Image via Wikipedia At one time in America, there was a generally accepted picture of what constituted a middle class family - two kids, owning a home, two cars in the driveway, access to material wants and money in savings. Today, that definition has become blurred because the times have changed and defining middle class has become "a squishy concept." Simply stated, it depends... According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2005 the middle class income range was $36,000 to $57,657. If the range is expanded to include the lower and upper-middle class, it expands dramatically on either end … [Read more...]
Immediate Gratification vs. Instant Gratification
June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image via Wikipedia The terms "immediate gratification" and "instant gratification" sound similar - and they are. However, these two terms are also different in many respects.Immediate gratification puts short term goals ahead of longer terms goals. To want immediate gratification is to want immediate rewards rather than deferring gratification for better long term rewards and benefits. It is a matter of choosing want over need when given choices. Instant gratification, on the other hand, is characterized by a mindset that demands to instantly gets what is wanted, without regard for … [Read more...]
Upper Class – Fact and Fiction
June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image by Beverly & Pack via Flickr One of the elusive questions in the United States surrounds what it means to be rich and upper class in America. The reality is that very few people actually know what defines upper class or "rich." For starters, "the rich" have greater wealth and influence in society. They also overwhelmingly dominate corporate America and maintain a disproportionate influence over other institutions. Sociologists estimate that the wealthiest one percent of Americans have a net worth of at least $1 million. There are also a lot of conflicting statistics as to … [Read more...]
TRADITIONS: FEMALE LONGEVITY & AGE DIFFERENCES IN RELATIONSHIPS
April 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image via Wikipedia Recent studies confirm that there is another major key to human survival. (Men – listen up…) Women married to YOUNGER men are living longer than expected. The new socially-accepted lifestyle term for this apparently fortunate woman in the relationship is termed the "Cougar". HOWEVER, women married to significantly OLDER men (better referred to as "Kittens") are expiring much sooner than expected! Does Being Married Help Your Mental and Physical Health? We have known for a long time that marriage is correlated with longevity in regard to both … [Read more...]