Final answer:
Affluenza is a condition attributed to wealthy individuals who exhibit irresponsible behavior due to a privileged upbringing. It became widely known during Ethan Couch's trial, where it was used as a defense for his actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term affluenza is a portmanteau of "affluence" and "influenza", used to describe a condition in which an individual's wealth and privileged lifestyle leads to irresponsible behavior, a sense of entitlement, and a lack of understanding of the consequences of one's actions.
This concept was famously tied to the case of Ethan Couch, a teenager who killed four people while driving under the influence of alcohol in 2013. His legal defense controversially argued that his irresponsible actions were a result of affluenza, as he was unable to understand the repercussions of his actions due to his family's wealth and the environment in which he was raised.