The Psychological Dangers of Pursuing the American Dream

Pursuing extrinsic goals over intrinsic ones, such as material wealth, career success, and fame, can lead to lower levels of subjective well-being, psychological well-being, physical health, and prosocial behavior, according to a meta-analysis of over 90 studies published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The study suggests that a shift towards intrinsic goals, such as self-development and being helpful towards others, would be psychologically beneficial for individuals, groups, and institutions pursuing the American Dream.