Word: affluenza

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The term "affluenza" was used in several news articles today.

Date: December 12, 2013
Website: Los Angeles Times
Article title: Texas teen's probation for killing 4 while driving
drunk stirs anger
Author: Michael Muskal
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-teen-drunk-driving-probation-affluenza-20131212,0,61486.story

[Begin excerpt]
A defense psychologist called it “affluenza,” a syndrome that keeps
someone from a wealthy background from learning that bad behavior has
consequences.
[End excerpt]

There have been multiple attempts to assign this term constructed via
wordplay an enduring meaning. It was used as a documentary title in
1997,

Affluenza (1997)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475060/

[Begin excerpt]
TV Movie  -  56 min  -  Documentary  -  15 September 1997 (USA)
A look at the rampant materialism consuming America.
[End excerpt]


Periodical: Business Today
Year: 1993
Volume 2, Issues 9-16, Page 128
(Google Books Snippet View Only; Data may be inaccurate. The same
definition is given in: 1988, International Management, Volume 43,
Page 30 according to GB)

[Begin extracted text]
BUSINESS TODAY presents its favourite business buzzwords: AFFLUENZA
That nauseous, guilty feeling that creeps up on people who make more
money than they think they are worth. Said to be rampant among
MBA-holders and all stripes of yuppies.
[End extracted text]


Year: 1984
Periodical: Mademoiselle
Volume 90
Issues 10-12
(Google Books Snippet View Only; Data may be inaccurate)

[Begin extracted text]
In fact, researchers who have studied the wealthy say they're often
victims of an illness all their own, "affluenza."

John Levy, director of the C.G. Jung Institute in San Francisco, has
described this psychological syndrome found in some children of the
rich. The symptoms include lack of motivation and self-discipline
(some wealthy people have trouble committing themselves to any goal);
boredom; suspiciousness (believing that their friends like them only
for their money); low self-esteem; and guilt over their wealth.
[End extracted text]

Garson

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