LESSON 3 – S3: MATERIAL SELF

MATERIAL SELF 2. Visible in the eyes of others.

3. The most expensive they are, the more other
➢ A person’s tangible possessions like his or her people are impressed.
car, house, clothes, even family and friends 4. Material possessions act an objective
make up his or her material self. manifestation of the self. Can be a reflection of
➢ Regardless of how much or how little a person hard work and success.
own materially, he or she will always strive to 5. Normally, people tend to measure success
acquire more because material possessions are through the amount of their material
usually a reflection of a person’s success or possessions.
failure. 6. Owning material possessions become a driving
force in urging an individual to seek high level
According to William James, the self is everything
than an individual considers to be his or hers, not only of achievement in order to be able to acquire
his or her body and material possessions but also his more possessions. Defining the self by material
or her reputation and beliefs. possessions can also contribute to a feeling of
The self, therefore. Is composes of the material self well-being, including a sense of personal
which is the manifestation of one’s identity through growth and purpose or meaning in life.
his material possessions. 7. The lack or loss of material possessions can be
The basic component of the material self includes the disruptive to one’s mental health, like people
body. One of the tasks of adolescents is to accept and losing their houses and other possessions
appreciate the physical characteristics of their body. because of disasters and calamities.
Few adolescents are able to do this successfully. 8. People tend to judge others through their
Adolescents tend to worry about their bodies and material possessions. The greater the material
physical appearance. Generally, girls are more possession the more likely one will be
concerned about the appearance of their body than
accepted.
boys. Perceptions about what makes a body beautiful
9. The important point is that these components
are usually influenced by the televisions and the
internet. of the material self become a significant
Another component of the material self is the clothes reference of one’s sense of self and identity.
that people wear. Clothes represent the self. The style Desire for material possessions also have
and brand of clothes become significant symbols, negative effects one’s sense of self and identity.
particularly among adolescents.
MATERIALISM
The clothes they tend to wear are greatly influenced
by their peer groups because adolescents are anxious ➢ Giving more importance to material
to conform to what their peer groups find fashionable
possessions than intangible values. A
and attractive.
materialistic person is one who is excessively
concerned with the acquisition of material
MATERIAL SELF possessions.
Apart from clothes the material component of the self ➢ The strong desire for material possessions
can include one’s: could lead to psychological dysfunction or
House, car, Includes people These people impairment in functioning such as compulsive
pets, other an individual are likely to buying disorder (CBD).
things that he has shape and ➢ CBD characterized by an obsession with
or she relationships influence the shopping and buying behaviors that can cause
considers as his with such as development of adverse consequences.
or her one’s oneself and
possession. immediate and identity. Pets Developmental People are exposed to
extended family could also evidence suggests that images in television,
members as symbolically identifications with the internet and
close friends define a material things begins magazines that brag
with whom one person’s quite early in life but about the importance
feels identity. remains high of material
psychologically throughout life as possessions such as
connected. people seek for branded clothes,
happiness. mobile phones, cars,
and the like. Lack or
THE ROLE OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS ON THE SENSE OF Nevertheless, loss of these material
SELF AND IDENTITY psychologists identify possessions could lead
other social and to anxiety, insecurity,
1. Cars, houses, gadgets, and clothes are to some cultural factors that and depression in
the most valuable possessions.

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 LESSON 3 – S3: MATERIAL SELF
seem to be strongly people who are overly
implicated in the materialistic.
etiology of
materialism.

CONSUMER CULTURE

• Is a social system in which consumption is

dominated by the consumption of
commercial products.
• 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
meditated through markets.
• A consumer 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. Closely tied to
materialism. Both heavily influence the
way individuals view the self. It can view
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 needs and wants tends
to be endless, and thus could cause
negative effects such as dissatisfaction,
unhappiness, and depression.