Have you noticed how some people easily earn millions, while others mark time for years, despite all their efforts?
Scientists have discovered a shocking reason: your financial situation is programmed in childhood.
"The poor man's syndrome" is not a myth, but a real psychological mechanism that turns the brain into an enemy of wealth. Stanford research shows that 80% of financial failures are not due to laziness, but to attitudes instilled before the age of 10.
Fear of money
Children from poor families often hear: "The rich are thieves", "Money spoils". The brain remembers this as a threat and blocks opportunities.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have found that when such people think about large sums of money, the same area is activated as when they see a snake.
They subconsciously sabotage their careers, refuse promotions, or underprice their services.
Even after winning the lottery, they quickly return to their previous income level - this is how the internal "stop valve" works.
Scarcity thinking
If a child grows up in conditions of scarcity, his brain becomes fixed on short-term survival.
In adulthood, this manifests itself as impulsive purchases, loans, and an inability to save.
A Princeton study found that chronic stress from lack of money lowers IQ by 13 points.
A person stops seeing strategies that take time and grabs onto “quick” money, even if it is a lottery or a scam.
Ban on success
Pessimistic parents often repeat: "Keep your head down", "Money can't buy happiness". These phrases create the attitude "I'm not worthy".
Neuroscientists from MIT have discovered that people with such a program experience a sharp drop in serotonin levels when trying to increase their income.
The brain interprets success as danger, causing us to unconsciously “flush” opportunities.
Example: refusing a lucrative contract due to fear of responsibility or fleeing into alcohol after the first profit.
Distrust of the world
Children who grow up poor often see the world as hostile. They avoid investment, partnership, and any risk, even if it is justified.
Psychologists from the University of Chicago conducted an experiment: they asked participants to choose between a stable low salary and a project with a 70% chance of a high income.
89% of people with the "poor man's syndrome" chose the first option, although mathematically it was disadvantageous.
How to reprogram the brain?
The first step is to become aware of your attitudes. Write down all the “money” phrases from your childhood: “Money doesn’t smell,” “If you haven’t lived richly, there’s no point in starting.” Analyze how they influence your decisions.
The second step is to create new neural connections. Start with micro-actions: open a savings account, even if you put 100 rubles. The brain will get used to the fact that money can be saved, not spent.
The third step is to change your environment. Research from Harvard shows that financial habits are 37% dependent on your social circle.
If everyone around you complains about prices and the crisis, your brain perceives poverty as the norm. Find people who discuss investments, startups, and growth — even through podcasts or books.
The fourth key is to stop saving on yourself. The "poor man's syndrome" makes you buy cheap things that break quickly.
Paradox: The poor spend more in the long run. Buy one quality jacket instead of five cheap ones, and your brain will start associating you with wealth.
Author: Dmitry Bobrov
