UNDERSTANDI

NG THE SELF
LESSON 3 : MANAGING THE MATERIAL
SELF

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
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.Evaluatue one’s own personal experience, behavior, and attitude toward
material resources.
WILLIAM JAMES – Father of American Psychology
• a psychologist and philosopher who had a
major influence on the development of
psychology in the United States.
• Among his many accomplishments,he was the
first to teach a psychology course in the States.
• He is 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”
The material self , according to James primarily is
about our bodies, clothes, immediate family and
home. We are deeply affected by these things
because we have put much investment of our self to
them.
BODY – Intentionally, we are investing in
our body we are directly attached to this
commodity that we cannot
live without. We strive hard to make sure
that this body functions well. Any ailment
directly affects us .
CLOTHES –
The fabric and style of the clothes we wear bring sensations to the
body to which
directly affect our attitudes and behavior. Clothing is a form of self
expression. We choose and wear clothes that reflect our self

IMMEDIATE FAMILY –
Our parents and siblings hold another great important part of our
self. What they do or become affects us. When an immediate
family dies ,part of our self dies too. When their lives are in
success ,we feel their victories as if we are the one holding the
trophy. We also share their failures and shame . We care, love and
protect our immediate family.
HOME–
Home is where our heart is .It is the earliest nest of our selfhood.
Our experiences inside the home were recorded and marked on
particular parts and things in our home . There was an old cliché
about rooms: If only walls can speak.