Does money make you mean?

Hana suggested this TEDx Marin talk by Paul Piff, a professor at UC Berkeley, which discusses experiments that suggest that wealthier people are more likelythan poorer people to cheat, lie, and lose their compassion and sense of equity.

As to the solutions, I'm also a bit skeptical. First, the nudging certainly seems plausible, but it is probably limited in its effects, especially when compared to the power of capitalist growth. (Note, however, the delightfully reflexive aspect of this talk being given to comparatively wealthy individuals!) Second, I see the current trend in philanthropy as a sort of cover being used to protect wealth. In the US, the last large philanthropic movement followed the period of the Robber Barons. I think these newly (obscenely) wealthy folks try to legitimize their wealth (and thus power) by buying the population off in a massive PR move.