Internalized Capitalism: Understanding Its Impact on Mental Health
Have you ever felt the need to perform work related duties during your time off? Do you feel guilty for taking time off work? Are you skipping important self-care activities, such as exercising, to complete work tasks? If so, you may have internalized a capitalistic mindset.
To understand how having an internalized capitalistic mindset can impact our mental health, we must first explore the downside to capitalism. Merriam-Webster defines capitalism as “an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.”
In the United States, this has resulted in the privatization of necessary resources, such as food, water, electricity, gas, oil, etc. (Not all countries do this. In Norway, oil profits are invested for the public’s welfare to benefit Norwegian citizens1). This results in profit being more important than people; and profit is fueled by increasing productivity at the lowest cost possible. This means lower wages, less benefits, more work, and greater job responsibility and expectations. In fact, in the 30 years following 1977, 60% of increases in US income went to the top 1% 2. This has resulted in the vast amount of economic inequality we see today 3.
How has this vast amount of economic and social inequality been allowed to exist? How have we come to a place where most people are struggling to survive in a country many have called ‘the riches county in the world’?
The vast majority of us have been exposed to the normalization of inequality and indoctrinated into a “pick yourself up by the bootstrap” philosophy. Take this story 4, where a child selling cinnamon buns to pay for her cat’s surgery being reported as a “good news.” Or being told “You’re lucky you have a job.” Not a week goes by where I do not encounter a money raising event to pay for someone’s medical procedure and uncovered costs. Capitalist inequality is normalized when we tell people they need to stop buying coffee twice a week because that is what is causing their financial struggles. Or that people working in certain jobs deserve low wages as they are unimportant, lazy, or some other dehumanizing term.
Internalized capitalism occurs when individuals equate their productivity with their self-worth, adopting the values and pressures of a capitalist society as their own internal standards.
This mindset can manifest in various ways, including:
Feeling Guilty for Resting: Experiencing guilt during periods of rest or leisure, believing that time not spent working is wasted.
Self-Worth Tied to Performance: Deriving one's value solely from achievements and output, leading to a constant need to prove oneself through work.
Prioritizing Productivity Over Health: Neglecting personal well-being, such as adequate sleep, healthy eating, and mental health, in favor of maintaining high productivity levels.
Belief that Hard Work Equals Happiness: Holding the conviction that relentless hard work is the primary path to happiness and success, often disregarding other aspects of life.
Recent Research and Perspectives
Recent studies have begun to explore the broader implications of internalized capitalism on mental health and societal well-being:
Neuroscientific Perspective: Research 5 indicates that socioeconomic environments characteristic of neoliberal capitalism can have detrimental effects on mental health. The authors discuss how inequality can result in higher prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, increased rates of addiction disorders, and other forms of psychological harm. It may impact our brain functioning and may result in structural brain changes – although more research is needed in this area.
Mental Health Correlations: Evidence suggests 6 that individuals near the middle of the social hierarchy suffer higher rates of depression and anxiety than those at the top or bottom. This challenges the traditional view of a linear relationship between socioeconomic status and mental health, highlighting the complex ways internalized capitalist values may contribute to mental health issues.
Increased Mental Distress: The author 7 identifies several key factors influencing mental health that have resulted from our current capitalist system, including: Economic Inequality, Job Insecurity, Erosion of Social Services, Mass Incarceration, Healthcare System Failures. All of these contribute to the deterioration our mental and physical health.
Addressing Internalized Capitalism
Recognizing and addressing internalized capitalism involves several conscious efforts:
Redefining Self-Worth: Shifting the basis of self-worth from productivity to intrinsic qualities and personal values. Engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment, irrespective of their economic value, can aid with this transition.
Redefining Productivity: Recognize that rest is productive and necessary for well-being. Shift from output-based self-worth to valuing creativity, joy, and relationships. Challenge guilt associated with taking breaks or engaging in non-work activities.
