The Curious Case of Cash: How Just Counting It Makes You Less Fearful of Death

Dear readers, gather 'round as we delve into the enigmatic realm of money, a force that shapes our lives and minds in ways both wondrous and perplexing. Like a siren's song, money beckons us, promising pleasure and power. Yet, as we shall see, its allure extends beyond mere material gains, touching upon the very essence of our existence.

Why Does Money Spark Joy in the Brain (And What Does Apple Juice Have to Do With It)?

Have you ever noticed how a sweet indulgence, like a velvety chocolate or a tropical drink on a Caribbean beach, triggers a cascade of delight within your being? Your brain, that intricate symphony of neurons and synapses, releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This is your brain's way of saying, "Do it again! You deserve it!"

Remarkably, similar neural fireworks erupt when we receive money. Studies have shown that winning money and savoring the sweetness of apple juice evoke similar brain responses. Even the mere promise of money, a voucher or a verbal assurance, ignites the brain's limbic system, or emotion factory, flooding it with dopamine.

"Money is acting like a drug, not chemically but psychologically," writes author Claudia Hammond. Our brains, it seems, aren't designed with a specific system to handle this relatively recent invention called money. Instead, the neural pathways designed for immediate gratification have been repurposed to accommodate this powerful symbol of potential.

Why Does Ripping Money Feel Like a Crime (Even When It's Not Yours)?

Imagine watching someone meticulously tear a banknote in half. Does it make you uncomfortable? You're not alone. In a fascinating study, researchers found that observing the destruction of real money triggered activity in brain regions associated with tools and their purpose.

We don't merely see money as paper and ink. We see it as a means to an end, a tool with potential. This deep-seated association is so strong that our brains react as if we were witnessing the destruction of a valuable instrument, not just a piece of currency. It's no wonder that the burning of a million pounds by the K Foundation stirred such outrage and dismay.

Money, it seems, is more than a tool. It's a symbol, a promise. Perhaps we may even feel that it is a special charm against our deepest fears. Money has become to many a soul what the blankey or squishmallow is to a young toddler today.

Is Money the Antidote to Our Fear of Death?

Could money, that seemingly mundane object of our daily transactions, hold the power to assuage our fear of mortality? Research suggests a curious connection between money and our existential anxieties.

In a series of experiments, participants who counted banknotes reported feeling less afraid of death than those who counted ordinary pieces of paper. Money, argues psychologist Tomasz Zaleskiewicz, acts as an "existential drug," a buffer against the void that awaits us all.

Perhaps, like a miser clutching his gold, we seek solace in the tangible, measurable, and enduring nature of money. It represents a legacy, a way to leave a mark on the world even after we're gone. Or perhaps, as Hammond suggests, it's simply "something we like to think is reliable."

Reflective Questions - Share your answers in the comments!

1. How can the understanding of money's psychological effects influence our approach to financial education for our children & loved ones?

2. The promise of money has the same effect upon our brains as receiving money; what risky financial decision(s) do you see this leading to?

3. Why do you think that just the simple act of counting money made someone less afraid of death?
   

*Excerpts & quotations taken from Mind Over Money by Claudia Hammond