I critically examine the pervasive yet often-neglected influence of capitalism on psychological processes and human behavior. While capitalist ideologies like neoliberalism have entered the mainstream in psychology, there remains a lack of deeper engagement with the foundations of capitalism. I argue that capitalism generates distinct cultural syndromes that emerged from the unique historical experiences of Western societies and are deeply rooted in the core principles of capitalism: profit motive, market competition, and private property ownership. I then argue that these principles manifest as capitalist cultural syndromes termed the "gain primacy", "zero-sum rivalry", and "ownership" syndromes, which collectively drive a self-enhancement agenda resulting in an overarching "individualist syndrome". I then explore how these syndromes maintain and reproduce social inequalities. By adopting a critical-historical approach, this presentation situates its analysis within a broader critique of capitalism, aiming to illuminate its impact on human thought, behavior, and well-being.

Authors:
Karim Bettache, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Karim Bettache is an Assistant Professor for the Faculty of Social Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He specializes in cultural, political, and social psychology.

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