tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post1210741952018162983..comments2024-03-27T03:22:41.073-07:00Comments on Psych Your Mind: Mo Money, Mo Problems? Affluenza Doesn't ExistAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08931064542755278772noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-90683765596197276042014-02-18T20:51:11.102-08:002014-02-18T20:51:11.102-08:00Thanks for your response, Mike!
Your argument do...Thanks for your response, Mike! <br /><br />Your argument does make a lot of sense. This is such a complex issue, and I definitely think a lot more research is needed to better understand how SES fits into everything...<br /><br />Thanks again for your thoughts! :] <br /><br /> Jenn Wanghttp://jennifermwang.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-38712328202541688942014-02-14T18:34:22.648-08:002014-02-14T18:34:22.648-08:00Bridgette seems to be on to something here, that j...Bridgette seems to be on to something here, that judges don't want to sentence people using the rationale that there is no drug treatment. My husband was catastrophically and permanently injured by an intoxicated driver in our front yard, and the judge recommended a two-month jail sentence, which is less time than my dear hubby spent confined to a hospital bed! The judge cited the lack of drug treatment, however, there are programs in the NC jail system, though it's true they are underfunded and in high demand. In this case the woman who maimed my husband was an Army dependent and had access to free treatment, so this is no excuse to pay the appropriate consequences for her crime. If intoxicated driving laws are weak and not enforced, than it will continue to be a problem, one with tragic outcomes. It is senseless because it is preventable. Please read and share our story at braggwife.blogspot.com and perhaps there will be justice in my husband's case. Perhaps we can help prevent others from suffering by uniting and demanding change.Braggwifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17161682132535349000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-36589273160027466622014-02-09T13:54:28.625-08:002014-02-09T13:54:28.625-08:00Hi again Jennifer and thanks for your comment!
T...Hi again Jennifer and thanks for your comment! <br /><br />These reasons don't seem far-fetched, and again, I know of the research suggesting that high SES environments can be tough on people stress-wise.<br /><br />My gut & training tells me, though, that this evidence is no good and here is why: The large sample, excellently done epidemiological studies all consistently show that high SES is good for people. The best example is the Whitehall II Study of British Civil Servant Workers (thousands of people in the study). Higher occupational grade means more responsibility and direct supervision of others--high stakes work. However, consistently across health measures, high SES individuals have far better health outcomes (almost anything you look at--sick days, blood pressure, even mortality). This study is notable because all members of the British civil service have the exact same health care. <br /><br />So what accounts for patterns of maladaptation found in high SES samples? High SES people have personalities and so some will deal with high expectations and job rigor worse than others.<br /><br />You mention that high SES jobs might take you away from raising your children. This could be true, but I actually think that a low-paying working class job where someone has to take a longer shift away from their kids could have the same effect. What alleviates some of the problems for the high SES/high stakes job though, is that the high stakes job is likely well compensated--leading to the purchasing of childcare assistance. That'd be my guess at least.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08931064542755278772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-91949156775598791512014-02-08T14:49:33.235-08:002014-02-08T14:49:33.235-08:00Dear Michael,
Sorry for the late response (disser...Dear Michael,<br /><br />Sorry for the late response (dissertation writing has a way of completely sucking up one's time!)<br /><br />While I completely agree that the cause of problems for low SES individuals often result directly from social and financial strains, I still believe that pressures of affluence play a prominent (albeit perhaps more indirect) role on youth's adjustment. I know this sounds like cries from the "poor little rich girl/boy," but allow me to explain. First, achievement is highly valued and emphasized in affluent environments; affluence is often viewed as a symbol of achievement. Given this emphasis, youth in affluent families often face extreme pressures to excel and achieve. Given the negative effects of stress on health, extreme pressures to achieve likely undermine youth's well-being, even if they do benefit from a wealth of resources (e.g., private tutors; elite prep classes). As well, an emphasis on achievement may come at a huge cost to interpersonal relationships (and we know close interpersonal relationships are important to adjustment): youth may