The psychology of greed....It's dopamine addiction, stupid...Crypto , anyone?

Greed is one addiction, among very many - but what they all have in common - whatever the addiction - is that enough is never enough.

As addictions progress regress, in order to derive the sufficient gratification (dopamine release) they have to seek more and more of their drug of choice to receive the same 'hit'.

The specific choice of addiction to a substance, whether it be drugs, gaming, relationships, sex, or money - the 'ante' must continually be raised to satisfy the craving.

Money and greed as an addiction.

Of all the dangerous things that you one might be addicted to, nothing ranks higher in it's destructiveness, than greed. The pursuit of money for it's own ends...

Due to the social acceptance of the addiction, it's glossed over as being 'normal. (similar to societies view of alcohol consumption).

Money addiction creates exactly the same patholgies within it's users as do any other addictions. It creates manipulative , lying, individuals - and has zero regard for others around them.

The multi-millionaire (or billionaire) that's has this addiction has no interest in what money can do for them - it's all about the acquisition of more. **It's the more that provides the dopamine hit, not the bank balance*. There IS no end point.... Addictions don't work like that. The means by which they find their dopamine hit IS the whole point. Chasing every 'financial opportunity' dopamine hit to the detriment of everything else in their lives — it becomes the 'be-all' and 'end-all'.
Money becomes their god(or devil).

Due to the social approval of this greed addiction behavior , it means that it goes on to then further validate their actions - both to themselves - and so as to serve as an excuse to those around them, for acting the way they do.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DOPAMINE HIT.

The 'end' - THE DOPAMINE HIT - is simply the high.
It's no different than the high felt by the narcotic user. Every time they turn a profit, it gives them 'the hit'. And just like any other addicts, they’ll need to make bigger and bigger 'killings' to get the ego gratification they require in order to feel good about themselves.

The illusion of satisfaction when they 'make it', is just that. An illusion. They have no deep desire to ever really 'make it'.
How can they ?... when the underlying pathology is one driven by a feeling of being worthless. To ever 'make it' would be in conflict with their own negative perception of themselves. (a good example of this is lower down in the post). Weak ego's and addiction are very intimate friends...

What the game of perpetual wealth production does , is that is provides the addict with a 'psychological comfort blanket'.
Dopamine highs are 'the bread and circuses' of the mind. It assuages the underlying fears - if only temporarily - of the feelings of depression, stress, anxiety, guilt - and shame. These feelings (generally) come from a weak ego formation in childhood years - which stem from a deep down belief that they may not be good enough. Low self esteem in adult hood, can be due to a weak ego formation in childhood.

In terms of money addiction - greed - a greater and greater financial success is needed so as to help them sustain their illusion that they're superior — at least in economic terms (low self esteem).

It's the ego boost that they really crave, and that is delivered via the dopamine hit.

Ethical'y speaking, the worst thing about this addiction is that their ego driven achievements can do considerable damage to others. ....And very often , their financial successes contributes little or nothing to society.
It's *never about offering good products or services (no matter what they say)... it's ALL about the money...(crypto financial products , anyone?)

The ethical aspects - for 'the greed addict' - are pushed way back into the unconsciousness. It's ALL about transferring money out of the pockets of others - into their own.

With the 'success' of achieving the dopamine highs, comes another 'prop' to support the illusion. Material goods. Luxuries become necessities (lambo's, anyone?).

Opulence becomes important in their lives (an ego boost for the weak ego). The image that they find so important to show off to others - (an integral expression of low self esteem) now becomes a pressure that they add to their own lives. 'Keeping up appearances'.
Yet another mask. It's ALL about making them look good (peer group approval) in an attempt to deflect the deep down, psychological pain, that they feel.
Feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness are much easier to ignore when you have a yacht, right?

The appetite for 'things' is a secondary thing, however - and acts as an affirmation more than anything else - that their own addiction is a positive thing in their lives. This is called rationalizing - and it's something that all addicts are very good at.

They forever (unconsciously) link their fundamental human value to their financial worth. This is why suicidal thoughts - and actual suicides -occur when the game of accumulating wealth turns sour... **The greed addict isn't losing money - they're losing their own self worth as a human being*. Losing money now becomes associated with being stripped of all personal value. Of peer group dis approval.

With the people addicted to pursuing wealth, the insatiable passion isn’t about getting rich at all — but getting richer...and then richer still...

I've actually seen accounts on here, back in the steem days ('crypto high prices of $5 dollars and more)' who had put themselves into a in a position to free themselves of their own debt slavery by cashing in. And chose NOT to take that option - but wait for a further increase in prices!! ('greed addiction', anyone?)

Staying in bondage - i.e debt slavery - was a preferable position to hold - and hodling - rather than having no debt and much less crypto....

Any rational human being who has the opportunity to free themselves from debt slavery , but chooses not to - is not acting rationally. (if you perceive NOT being a slave as a rational position)...

**Addicts do not act rationally*.

Rationalizing the decision to continue to stay in real world debt - or to stay a slave to the system - in exchange for the illusion of 'the potential' further riches, is very symptomatic of the greed addict.

It's symptomatic of weak ego formation. It's symptomatic of much deeper psychological issues that have not been dealt with. ...And like all addictions, it can be a vicious cycle.

Without taking the time to really know yourself then the very thing that the addict desires (which isn’t for wealth at all) continues to elude them... Addictions are one way that the mind puts off unpeeling that painful psychological scab. The things that continue to allude them are love, intimacy, and an unconditional acceptance (and self-acceptance).
I.E. - Approval - just being themselves.

And none of these things can be purchased with money, or through the making money.

I have no addiction to money. I'm not a 'greed addict'.

ALL addictions are the same - it's just a matter of which vehicle you choose to ride in.

Some are more socially acceptable than others - which changes nothing - apart from it lending more moral weight (deluded self justifications and rationalizations) for your chosen addiction...