A root of many kinds of evil

More and more these days, it is clear that money is an illusion - an artificial means of tracking value that is more game than reality. So why do we remain obsessed with money? Why are so many willing to do evil things to get more of it? New studies indicate that love of money really is about making yourself God... which cuts you further and further off from your fellow man.

Vohs suggests there is a simple dynamic at work here. "Money makes people feel self-sufficient," she says. "They are more likely to put forth effort to attain personal goals, and they also prefer to be separate from others." The touchy-feely social side of us may disapprove of such behaviour but it is useful for survival...Numerous psychological studies have found a general trade-off between the pursuit of so-called extrinsic aspirations - such as wealth, but also fame and image - and intrinsic aspirations, such as building and maintaining strong personal relationships. People who report a focus on the former score low on indicators of mental health, and those strongly motivated by money are also more likely to find their marriage ending in divorce.