Wealth affects driving and other behaviors, research says

May 2017

Gaining wealth seems to have a damaging effect on a person's character, according to research done by Paul Piff, assistant professor of psychology and social behavior. Plus, they're worse drivers.

Wealthy people, Piff told philly.com, are less willing to take up the perspective of another person and less concerned about another’s well-being, and they tend to equate being better off with being better than others. Money makes people feel more deserving of success, he adds, and less needful of others. Piff is conducting a study of 50,000 adults to see how wealth influences social behavior.

"Money makes you more likely to exhibit the characteristics of being a jerk," Piff said.

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