UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Human Sexuality
Managing the Material Self
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. explain the relationship between the self and material

or economic possessions;

2. analyze the role of consumer culture to self and

identity; and

3. evaluate one’s own personal experience, behavior, and

attitude towards material resources.
 ACTIVITY
Directions: Answer the table below. Since this is more of the material
and economic self, list only material belongings no person, no pets,
no abstract concept like “love”. Also, it is best to answer it honestly.
Top 5 material belongings that you cannot live Top 5 material gifts you want for Christmas
without

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 ANALYSIS

1. Which of the analysis is true

to you?
2. Which of the analysis do you
think does not reflect you?
3. If this was not yours, what
would you think about the
personality of the owner/
Why
The connection of the self to one’s possessions has been an interest
of the social sciences, particularly anthropology and psychology.

Particularly in cultural anthropology, the way culture and groups has

given meaning to things has been of interest.

There were also studies on how one object gains status as a

“prestige good’ or something that give a perception that the owner
has more prestige.
Ex. some societies may consider having a car as a sign of wealth,
others would see having more lands or livestock.

Another case would be how an object becomes

part of a family’s history, like necklace passed
down to the eldest child of each generation.
The Material Self
▪ One of the first to describe the
self as the totality of
everything that one calls his or
hers, which included what he
called the “material self”.

▪ This material self focuses more

on the body, our clothes and
belongings, our immediate
family, as well as the place we
call home. William James
▪ Working from this work and
ideas of French philosopher,
Jean-Paul Sartre, Russell Belk
further researched on the
material self and theorized on
how objects become extensions
of ourselves or our identities.
These objects extend ourselves
in space and time.
▪ A tool helps double our
strength, a weapon extends
our reach, a uniform helps us
relate with a group, or a t-shirt
can remind us of our own Russell Belk
travels.
 ▪ He noted three ways which we
connect with objects:

1. through controlling an object ,

like learning to ride a bike or finally
teaching your dog a trick that you
want him/her to do. We also
connect through using objects to
control others, like giving gifts or
using bribes (Belk 1988).

Jean-Paul Sartre
 2. through either creating or
buying it (Belk 1988). Because you
spend blood and sweat on a project,
for example, you tend to give it more
importance that having a good grade
for it affects you emotionally more
than a project you just haphazardly
made.

Spending a lot of money on something

would also make you care for it more,
like when someone wants to borrow
your custom-made bike or car and you
keep an eye on them in case they
Jean-Paul Sartre
scratch it.
▪ However, recent culture and economy have
shifted our focus from production to
consumption (Hurson 2013). In sociological
perspectives, society affects our concept of self and
this shift of focus to production had us consuming
more and producing less for ourselves.

Ex. buying cabinets and not make one

buying 3-in-1 coffees instead of mixing it on our own

▪ That might be a reason why most people find it

relaxing or fulfilling to construct things on their own.
 3. knowing about something creates
a connection between you and that object
of your interest (Belk 1998).

A simple example is investing your time to

study or even master something about
engineering, biology, art, music or history,
and in time, you might be called an
engineer, a biologist, an artist, a musician,
or a historian, which will be part of your
identity.

Another one is knowing about a person

romantically and in a more intimate level
Jean-Paul Sartre that he/she becomes a part of you.
 Material Values Scale

In 1992, Richins and Dawson

developed the Material Values
Scale (MVS) to measure
materialism in consumers. In
recent years, a number of studies
have used the MVS to examine
materialism as a facet of
consumer behavior.

Materialism is about the belief of

a person on the importance of
material objects to the
achievement of happiness or
success (Chan 2019)
Several psychological studies support that materialism is
inversely related to self-esteem. Meaning, it is more likely that
a materialistic person is using objects to compensate for his/her
low self-esteem or something that is lacking in his/her personal
life, like a good relationship with family, inability to make friends or
a romantic relationship, and the like (Christopher and Schenker 2004;
Jarrett 2013). The set-up might be because he/she is more
emotionally connected to objects than people, or he/she is using
material objects to gain acceptance in a circle of people.

