathological greed, from pharmaceutical price-gouging to corporate profiteering that prioritizes earnings over patient welfare.

What causes pathological greed? One factor is the brain's reward system, which is hijacked by greed. Functional MRI scans show that the anticipation of financial gain activates the nucleus accumbens, the same region of the brain involved in drug addiction. This creates a powerful feedback loop.

Each time we acquire money, our brain releases dopamine, and when dopamine is released in the reward center of the brain, we experience pleasure. But there’s a catch—our brains adapt quickly to this higher level of dopamine, and subsequently, ever-larger rewards are required to achieve the same satisfaction. This is known as tolerance.

This neurochemical pattern helps explain why the accumulation of wealth can become compulsive. Studies consistently show that beyond meeting our basic needs, additional income produces diminishing happiness. But many individuals continue pursuing wealth, even as they become wealthier. In this way, the pursuit of money is similar to the pursuit of drugs. Acquiring larger amounts of money drives people to want more and more, despite producing less happiness.

Beyond the experience of........

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