7 distinct psychological traits of the super rich

It's true that the 1% think and act differently than average people.

But according to a 2015 study led by financial psychologist Bradley Klontz, ultra-wealthy Americans are so distinct that they even "exhibit significant psychological differences" from affluent people - described in the study as those with a higher net worth and income than the average population, but less than the 1%.

From a survey of 1,096 earners, Klontz and his coauthors found that the super rich - those with an annual income of $370,000 or more and/or a net worth of at least $2.5 million - share several psychological characteristics and behaviors that separate them from the "mass affluent."

The study's conclusions were drawn from self-reports, so the findings may reflect how the super rich see themselves rather than how they are seen by others. And those who are not interested in participating in a psychological survey may differ from those who did.

But according to the study, the super rich generally maintain a high level of responsibility and control over their lives, derive motivation from their financial success, and refuse the belief that money begets corruption.

Below are seven of the most significant psychological differences between the 1% and the affluent population.