Furthermore, a study of Richins (1994) found that highly

materialistic people put value on their belongings for their use,
especially as a boost for social status, while less materialistic
people value their possession for the joy and comfort that they
get from these things (Christopher and Schenker 2004).
We can therefore argue
that a person who uses
objects to gain acceptance
and privilege are also more
likely to ride current trends.
Our perspective and connection with objects develop
through time, like a child playing with a ball then
transitioning to ball games and probably winning
formal competitions.
 Self and Objects Through Life Stages
The connection of self to the material world develops and
changes over time. Studies showed that, even with cultural
differences, there seems to be a similar experience in the
development of the material self throughout the life of a person.

According to Belk (1988) there could be four stages of this

development:
1. the infant distinguishes self from environment;
2. the infant distinguishes self from others;
3. possessions help adolescents and adults manage their identities;
and
4. possessions help the old persons have a sense of continuity and
preparation for death.
 Self and Objects Through Life Stages
Further explained by Jarrett (2013), our relationship with the
material world starts with the idea that whoever gets something
first is its owner. “finders keepers”, so to speak. It is when a
child finds a toy and does not want to let go of it, or another baby
takes the toy and the first one throws a tantrum because it was
taken from him or her.

These objects were seen as “transitional objects” which aims

to develop the skills of a child toward more independence.
Studies show that the more parents are engaged in parenting,
the less the child to become attached or dependent on these
things (Jarrett 2013).
 Self and Objects Through Life Stages
In adolescents, the attachment to objects increasingly
depends on who people are, or how they want to be
perceived, especially by their peers. Various studies state
that the lower the self-esteem, the more a person seems to
acquire and/or get attached to more objects, and vice versa.

Also, teens give more importance to having similar items

with their peers as a sense of shared identity as well as
an attempt to be different from their parents (Jarrett
2013).
 Self and Objects Through Life Stages
Young people seems to value possessions based on the
following:

1. “emotional attachment”, like the happiness that you

get from it;
2. “social meaning” especially the ability of the object to
attract people or make you feel that you belong; and
3. “personal association” or how an object is related to
our concept of self, like buying an eight note necklace
because you think you are a musician.
 Self and Objects Through Life Stages
The adult self continues to extend to more objects as the needs
as well as the means to acquire changes.
Ex. a teenager who was interested in drag race cars before, but
now has become a father would rather go for a more utilitarian
type.
The material self also gets on a more specific interest. You
may find that later in life that you will become more interested in
power tools or kitchenware or appliances as you get older, for
example.
It must be noted that the acquisition and attachment to object
still depend on who we think we are or who we want to be
perceived by others (Jarrett 2013)
 Self and Objects Through Life Stages
Old age brings another aspect to the relationship between the
owner and the object. The object now becomes a vessel of
memory, like a camera you used to bring in your travels, a
source of comfort as well as an achievement, like trophy or
diploma, and it becomes a sort of legacy for the future, like your
house and lot that you will pass on to your children.
Ideas on Managing Resources

Our current economic system is based on

monetary exchanges and being a
consumer necessitates having cash.
Having some money then became a part of
our “self” as we engage in economic
activities.

However, how finances are handled can

make or break a person, an organization, a
company, and even a family.
 Ideas on Managing Resources
1. Keep your perspective in check. The love of money, not the
money itself, causes the problem. Money is important but it
should be perceived as a means to a better end. You should
not sacrifice short-term satisfaction and happiness for a long-
term fulfillment and joy.
2. Have money, do not just pretend. Or as others say, “The
goal is to be rich, not to look rich.” In a lot of instances, it is
appearance that we perceived first. But, pretension can only
go
so much. Having your own money actually lets you buy what
you want and what you need. You will have a higher probability
of not loaning in case of emergency and you will not be in a
bad debt trying to please other people.
 Ideas on Managing Resources
3. Have your own goal, take your own time. Have your goal
for both short-term (3 months to 1 year) or long-term (more
than a year). Do not just think of something to buy, but also
about something to improve your financial status. Then, keep
that goal in mind instead of comparing yourself with others as
we all have different experiences including backgrounds. Do
not chase after others, build your own.
4. Budget, budget, budget. A lot of people do not like the word
“budget” because it sounds restrictive, but it is not. When you
have a budget, you have a) realistic idea of what you can
spend on whatever you want, and b) a peace of mind that you
have at least taken care of the important needs that you have
to pay for. Start by making a list of your common expense
 Ideas on Managing Resources
for a month and the estimate money you spend on them. Also,
include how much money you are willing to save or invest.
Then, make the necessary adjustments.
Ex.