see one another as competitors they need to beat rather than fellow peers to befriend; every minute spent on studying is one that is not spent on socializing/maintaining relationships. Additionally, high-paying jobs are often stressful and require long hours and a strong commitment to work (academia is perhaps the rare exception in which number of work hours appears completely unrelated to one's salary and income, but I digress :P.....) It is likely that demanding jobs often leave parents of affluent youth little time to spend with their children (of course, this is a gross over-generalization, but I think still highly plausible). In this view, we have an environment that puts high stress on youth while simultaneously undermining their sources of social support. <br /><br />Although these reasons may seem far-fetched, I still think they are important to consider, especially in light of findings that demonstrate high rates of dysfunction and maladjustment in affluent youth. <br /><br />I hope my rationales are understandable. Thanks for considering my views. Keep up the great work! :] Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-59315486006928438182014-01-20T18:14:31.079-08:002014-01-20T18:14:31.079-08:00I'm all for leniency for kids making mistakes-...I'm all for leniency for kids making mistakes--even big ones like this. That isn't the issue though. The issue isn't really the PhD who made the non-diagnosis of affluenza. The issue is whether affluenza is real--and I'm arguing it isn't. I think that about brings us up to speed. Thanks for reading!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08931064542755278772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-86499969432393810472014-01-20T14:22:11.132-08:002014-01-20T14:22:11.132-08:00I'm a lawyer and I find how you doctors keep b...I'm a lawyer and I find how you doctors keep beating up on the straw man doctor who testified strange. He used the word "affluenza" once, he didn't claim it was a diagnosis, it wasn't a defense. The kid got a typical sentence for vehicular manslaughter in the state. Judges don't want to sentence people, let alone minors, to prison because there is no drug treatment there.Bridgettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05533773512727362148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-9931307817942863052014-01-09T18:46:33.003-08:002014-01-09T18:46:33.003-08:00Thanks for your comment Jenn! In general I agree t...Thanks for your comment Jenn! In general I agree that people of different social class backgrounds face unique environments with their own challenges and opportunities. This means that everyone, regardless of class faces challenges in development, just different ones.<br /><br />But let me push back on one point: For lower-class individuals, it is pretty clear that the cause of the problems these individuals face is the social class environment--lower class environments strain social and financial resources and lead to the mortality rates and reduced education access I described.<br /><br />In contrast, though wealthy kids face developmental challenges, I'm not sure that we would be justified in blaming these problems on the pressures of affluence. It seems to me that a more likely cause would inconsistent parenting styles or avoidant attachment patterns. <br /><br />I'd love to hear yours and others' thoughts on this pattern.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08931064542755278772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451967208270832502.post-43547300589867576762014-01-09T13:29:33.724-08:002014-01-09T13:29:33.724-08:00Great post, Michael! So glad someone is speaking o...Great post, Michael! So glad someone is speaking out against the crazy claims made by clueless journalists whose collective science illiteracy is frankly frightening...<br /><br />While I agree with you that "affluenza" is a ridiculous term that has no empirical merit, there are actually some research studies demonstrating that affluence is associated with adjustment difficulties during development (see especially the work conducted by Suniya S. Luthar). I have referenced some of these studies here. <br /><br />Of course, these studies do not lend credibility to the whole notion of "affluenza" as an illness/disorder or condition. I still think they merit some mention, though, as they bring up some important points to consider when understanding the implications of social class for adjustment across development. <br /><br />Keep up the great work! :] <br /><br />Luthar, S. S., & Barkin, S. H. (2012). Are affluent youth truly “at risk”? Vulnerability and resilience across three diverse samples. Development and Psychopathology, 24(02), 429–449.<br /><br />Luthar, S. S., & Becker, B. E. (2002). Privileged but pressured? A study of affluent youth. Child Development, 73(5), 1593–1610.<br /><br />Racz, S. J., McMahon, R. J., & Luthar, S. S. (2011). Risky behavior in affluent youth: Examining the co-occurrence and consequences of multiple problem behaviors. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(1), 120–128.Jenn Wanghttp://jennifermwang.comnoreply@blogger.com