What is the word that, in reference to the American dream, describes the manner in which it is perpetuated ?

Question

In an Anthropology class several years ago, while studying different economic systems (I'm pretty sure we were on Capitalism), the teacher told us a word which could be used to describe the various means that the system has to insure that the poverty class believes that success is possible if you only work hard enough for it. I can't find it in my text book, nor can I contact the teacher. This would sure be a handy work to know...

I mean it would be a handy worD to know.

I wish I could remember more of the definiton of the word... it had to do with the various means in which a capitalist system maintains and perpetuates a myth of hard work as being the only thing necessary to success. This is to keep the working class working and striving, to make sure that they produce and don't revolt.

People are gullible for sure, but that's not it. This is a word which means specifically the dynamic that I am trying to explain.

Thanks... but no, not any kind of ethic, work ethic, Protestant ethic, etc. This is one word which describes the PERPETUATION of myths, it describes the dynamic by which the myth of success is perpetuated.

Answer 1

Gullibility?

Answer 2

Perhaps you are thinking of "The Protestant Ethic"? This is (or was) a "myth" in the sense of a culturally constructed belief not extrinsically shared. It was a value system, somewhat vague at the margin, which esteemed hard (paid) work, loyalty, obedience to authority, saving (money "for a rainy day"), honesty, getting up early in the morning, being on time.... and probably other values I can't think of right now, all conducive to acceptance of capitalism by those who believed in it (of whatever class). It was called 'Protestant' because particularly prevalent (in the industrialising and industrial years from c1750 to 1950) in Prussia (later Germany), and to a lesser extent Scandinavia and the British Isles... and exported by migration from these areas to the US.... in contrast to the more laid-back siesta-taking and largely Catholic or Orthodox countries of the European Mediterranean.