50% 25%
savings
personal
use
25%
utilities
 Ideas on Managing Resources
5. Save in order to be safe. Having a savings in the bank
provides you a security incase of emergencies. Others may
have or opt for a separate emergency and savings as the
savings account can be reserved for a long-term project, like a
house. You must not use your savings until emergency comes
or until you can finally use it to purchase a long-term goal.
6. Keep your spending habits in check.
 Make a list when going to the grocery/mall and prioritize
buying those things in your list before you buy anything else
when you have the spare money.
 Pay in cash. Minimize the use of your credit or debit card. As
a lot of financial experts usually advice, if you cannot pay it in
cash, it is not yet within your budget or financial capacity. At least
wait when you can afford it.
 Ideas on Managing Resources
 Wait for a day or a week before you buy something, because you
might just be enticed at the moment or pressured by peers or
trends that you want to buy something now, but in reality, it is
something you do not really need.
 Save first before you spend, not spend before saving what is left.
That way, you save a bigger amount and you get a more realistic
budget for all your expenses.
 You can reward yourself without being too extravagant or
overextending your budget. Go watch the movies, buy branded
clothes, drink coffee at a high-end coffee shop, buy new upgrades
for your ride, and so on, as long as you keep those things within
the abovementioned premises.
 Ideas on Managing Resources
7. Increase income flow. Sometimes the budget can be too tight or
the money in the bank is not growing enough. Therefore, you must
find legal ways to increase your income. Any good means to
add to your allowance or current income. Just also be sure that you
still have time for yourself, your studies, and your family.
8. Good debt vs. bad debt. Ideally, we must get out of debt first
before we can continue to make our money grow. It is about having
a good record and personal integrity. However, there are also things
that we can call good debts.
 Bad debts – those we acquired but do not necessarily need and/or
do not increase our financial capabilities
 Good debts – those we acquire and will increase our financial
capabilities.
 Ideas on Managing Resources
Remember, installments are still debts, because you are still
providing payments. It is best if you can cash it in. Also, when you
make money, settle your debts first. It is also someone else’s efforts
as well as future on the line that they sacrificed for you, so be
grateful.
9. Make your money grow. Increasing your financial capabilities
takes time and honest work. But, there are means of increasing
your income wherein, after putting the necessary initial work, the
money will grow on its own and will yield profit higher than just
being in a bank. This is through passive income sources or
investments like stocks exchange, mutual funds, bonds, royalties
and real estate.
 engage only in a business that you
understand;
 do not engage in quick-money pyramid
schemes;
 diversify, do not invest all your money in
one place or one type of business, but do
not also scatter them too thinly. Invest in
around three for a start.
10. Protect the future. Following the plan of action, you
will reach a time when you have a steady flow of
income, both from your work and your investments. You
know how to budget things, so you can address your
needs and enjoy some luxury. You also have savings or
emergency account, just in case something really bad
happens, but your developing family or lifestyle might
 Ideas on Managing Resources
render that emergency account incapable of covering them
all. Thus, you need to have insurance for your health in case
you have an accident or a sickness – a life-insurance, so that
your family can receive a large financial aid in case you
leave them in this life unexpectedly, and an insurance or plan
for your assets or belongings.

Again, research is necessary to avoid

falling for fake insurances. Remember that
you are doing this mainly for your family,
so that they will not be financially
burdened in case something happens to
you.
 Ideas on Managing Resources
11. Your greatest investment is still yourself. The steps
are all about keeping you safe and helping you grow
financially. The mastermind behind all of these is you.
Therefore, you must never stop learning and improving
yourself, your skills, and your passions among others. The
more you know, the more opportunities you can see as
well as traps to avoid. Health is also one of the greatest
wealth one can have, so have time to eat right and
exercise.
12. Enjoy life no matter what. Enjoy your profits, keep a
good relationship with your family, have a healthy and
romantic relationship, serve the community, take a hobby,
engage in arts or sports, plant a tree, or adopt a stray pet.
People lived meaningful
lives prior to this cash-
oriented economy and we
still can as long as we
keep a healthy
perspective on how we
relate ourselves to the
material world.
 BUDGET TIPS:

Iwasan Ang 10 Dahilan Kung

Bakit Nauubos Ang Ating
Budget [Part 1 and 2].
Chink Positive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfgDOZ2uG_A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZmuyW8O_FM
End of Lesson 3