could greed be a result of inner insecurity, or just plain selfishness?
2006-11-14 04:05:41 · 12 answers · asked by reddrooster1 1 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Greed is definitely a learned behavior. It's not that individuals explicitly learn from others to be greedy. In our capitalistic society, there is a strong emphasis on individualism, and the larger social structures mold people to look out for themselves. In non-capitalist societies people tend to do what's best for the group, which is evidence that greed is not innate.
2006-11-15 18:22:30 · answer #1 · answered by IElop 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Have you ever watched some toddlers play together? They often want all of the toys for themselves or get most interested in a toy that someone else has and is enjoying and try to take it from them. At that early age, toddlers haven't been taught greed - they need instead to be taught to share and be kind to others - basically to overcome that greedy instinct.
It could be said that greed is really just an extention of Darwin's Survival of the Fittest - if you hoard everything for yourself than you have a better chance of survival. It's an instinct that in some cases has likely kept people alive.
2006-11-14 12:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by ms_know_it_all 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are the only greedy species and it would be my opinion that the others species are guided by instinct so seeing as how we are the only species that teaches dogma, religion, politics and commerce before indigenous behaviour, greed is not only a learned behaviour it is ultimately a fatal one in the overall balance of things..
I believe however that it is forbidden to take more then our fare share
2006-11-14 14:48:31 · answer #3 · answered by richardnattress 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
greed is an instintive behavior because at a very young age we are used to crying for people attention. Humans as a race learn to try to get as many things in life as possible, with the exception of buddhist, who try to do the opposite.
2006-11-14 13:56:12 · answer #4 · answered by ceesteris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a learned behavior and could stem from anything. Insecurity, selfishness, society anything.
2006-11-14 12:14:10 · answer #5 · answered by omvg1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lust, anger,Greed, hate, All these qualities are within everyone to some degree in the material world. One is supposed to uproot and purify these bad qualities and become enlightened. Go to http://www.stephen-knappp.com for universal truth and becoming enlightened
2006-11-14 18:34:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think that it is something tha tis learned. you have to learn how to love you have to learn how to be a per son so why would greed be any different than anything else that you have to learn
2006-11-14 14:19:41 · answer #7 · answered by AlOnEiNtHeRaIn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is my belief that it is part of human nature.
However, some people can be greedier than others through learned behavior.
2006-11-14 13:48:24 · answer #8 · answered by Douglas A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is incorrect to dichotomize, learned behavior to instinct.
2006-11-14 17:09:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to agree with Miss Know It All
2006-11-14 12:13:36 · answer #10 · answered by Pirate Hooker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