A DARK SIDE OF THE AMERICAN-DREAM - CORRELATES OF FINANCIAL SUCCESS AS A CENTRAL LIFE ASPIRATION

Aspiring for financial success is an important aspect of capitalist cu ltures. Three studies examine the hypothesis that values and expectanc ies for wealth and money are negatively associated with adjustment and well-being when they are more central to an individual than other sel f-relevant values and expectancies. Studies 1 and 2 use 2 methods to s how that the relative centrality of money-related values and expectanc ies is negatively related to college students' well-being and mental h ealth. Study 3, using a heterogeneous noncollege sample, extends these findings by showing that a high centrality of aspirations for financi al success is associated with interview ratings of lower global adjust ment and social productivity and more behavioral disorders. Discussion is focused on the deleterious consequences of materialistic world vie ws and the need to examine differential effects of content regarding g oals and values.