Sebastian Herrmann: Those who free themselves from poverty show less compassion for former fellow sufferers
“Those who overcome challenges lose understanding for the failure of others. This also applies, as studies have shown, to people who have freed themselves from unemployment. This experience reduces compassion for former fellow sufferers who remain unemployed. Thinking this way subjectively enhances one’s own success, flattering the ego: It wasn’t luck, I achieved it with my performance, and anyone who can’t do it must be a loser! The fact that life is not fair and performance alone is usually not enough is emphasized by people who are stuck at the bottom of the social ladder. This also warms the soul, as it pushes one’s own responsibility into the background. Both perspectives contain truth – it is one’s own situation that makes one of the variants attractive.”
– Sebastian Herrmann in “Just make an effort! – How success shapes attitudes towards poverty and social policy”, Süddeutsche Zeitung, July 5, 2022, 78th year, 27th week, No. 152
