affluenza

[ af-loo-en-zuh ]

noun

1. the negative psychological or behavioral effects of having or pursuing wealth, as irresponsible acts and feelings of self-doubt or guilt.
2. excessive materialism or desire for wealth, associated with negative effects:

   workaholics afflicted with affluenza.

affluenza

/ ˌæflʊˈɛnzə /

noun

1. the guilt or lack of motivation experienced by people who have made or inherited large amounts of money Also calledsudden-wealth syndrome

Word History and Origins

Origin of affluenza¹

1970–75; blend of affluence ( def ) and influenza ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of affluenza¹

C20: from aff ( luent ) + ( in ) fluenza

Example Sentences

“Monsters” is, among other things, a wicked parody of affluenza.

From Los Angeles Times

This has become an ancient story of affluenza to the max, a story of how being born into money and titles is no way to prepare you for life, a lesson in how doling out power based on birth order is no way to run a country and is a fine way to ruin a family.

From Washington Post

Maybe Favre, who ranks among the NFL's highest-paid players of all time and was fortunate enough to grow up in a two-parent household headed by college-educated parents who both worked as teachers, suffers from affluenza now.

From Salon

Oliver James, a psychologist who authored the 2008 book "The Selfish Capitalist: Origins of Affluenza," argued that the materialistic, self-obsessed and competitive culture of neoliberal capitalist societies instill "emotional distress" in their populations.

From Salon

Beginning with “I pledge allegiance,” the last word is supplanted by the sequence “adherence – adoration – anxiety – affluenza – I pledge allegiance to the flag…” You think your way through a vow you can probably recite by heart, stumbling across unacknowledged sentiments and, elsewhere as the text continues, even shocking cruelties and bigotries.

From Los Angeles Times