Affluenza is "a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more." The name affluenza sounds like a virus, and can be treated as so. Affluenza can be broken up into three different sections: symptoms, causes, and treatments. The first step is the identification of the symptoms.
Prior to World War II, shopping was not a major part of American culture. After the economy started to pick up, there was a greater emphasis placed on buying things. Malls began showing up to accommodate these shoppers. There was a transition in the shoppers. People no longer shopped because they need things, they shopped only to spend money, for something to do, or even just to get away.
We live in a buy it now, pay later society. The ability to purchase with credit cards and not think about the money leaves many Americans in debt. Americans are saving less and spending more, increasing the bankruptcy level. We have more stuff than ever before. Houses and vehicles are getting even bigger, primarily as status symbols. People are trying to keep up with the Joneses. They compare their lives to what they see on television and try to live up to false expectations. .
With so many people purchasing so much stuff, we are getting congested. As shown on America's highways, the amount of cars that congest the roads everyday slows everyone down and wastes precious time. Storage facilities have become very popular due to the amount of stuff people try to fill their lives with. With so much upkeep for each object, individuals are stressed to keep up. They are working longer days than ever. They trade a majority of their time for money. This time crunch inevitably leads to stress, which could be followed by other health problems and troubles at home. .
Community involvement is beginning to disappear. When chain stores such as Walmart move into a town, they force the small town businesses to close.
