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Material Self

The document discusses the concept of material self and its components. It defines material self as the objects, places, and people that are considered "mine" and extensions of one's identity. The key components of material self are identified as the body, clothing, family, places, possessions, and in some cases pets. Material possessions can help build identity but excessive desire for them can also lead to psychological issues like compulsive buying disorder. When acquiring goods, people should consider both utility and symbolic significance.

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LJ
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2K views29 pages

Material Self

The document discusses the concept of material self and its components. It defines material self as the objects, places, and people that are considered "mine" and extensions of one's identity. The key components of material self are identified as the body, clothing, family, places, possessions, and in some cases pets. Material possessions can help build identity but excessive desire for them can also lead to psychological issues like compulsive buying disorder. When acquiring goods, people should consider both utility and symbolic significance.

Uploaded by

LJ
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MATERIAL SELF AND ECONOMIC

SELF
Objectives:
• Develop understanding about material self.
• Describe the basic components of material self.
• Develop qualities of wise buyer.
GUIDE QUESTIONS
• If you win the lottery how happy
would you be?
• We have more gadgets than
previous generations. Do you think
we are happier in comparison to
them?
How does this material things
help in building a person?
Material Self
• The material self, according to William
James, it pertains to the objects, places, or
even people which have the label “mine”.

• “the sum total of all that he can call his,


not only his body and his psychic
powers, bit his clothes and his house, his
wife and children, his ancestors and
friends, his reputation and works, his
lands, and bank account.

• Such possessions are viewed as


extensions of individuals' identities.
Components of Material Self
1. BODY - The basic component of the
Material Self includes the body.

o Perceptions about what makes a body


beautiful are usually influenced by
media as shown in television and
internet.
o One of the tasks of adolescents is that
of accepting and appreciating the
physical characteristics of their body.
Components of Material Self
2. CLOTHING
Clothes represent the self.

o The clothes that


adolescents tend to wear
are greatly influenced by
their peer groups.
Components of Material Self
3. FAMILY
- The material component of the
self also includes people such as
immediate and extended family
members (my family) as well as
close friends (my friends) that
the person feels psychologically
connected. These people are
likely to shape and influence the
development of self and identity.
Components of Material Self
4. PLACES
- The material component of the
self also includes the places
such as your HOME or
workplace.
- it is where many aspects of
your life have been developed,
it is where you feel most
comfortable, and it is greatly
linked to your identity.
5. Some cases of extended Self
A person’s pet could also symbolically defines a person’s
identity.
Material Possession
✓ Possessions can be
used as status symbol.
Valuable possessions are
those that are visible to the
eyes.
The more expensive, the
more other people are
impressed.
Material Possession

• The objects or material


things help make/build a
person and also shows what
kind of person he/she is.
Material Possession
➢ Belk in his work on Are We What We Own?,
suggests that material possession act as an
objective manifestation of the self.
✓ Material Possessions
can be a reflection of
hard work and success.
Material Possession

➢ Defining the self by


material possession can
also contribute to feelings
of well-beings, including a
sense of personal growth
and purpose or meaning in
life.
Material Possession
➢ People tend to appraise
other people through their
material possession. Thus,
the greater the material
possessions, the more one is
likely to attain acceptance,
approval, and esteem from
other people.
Material Possession
➢ Materialism is the importance
people give on material
possession. Someone with a high
level of materialism is called
materialistic.
Exposure to Mass Media
greatly influenced what we
want.
Material Possession
✓Lack or loss of material possession can be
disruptive to mental health.
✓ Lack or loss of material possessions could lead
to anxiety, insecurity, and depression.
Material Possessions

SELF IDENTITY
WANTS or NEEDS?

• Needs are important for


survival
• Wants are synonymous to
luxuries. People buy them for
reasons that do not warrant
necessity.
The self in a Material World
“People are likely to purchase products
that can relate to their personality”
Symbolic Motives
1. Status- the extent to which people
believe they can derive a sense of
recognition or achievement from
owning and using the right kind of
product. Status ,may increase
consumption and can motivate
behavior (e.g. one will buy a flat
screen TV of a known brand, with
latest features because its more
expensive than other brands)
Symbolic Motives
2. Affective Motives – a concept used in Environmental
Psychology. Affect (emotions) serves as a motivator of pro-
environmental behavior. In relation to the economic self, affective
motive, can be a basis of the buying behavior. Thus using
affective motive: people buy the goods not only because they
think they need it but more so because of the joy/happiness
(affect) buying the goods provide through the mere acquisition of
it.
The strong desire for material
possessions could lead to
psychological dysfunction or
impairment in functioning such
as compulsive buying
disorder (CBD) which is
characterized by an obsession
with shopping and buying
behaviors that causes adverse
consequences, e.g. debts.
Two Things to be considered in acquiring
material goods:
1. Utility – is concerned with how
things serve a practical purpose.

2. Significance – is concerned
with the meaning assigned to the
object and with how the objects
become powerful symbol or icons
of habit ritual.
Consumerism as a lifestyle
• Consumers are often viewed as victims of greedy
companies. But, take note that everyone has free will
Thank you!

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