YBAÑEZ SARTO

CHAPTER 8 The Role of Material Possession on the Sense of Self and

Material Self
Identity
According to William James (1980,p 291) The self is
THE MATERIAL SELF Regardless of how or little material possessions people
everything that an individual considers to be his or her, not
have, they remain valuable because these
only his or her body and material possession are symbolic one’s social status.
Group 8 possessions but also his or her reputations
Some most valuable possessions,
and beliefs. Example:
Leader:
Joyce Ann D. Ybañez Cars
House
Secretary: Basic Components of Material Self
Gadgets
Sarto, Lady Lee
Body – One of the tasks of adolescents it Clothes
Members: to accepts and appreciate the physical
Russel Belk (1988)
Acpal, Micaela Ysabelle characteristics of their body.
Bravo, Jesusa In his work “Are we What We Own?”, suggests that
Clothes – Style and brand of clothes become significant
material possession act as an objective manifestation of the
symbols among adolescent.
self.
House
TF 4:00-5:30PM, ROOM C304 Material possession can be a reflection of hardworking and
Cars success.
Prof. Naneth E. Calaor-Tamayo
Pets
ACPAL BRAVO The consumption of market-made of commodities and desire-
including marketing symbols are central to consumer culture.
Materialism Consumer Culture
Refer to giving more importance to material Is a theory of study about consumption choices and Consumerism
possessions than intangible things. A materialistic person is one bahaviors from a “social” and “cultural” point of view.
who is excessively concerned with the acquisition of material Consumption of material goods and services in excess
Theoretical perspective that address the dynamic of one’s basic needs.
possession.
relationships between “consumer actions”, “marketplace” and
Compulsive Buying Disorder Consumerist society is one in which people spend a
“cultural meaning”.
Is characterized by excessive preoccupation or poor great deal of time, money and energy to consume commercial
Can be broadly defined as a culture where social status, products, goods and services.
impulse control with shopping, and adverse consequences, like
values and activities are centered on the consumption of good
marital conflict and financial problems.
and services. Effects:
Belk (1988)
Arnould (2010) Negative Effects
Developmental evidence suggests that identification
with material things begins quite early in life but remains high Consumer culture is a social system in which 1. TEND TO BUY PRODUCTS BEYOND THEIR CAPACITY
throughout life as people seek happiness. consumption is dominated by the consumption of commercial 2. DISSATISFACTIONS
products. 3. UNHAPPINESS
Nevertheless, psychologists identify other social and
4. DEPRESSION
cultural factors that seems be strongly implicated in the Arnould and Craig (2005)
ethology of materialism. Positive Effects
Consumer culture denotes a social arrangement in
which the relations between lived culture and social resources; 1. HAPPIER
between meaningful ways of life and the symbolic and material 2. MORE MOTIVATED
resources on which they depend on, are mediated through
markets.