What's the unquenchable thirst for wealth all about?What connects the various addictions is that enough is never enough - not for long anyway. As addicts progress (or rather,
regress) into their
addiction, to derive sufficient gratification they must constantly seek more and more of their drug of choice. For "more" is the keyword of addiction. It doesn't matter whether they're addicted to a substance, relationship, or activity - the "ante" for getting enough of the object of their craving must continually be raised.
But of all the things one might be addicted to, nothing tops the greed-laden pursuit of wealth in its audacity, manipulativeness, and gross insensitivity to the needs and feelings of others. Not to mention its extreme, short-sighted, irresponsible covetousness. Ask a multi-millionaire or billionaire so afflicted (if you can find one willing to talk to you!), and you'll discover that their "mega-fortune quest" really has no end point. They won't be able to name the definitive "millionth" or "billionth" that, finally, will do it for them. They can't because the means by which they reap their riches has
itself become the end.
Chasing every financial opportunity - and, it cannot be overemphasized, to the detriment of virtually everything else in their life - has become their be-all and end-all. For that, frankly, is where the
dopamine is: the master molecule of pleasure and
motivation. And the "end" for them is simply the high (or dopamine release) they receive each time they do a deal, turn a profit, or make a "killing." And just like other addicts, over time (because of the related phenomena of tolerance and dependency) they'll need to make bigger and bigger "killings" to get the ego gratification they require in order to feel good about themselves.
Comment: The TV segment can be watched by following this link (in German).