Name: Ma.

Maria Dela Cruz

UNSERSTANDING THE SELF

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Develop understanding about the material self:

I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone
best both for the body and the mind,
- Albert
Einstein
ACTIVITY:
What does Albert Einstein mean about his saying above? Expand it further.
ABSTRACTION:
A person’s tangible possession like his or her car, house clothes, even
family and friends make her material self. Regardless of how much or how little a
person owns materially, he or she will always strive to acquire more because material
possessions are usually a reflection of a person’s success or failure.
This module begins with a description of the material self and the
components of the material self. The motives for acquiring material possessions are
explained, as well as the key roles that media can play in a person’s desire to acquire
material possessions.
Material Self
According to William James (1980, p. 291), the self is everything that an
individual considers to be his or hers, not only his or her body and material
possessions but also his or her reputation and beliefs. The self, therefore, is
composed of the material self which is the manifestation of one’s identity through his
material possessions.
The basic component of the material self includes of the body. One of the
tasks of adolescents is to a accept and appropriate the physical characteristics of
their body. However, few adolescents tend to worry about their bodies and physical
appearance. Generally, girls are more concerned about the appearance of their body
than boys. Perceptions about what makes a body beautiful are usually influenced by
the media as shown in television and the internet.
 Another component of the material self is the clothes that people wear.
Clothes represent the self. The style and brand of clothes become significant
symbols, particularly among adolescents. The clothes they tend to wear are greatly
influenced by their peer groups because adolescents are anxious to conform to what
their peer groups find fashionable and attractive.
Apart from clothes, the material component of the self can include one’s
house, car, pets, and other things that he or she considers as his or her possession.
The material component of the of the self also includes people an individual has
relationship with such as one’s immediate and extended family members as well as
close friends with whom one feels psychologically connected.

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The Role of Material on the Sense of Self and Identity
Regardless of how much or how little material possessions people have,
they remain valuable because these possessions are symbolic of one’s social status.
Cars, houses, gadgets, and clothes are to some the most valuable possessions
because they are the most visible in the eyes of others. The more expensive they
are, the more other people are impressed. Russell Belk (1988) in his work Are we
What We Own?, suggests that material possessions act as an objective
manifestation of the self. Material possessions can be a-reflection of hard work and
success. Normally, people tend to measure success through the amount of their
material possessions. Owning material possessions becomes s driving force in
urging an individual to seek high levels of achievement in order to be able to acquire
more possessions.
Defining self by material possessions can also contribute the feeling of well-
being, including a sense of personal growth and purpose or meaning in life. However,
the lack or loss of material possessions can be disruptive to one’s mental health, like
people losing their houses and the other possessions because of disaster and
calamities. People tend to judge others through their material possession. Thus, the
greater the material possessions, more likely one will be accepted and regarded well
by other people. The important point is that these components of the material self,
become a significant reference of one’s sense of self identity.
However, the desire for material possessions also have negative effects on
one’s sense of self and identity. Materialism refers to giving more importance to
material possessions that intangible values. A materialistic person is one who is
excessively concerned with the acquisition of material possessions. 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 can cause adverse
consequences (e.g, debts).
Consumer Culture
Consumer culture is social system in which consumption is dominated by
the consumption of commercial products (Arnould, 2010). Consumer culture denotes
a social arrangement in which the relations between lived culture and social
resources, and between meaningful ways of life and the symbolic and material
resources on which they depend on, are mediated through markets. The
consumption of market-made commodities and desire-including marketing symbols is
central to consumer culture (Arnould & Craig, 2005). A consumerist society is one in
which people spend a great deal of time, money, and energy to “consume”
commercial products, goods and services. Consumerism is the consumption of
material goods and services in excess of one’s basic needs. Consumerism is closely
tried to materialism. Both heavily influence the way individuals view the self. It can be
viewed positively and negatively. For instance, people tend to be happier and more
motivated when their wants and needs are met. On the other hand, it encourages
people to buy products and services that they do not really need or afford. The state
of and wants tend to be endless, and thus could cause negative effects such as
dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and depression.

ASSIMILATION/ ASSESSMENT:
1. What does William James say something about self. Expand your
answer.
2. What is the role of material possession on the sense of self and
identity.
3. Differentiate materialism from materialistic person. Cite your example.
4. What is Compulsive buying disorder. Are you like this? Why.