PSYCHO: Why do we think so much about money?

< /p> UPDATE DAY

Money is not just a way to meet needs. It is an emotional and social issue that sometimes has a disproportionate influence on our lives.

Money is a practical tool of economic exchange, but because of its symbolic value, it quickly supplanted other social resources such as physical strength, beauty or intelligence. 

Money is a source of security to meet our real or imagined needs. It is also a source of power that increases our freedom of action and our influence. 

Like everything that matters a lot (eg our loves), money can make us happy, but also our misfortune. Up to a certain level, having more money increases our level of general satisfaction, either by reducing the stress related to our needs and obligations or by allowing us more frequent pleasures. 

An emotional theme

Money is rarely a neutral topic. Running out of money increases anxiety and irritability. It is a common cause of insomnia, distress and loss of self-esteem. 

Our sensitivities related to money have been shaped by those around us (family, neighborhood) and our experiences (jobs, debt, recessions). 

Some people spend impulsively, while others are very frugal. 

Spending provides satisfaction (a dose of brain dopamine), but like many drugs, it can be addictive. Some people who take drugs that mimic the effects of dopamine (e.g. Parkinson's disease) develop irresistible urges to spend money or take financial risks.

The subjective value of money depends on many psychological factors. Paying on credit can make us spend more by making withdrawing money less immediate. Changing currency while traveling can also make us spend more by blurring the value of the expense. 

Our financial emotions often play tricks on us. 

Some people don't like to spend because of their insecurities or an inflated perception of their needs. 

Sometimes our blockages make us hesitate to invest in a project (studies, renovations), even when it is clearly worth it. Sometimes we waste our time to make small savings and sometimes we are ready to lose a lot of money to save time. 

When we receive large amounts of money, we often experience a mild euphoria that gives rise to desires or more ambitious projects. We become more confident in the future and sometimes more impulsive, ready to go into debt or take more risks. 

Money is also a delicate subject for relationships, a great source of frustration , jealousy and resentment which promotes conflict. 

Money can make us more selfish, more secretive or more fraudulent. 

Money and loved ones don't always mix. When loved ones share bills, lend each other money or share an inheritance, relationships are often affected. we become generous. Money can even be a social binder that provides comfort and hope when you contribute to a common cause or help the less fortunate. 

Master or tool?

Money should be a tool, not a master. Consumption and possessions serve as an escape, but do not relieve stress in a lasting way. 

When we think less about money, we reduce our anxiety and live more for the present and for human interactions. Like all subjects of anxiety, it is useful to be accompanied, to cut the problem into pieces, to consider several scenarios and above all to revisit our values ​​to detach ourselves from our less essential needs.