That is - yes, at ~2 the kid has progressed from, "I am the whole world" through various stages, including, "I want.. I want.." (I can't find the whole metaphor just now, which lists 0 --> thru 'adult' in such stages; I think it's the simplest, testable model I ever saw re human development).
I'd slot capitalism then, as - an attitude about other people and about life, which is fixated at this infantile level. That is the place where 'nature' is kept retarded by 'nurture'. And yes, retards can reach rather hoary ages in physical years, without growing a bit. Esp. if everybody's doin it.
Take Billy, for example of this sort of retardation in growth towards adulthood.
Ashton