#39 When Does Our Need For Security Turn Into Greed?

The innate need for security is a shared human trait that has not only allowed us to survive but also to thrive. Our choices and actions are fundamentally driven by a deep-seated desire to avoid loss, pain, and suffering while simultaneously seeking growth, love, and pleasure. We yearn to protect what we already have today and long for an even safer and brighter tomorrow.

How much money must we make to feel "financially safe"? What must our house look like to find peaceful sleep? When does "having much" become "having too much"? What defines "enough"? And when does our need for security turn into greed?

Are You Greedy?

Some people will answer with "no, of course not" because they've been told that being greedy is frowned upon. Others will proudly admit their greed and attribute it to their success (whatever "success" means).

However, greed has a taboo quality to it. Not many people want to discuss greed, so most individuals don't invest much time thinking about it. And therefore, also not about the question: When does our need for security turn into greed?

So, let's tackle this first: What exactly is greed?

What Is Greed?

Greed is a complex human trait that has captivated thinkers for centuries. In simplified and short terms, contemporary literature defines it as follows:

Greed is the excessive and insatiable desire for more than what is necessary, decent, or deserved. It represents a selfish pursuit of one's interest at the expense of others and society as a whole.

Greed can be for anything, but is most commonly for food, money, possessions, power, fame, status, attention, admiration, and sex.

Throughout history, greed has been identified as a negative trait because of its potential to create conflicts between individual desires and societal well-being.

Nevertheless, greed seems to be a constant companion of the human species. For better or worse.

Greed Is Bad

In Christian moral tradition, greed is considered one of the Seven Deadly Sins. At the same time, Buddhists identify it as one of the Three Poisons, and contemporary psychology blames greed for causing the 2008 financial crisis.

While religions primarily focus on the negative social consequences of greed within communities, modern scientists and economists argue that greed has significant negative impacts on society as a whole.

When greed places worldly possessions above social values and relationships, it can cause tremendous damage to families, social groups, or entire societies. Greed is often seen as a root cause of immoral behaviors, such as dishonesty, fraud, and even violence, which inevitably damage social relationships.

On a larger scale, a sad example is found in parts of Latin America where greed and corruption lead to massive disruption within a country, undermining economic development and hindering social progress.

If you believe in the theory of evolution, a natural question arises:

Greed Is Good

In the cult-film Wall Street, the character Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas, defends himself against charges that he's a little too greedy by saying:

From the film "Wall Street", 1987

He has a point when he says, "Greed has marked the upward surge of mankind." The desire for improvement, for a better and more secure way of living, is what has truly propelled human advancement.

If our ancestors had accepted their circumstances and not striven for improvement in pursuit of a better future, we would still be facing the same worry of having enough to eat every winter.

Greed - A Matter Of Perspective and Its Connection To Our Need For Security

The instinct of survival indeed drives humans. And greed is a natural human instinct that has evolved over time for our survival purposes.

From a psychological perspective, the need for security is hardwired into our evolution. In ancient times, when danger lurked around almost every corner, feeling unsafe served as a warning of potential threats, prompting individuals to seek more secure surroundings.

And greed plays a significant role in this context. During periods of scarcity, a stingy caveman was more likely to survive and reproduce than a generous one who shared his limited resources with the less fortunate.

From an evolutionary perspective, greed makes sense and can be seen as a rational response to the challenges of survival and reproduction.

You Are Basically Still A Caveman

Saying "don't be greedy" is like saying "don't be hungry". It just doesn't work. It's against our nature. However, being aware of our potential for greed is the first step in dealing with it responsibly.

I believe we are currently living in an era where we are too greedy for our own comfort. And I argue that we've never experienced such comfort as we do today, in terms of our living conditions and our way of life.

Some may argue against this perspective, claiming that numerous areas still require improvement and that many aspects of the world seem to be heading in the wrong direction.

Well, welcome to the cave. 2.5 million years ago, our ancestors were grappling with the same thoughts, driven by a longing - and sometimes with a touch of greed - for a better future, much like we do today.

What Is "Enough"?

The answer: It depends.

It depends on the level of threat.

And this "level of threat" can manifest in unexpected ways.

A recent study shows that people who were more emotional, conscientious, and fearful of COVID were more likely to panic buy and stockpile toilet paper.

People feared running out of toilet paper, which they perceived as necessary for their comfort. They saw a threat and reacted accordingly by buying as much toilet paper as possible and didn't care whether their neighbor would have enough.

In times of scarcity, our inner caveman emerges.

What Is Too Much?

Take Bali, for instance:

Expats have invested their money in small businesses here in Bali to escape inflation's devaluation and their mistrust of traditional banking institutions. Besides, who wouldn't want to grab a slice of Bali's booming real estate market?

As a result, in a tiny town known as Kedungu, with its road to the beach spanning a mere 1.8 kilometers in length, you'll find a dozen different cafes and restaurants, all offering the same Latte and Avocado Smash.

So, is having twelve cafes and restaurants within such a short distance too much?

The market will be the ultimate judge.

From my observations, the market can handle it. More and more Westerners are flocking here, now able to enjoy their Cafe Latte in places crafted specifically for Western tastes.

This newfound popularity has caught the attention of big investors who have been patiently waiting for this moment. As the small businesses gradually draw more traffic to this town, the larger investors are now ready to enter the stage.

Suddenly, the Westerners who relish their Lattes and Avo Smash and the small business owners who serve them feel threatened. They fear losing their cherished rice field views - and their market share.

It's human nature that once we grow accustomed to something we cherish, we fight any attempt to take it away from us. I get it.

However, it's worth noting that in the same way small business owners have changed the landscape for their cafes, big investors are doing the same, just on a larger scale.

We Are All In This Together

Don't get me wrong; I'm not necessarily thrilled about big investors knocking on the door of Bali's tiny villages.

However, if you have a basic understanding of market dynamics and economics and you observe the environment for a while, you don't need a magic crystal ball to see the direction in which things are heading.

In the end, deep down, we are all selfish and greedy. We all desire the best for ourselves and our future. As long as we yearn for progress, improvement, and a better way of life, this aspect of our nature will persist.

So, let's stop blaming and complaining, watch our own actions and decisions, and make the best of it.

Live long and prosper, my friends!