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Lesson-7

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3 views

Lesson-7

Uploaded by

kimuashuri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER II : UNPACKING THE SELF

Material Self
learning outcomes
At the end of the chapter, the students are able to:

1. Develop understanding about material self.


2. Describe the basic components of material self.
3. Discuss the influence of the media in material
possessions.
4. Develop qualities of a wise buyer.
do you still remember me?
do you still remember me?
Material Self
A Harvard psychologist in the late 19th century, wrote
in his book - The Principles of Psychology in 1890. He
introduced the Material Self Investment Diagram.
Material Self
According to William James, the material self is the:
"sum total of all that he can call his, not only his body
and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house,
his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his
reputation and works, his lands,and yacht and bank-
account. All these things give him the same emotions.
If they wax and prosper, he feels triumphant; if they
dwindle and die away, he feels cast down - not
necessarily in the same degree for each thing, but in
much the same way for all."
Material Self
A person's possessions like the body,
family, clothes, money, house, car, and
other tangible objects make up the
material self.

The basic component of the material


self includes the body.
Material Self
One of the tasks of adolescents is
that of accepting and appreciating
the physical characteristics of their
body.
Few adolescents are able to do this
successfully.
Adolescents tend to worry about their
bodies and physical appearance.
Material Self
Another component of the material self is
the clothes that people wear.
Clothes represent the self.
The style and brand of clothes becomes a
symbolic significance.
The material component of the self can
include books, bed, money, car, house and
other things that a person can call his own
possession.
Material Self
The material components of the self also
includes people such as immediate and
extended family members (my family) as
well as close friends (my friend) that the
person feels psychologically connected.

These people are likely to shape and


influence the development of self and
identity.
Material Self
Pets could also symbolically
define a person's identity.

A person's pet could be an


expression of one's social status,
pride, and prestige.
Regardless of how much or how little material
possessions people have, they are interested
in material possessions.

Possessions can be used as status symbol.


Cars, house, gadgets, and clothes are the most
valuable possessions because they are the
most visible in the eyes of others.

The more expensive, the more other people


are impressed.
Material possessions can be a reflection of hard work
and success.
People tend to measure success through material
possessions.
Material possessions can make people more
motivated to work harder to achieve them.
Defining the self by material possessions can also
contribute to feelings of well-being, including a sense
of personal growth and purpose or meaning in life.
However, lack or loss of material possessions can
be disruptive to the mental health of some
people.
The strong desire for material possessions could
have negative effects.
Some of the negative consequences of
materialism are increasing consumer debt and
bankruptcy, shrinking saving, economic crisis and
lower levels of life satisfaction and well-being.
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).
Psychologists are identifying social and cultural factors
that seem strongly implicated in the etiology of
materialism.

Lack or loss of material possessions could lead to


anxiety, insecurity, and depression.

Thus, when a person is about to make a purchase, he


should ask himself/herself a very important question:

“DO I REALLY NEED THIS?”


“DO I REALLY NEED THIS?”

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