The Material Self

Lesson 1: Components of the Levi-Staruss (1965) also emphasized that

possessions do not just have value; they are not
Material Self merely economic commodities. They are also
According to William James, the material self is vehicles and instruments for realities of another
about our bodies, clothes, immediately family, order. They reflect power, influence, social status,
and home. We are deeply affected with these emotions and sympathy.
things because we have put much investment of
2.2. The Concept of Self-Gift
our self to them.
Three factors that reveal how self-gifts are
reflection of an individual‘s materialism:
1. Materialism is often associated with self-
centeredness.
Self-centeredness means prioritizing the
BODY self while showing evident lack of empathy
The inner most part of our material self. on the plight of others;
We are directly attached to this commodity
that we cannot live without. We strive hard 2. Materialists define success according to
to make sure that this body functions well how much wealth and property was amassed.
and good. They usually utilize possessions in self-
definition. They have the evident tendency
CLOTHES to define success in terms of the quality
Clothing is an essential part of the and amount of one’s acquired fortune.
material self. The fabric and the style of
the clothes we wear bring sensations to 3. Materialists believe that happiness results
the body, to which directly affect our from the relationship between buying and
attitudes and behaviour. consumption.
Self-gift can be a source of intense
IMMEDIATE FAMILY happiness among materialists. It provides
What our families do or become affects them with very positive emotions. Self-gift
us. We place huge investment to our prevents negative emotions such as
immediate family when we see them as depression, emptiness and sadness as it
the nearest replica of our self. provides therapy to the materialist.
HOME
Home is the earliest nest of our Lesson 3: The Pursuit of Happiness
Selfhood. Our experiences inside the According to Covert et al (1985) and Levinson
home were recorded and marked on (1962) money cannot buy happiness as it is, but it
particular parts and things in our home. It can definitely buy something that will make
is an extension of self because in it, we people happy.
can directly connect our self.
Studies and surveys conducted to determine if
James (1890) described self: “a man’s self is the effects of materialism to self-
the sum total of all what he CAN call his.” conceptualization.
Lesson 2: What is Materialism? 1. Respondents to various surveys have indicated
that purchases made with the intention of
2.1. Nature and Role of Possessions acquiring life experiences make them happier
than purchases made with the intention of
Material possessions provide several effects on
acquiring material possessions (Van Boven,
the individual whether it is personal, intellectual or
2005).
emotional.
2. Materialism impairs individuals' psychological
MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
needs satisfaction, and in turn decreases
are considered as an extension of one’s
subjective well-being and increases depression
personal and social aspects.
(Wang et al, 2017).
3. Findings indicate that lower-class college
students show high materialism tendencies to
compensate for low self-esteem (Li et al, 2018;
Jiang et al, 2015; Nairn et al, 2010).
4. Materialism and self-concept prove how
insecurity motivates people to work so hard for
material possessions as the same wealth
becomes their source of security. Hence the
absence of these objects means a great degree
of emptiness and the feeling of deficiency.
Celebrity worship, materialism, and compulsive
buying were significantly related to lower self‐
concept clarity and to lower levels of well‐being
(Teng et al., 2016; Noguti & Bokeyar, 2014;
Reeves et al., 2012;).
5. Materialism and lack of engagement mean a
losing one’s ability to empathize with others as
they become callous to other people‘s needs.
Their ability to accumulate possessions separates
them from others who they consider as inferior.
(Kiang et al, 2016).