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3.

Overview:
The goal of every person may differ from
one another but admit it or not, to have a car,
house/s, jewelries, branded items, investment,
business and huge account deposits, or even
travelling and experiencing fine dining at five
nts and yacht are
desired by many. In this chapter we will talk
about our material self that is not only involve
those tangible possessions but also includes
our family and friends. Regardless of how much
we own and how little we have in life we still
strive to acquire more.
This topic will give you a description of
who you are in terms of Material self and its
components. Your motivations in acquiring
possessions as well as the different factors like how media, friends, family and your
experiences influenced your material self.

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Discussion
Material Self
The material self, according to William James as cited by Monilla 2018, pertains to

viewed as extensions of individuals' identities. For instance, your clothes reflect certain

In addition, James identified the body as the innermost aspect of the material self.
You perceive certain body parts as more private or intimately yours as compared to the
others. The next aspect is your clothing; the garments which protect as well as project
your body. This is followed by your family; they are connected to you by blood and you
share their glory as well as shame. Your home comes next; it is where many aspects of
your life have been developed, it is where you feel most comfortable, and it is greatly
linked to your identity. This is then followed by other possessions such as gadgets, cars,
collections, etc.

The Role of Material Possessions on the Sense of Self and Identity

People appear to judge others by their material possessions. No matter how much
or how little material possessions people have, it will remain valuable because these
belongings are a symbol of one's social status. Cars, homes, appliances and clothes are
the most desirable things to others because they are the most visible in other people's
eyes. The more expensive they are, the more impressed many people are. In Russel
at we own?", the material objects serve as an objective
representation of self. Material possessions may represent hard work and success.
Typically, people prefer to measure success by the sum of their material possessions.
Self-defining by material possessions can contribute to a sense of well-being,
including a level of self growth and purpose or reason to live. That being said, the absence
or loss of material resources may harm one's mental health, such as the loss of homes
and other belongings due to disasters and calamities. Thus, the greater the material
possessions, the 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 and identity. On the other hand, we human beings tend
to desire more and this can lead to negative consequences on our self and identity.
Materialism refers to giving more importance to material possessions than intangible
values. One who is overly concerned with the acquisition of material belongings is called
a materialistic person. Wanting more material possessions can lead to psychological
dysfunction or damage in functioning and one example of this is the compulsive buying
disorder (CBD) which is characterized by an obsession with shopping and buying
behaviors that can cause adverse effects (e.g., debts). Developmental evidence suggests
that identification with material things begins quite early in life but remains high throughout

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 50

life as people seek for happiness (Belk, 1988). Nevertheless, psychologists detect other
social and cultural factors that seem to be strongly implicated in the idea of materialism.
The media can also influence the viewers about the importance of expensive and branded
mobile phones, clothes, cars, and the so forth. Loss of these material possessions could
lead to anxiety, insecurity, and depression in people who are overly materialistic. Thus,
one should be able to identify the difference between wants and needs and try to ask a
very important question to himself or herself: DO I REALLY NEED THIS? ( Monilla et.al
2018)

Consumer Culture
Consumer culture is a social system in which consumption is dominated by the
consumption of commercial products (Arnould, 2010). Consumer culture symbolizes 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-inducing marketing symbols is central to consumer culture
(Arnould & Craig, 2005). A consumerist society is one in which humans spend an
exceptional deal of time, money, and power to "consume" business products, items, and
goods. Consumerism is the intake of cloth items and offerings in extra of one's primary
needs. Consumerism is intently tied to materialism. Both closely affect the manner people
view the self. It may be considered positively and negatively. For instance, humans tend
to be happier and extra encouraged whilst their want and desires are met. On the other
hand, it encourages humans to shop for services and products that they do not actually
need or afford. The country of wants and needs has a tendency to be endless, and
consequently should motive poor results including dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and
depression.

Suggested Activities:
1. Watch the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009). You may watch the movie
from YouTube, just type and click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orkaqFcTQh4&t=136s
2. After watching the movie, write a reflection on the experiences of a person with
compulsive buying disorder.
3. When finished, notify your mentor, and send your work to the agreed platform.
4. The Rubrics found in the following page will be used for grading your reflection
paper.

GEC02: UNDERSTANDING THE SELF SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY