Word: affluenza

[Jesse Sheidlower]

The OED entry has quotes back to 1973.

Jesse Sheidlower

ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>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
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org