Prioritizing Well-Being: Emphasizing the importance of rest, leisure, and self-care as essential components of a balanced life. Acknowledging that taking breaks and enjoying leisure activities are vital for mental and physical health.
Cultivating Awareness: Developing an understanding of how societal values influence personal beliefs can empower individuals to make conscious choices that align with their true selves, rather than societal expectations.
Cultivating Self-Compassion: Challenge negative self-talk that equates worth with how much you achieve. Practice self-care without guilt, knowing that well-being is not a luxury but a necessity. Seek out communities that validate rest and balance, rather than glorifying burnout.
Cultivate Humanization: Internalized capitalism not only affects how we view ourselves but also how we perceive and treat others. Capitalist systems encourage people to see others primarily through the lens of productivity, competition, and economic value, which can lead to dehumanization, exploitation, and a lack of empathy. Reclaiming our humanity means actively recognizing the worth of every person beyond their labor or economic status.
Boundary Identification and Setting: One of the most effective ways to resist internalized capitalism is by setting firm boundaries around work, productivity, and self-worth. Since internalized capitalism conditions people to believe their value is tied to output and constant busyness, reclaiming personal time, rest, and self-care is a radical act of self-preservation.
Saying No Without Guilt: Internalized capitalism makes people feel obligated to overextend themselves. Learn to:
Say no to unpaid labor or excessive responsibilities.
Reject hustle culture that glorifies overwork.
Set limits on energy-draining commitments.
Living in Alignment with One’s Values: One of the most powerful ways to resist internalized capitalism is by identifying and living in alignment with one’s true values, rather than those imposed by capitalist systems. Capitalism often conditions people to prioritize work, efficiency, and financial success above all else, even at the expense of personal well-being, relationships, and fulfillment. Taking time to explore and define what truly matters can help individuals break free from these harmful narratives and build a life centered on meaning and authenticity. Visit MindAndMoodMatters.com for worksheets on values exploration.
By acknowledging and addressing the pervasive influence of internalized capitalism, individuals can foster a healthier relationship with work and self-worth, leading to improved mental health and overall well-being.
References
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Capitalism. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalism
(1) Norges Bank Investment Management. (n.d.) About the fund. https://www.nbim.no/en/about-us/about-the-fund/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
(2) Piketty T. (2015). About ‘capital in the twenty-first century'. Am. Econ. Rev. 105, 48–53. 10.1257/aer.p20151060
(3) Schaeffer, K. (2020, February 7). 6 Facts about Economic Inequality in the U.S. Pew Research Center; Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/02/07/6-facts-about-economic-inequality-in-the-u-s/
(4) https://www.facebook.com/cbckidsca. (2019). Kid sells cinnamon buns to pay for cat’s surgery. Kids News. https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/kid-sells-cinnamon-buns-to-pay-for-cats-surgery
(5) Kokorikou, D. S., Sarigiannidis, I., Fiore, V. G., Parkin, B., Hopkins, A., El-Deredy, W., Dilley, L., & Moutoussis, M. (2023). Testing hypotheses about the harm that capitalism causes to the mind and brain: a theoretical framework for neuroscience research. Frontiers in sociology, 8, 1030115. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1030115
(6) Prins, S. J., Bates, L. M., Keyes, K. M., & Muntaner, C. (2015). Anxious? Depressed? You might be suffering from capitalism: contradictory class locations and the prevalence of depression and anxiety in the USA. Sociology of health & illness, 37(8), 1352–1372. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12315
(7) Zeira A. (2022). Mental Health Challenges Related to Neoliberal Capitalism in the United States. Community mental health journal, 58(2), 205–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00840-7
About the Author: Wayne J. Woznikaitis is a freelance writer and Clinical Mental Health Counselor working in private practice in Pennsylvania. He has been working in social services for nearly 30 years. He has worked with a wide variety of clients in various settings (inpatient, outpatient, in-home, private practice, academic, and residential treatment) and aims to help individuals experiencing a variety of challenges to improve the quality of their lives.