Affluenza
Affluenza is a term that describes a social condition characterized by an overwhelming preoccupation with material wealth and possessions, often leading to symptoms such as overconsumption, stress, debt, and a sense of emptiness. This phenomenon is particularly observed among affluent youth, who may develop a sense of entitlement that impairs their ability to contribute meaningfully to society. Despite access to numerous luxuries, many such individuals experience feelings of depression and dissatisfaction. The term gained widespread attention following a controversial court case in the 2010s, where a young man used an affluenza defense, claiming his privileged upbringing hindered his understanding of accountability for reckless actions.
The rise of affluenza can be traced back to post-World War II economic prosperity in the United States, which led to increased material possessions and a consumer-driven lifestyle. This culture of consumerism, exacerbated by advertising targeting young audiences, contributes to the relentless pursuit of more—often referred to as getting on the "treadmill." As individuals focus on acquiring and maintaining material goods, they may neglect important personal relationships, further deepening feelings of isolation and emptiness. The discussions surrounding affluenza highlight critical issues related to wealth, responsibility, and the societal impacts of consumer culture.
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Subject Terms
Affluenza
Affluenza is a term used to describe a tendency to be consumed by material objects. It is a social condition, the symptoms of which include overconsumption, waste, narcissism, stress, and debt. Affluenza is especially prevalent among young, wealthy, privileged children who, brought up with a sense of entitlement, often lack the drive and foresight needed to contribute meaningfully to society. These wealthy children often accumulate extravagant possessions when they grow up, but even with countless luxuries, they have overwhelming feelings of emptiness and depression. Some people with affluenza spend excessive amounts of time working to pay for the material objects they buy. Others have used the maximum amounts of multiple credit cards and may spend time worrying about monthly, high-interest bills.
Overview
Following World War II (1939–45), there was a period of prosperity in America. Many people had more material items and access to more things than were available to previous generations. For example, in 1958, 4 percent of the American population had dishwashers in their homes, and by 2024, that number had grown to 68 percent. People moved into larger houses, which they filled with more things. People were making more money, spending more money, and then needing to make even more money. The more they earned, the more things they spent money on—bigger houses, more luxurious cars, longer vacations; therefore, the money they earned was never enough. People sometimes refer to this aspect of affluenza as getting on the "treadmill"; in effect, getting in a race and running but never getting anywhere. Because of the need for more money and more things, the very material possessions that originally may have brought joy start to seem overwhelming. Maintaining relationships also becomes difficult. People must spend so much time maintaining materials, they have less time to focus on and nurture relationships. Thus, there is a feeling of emptiness and depression that often overshadows affluenza.
One thing that is considered a contributing factor to affluenza is commercialism. Advertisers target very young children. In fact, most adolescents have seen one million commercials by the time they are twenty years old. The Internet and social media have only exacerbated commercialism with the rise of influencers and targeted advertisements and content. This media has influenced consumers to believe they need the newest car, phone, or other expensive item.
The term affluenza gained notoriety in the 2010s when a wealthy, young teenager claimed an affluenza defense in a Texas courtroom. In 2013, Ethan Couch was in juvenile court for killing a youth pastor and three other people while he was driving under the influence of alcohol. His blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. In a court of law, his attorneys argued the affluenza defense. They said that Couch's entitled upbringing, privileged background, and irresponsible lifestyle resulted in him not understanding the consequences of his reckless behavior, and therefore, he should not receive jail time for the offenses. Prosecutors wanted Couch to go to jail for twenty years, but he was given ten years of probation instead. Many people were outraged by the court's decision, and Couch's affluenza defense made international headlines. Upon reaching adulthood in 2016, however, and after he had fled to Mexico reportedly because he had violated his probation, Couch was ordered by an adult court to serve 720 days in prison (nearly two years). The media announced his release and probation terms in April 2018, which once again sparked debate about the concept of affluenza, particularly in the contexts of justice and race. The coverage also brought up questions about whether the time that he had spent in prison was reformative or not. While there have been no other high-profile legal cases utilizing the affluenza defense since Couch's case, the utilization of the affluenza defense sparked long-term discussions of ethics in law and brought increased attention to the continuing disparities in the US justice system.
Bibliography
Alcindor, Yamiche. "What's the Future for 'Affluenza' Defenses?" USA Today, 14 Dec. 2013, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/14/whats-the-future-for-affluenza-defenses/4016059/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
De Graaf, John et al. Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2002.
Kershaw, Sarah. "Affluenza: A Plague on Both Their Houses, Their Cars and Their Yacht." The Guardian, 4 Jan. 2016, www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/04/affluenza-history-disease-wealth-privilege-ethan-couch. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
O'Neill, Jessie H. The Golden Ghetto: The Psychology of Affluence. The Affluenza Project, 1997.
Simon, Scott. "Affluenza." PBS, www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
Unger, Todd. “Reporter's Notebook: Reflecting on the 'Affluenza' Case 10 Years Later.” KXXV, 18 Nov. 2023, www.kxxv.com/news/reporters-notebook-reflecting-on-the-affluenza-case-10-years-later. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
Victor, Daniel. "Ethan Couch, 'Affluenza Teen' Who Killed 4 While Driving Drunk, Is Freed." The New York Times, 2 Apr. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/us/ethan-couch-affluenza-jail.html. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.