Material Self PDF

MATERIAL SELF 2. Material possessions can be a reflection of hard work Prepared by: Bianca Patricia Reyes, RPm and success Material Self 3. Material possessions can make people more -...

MATERIAL SELF 2. Material possessions can be a reflection of hard work Prepared by: Bianca Patricia Reyes, RPm and success Material Self 3. Material possessions can make people more - the part of our “self” that is exposed to the real world motivated to work harder and achieve them - according to William James, the material self is the: “sum total of all that he can call his, not only his body 4. Defining the self by material possessions can also and his psychic powers, but his clothes, his wife and contribute to feelings of well-being, including a sense of children, his ancestors & friends, his reputation & works, personal growth and purpose his lands, and yacht & bank account. All these things give him the same emotions. If they wax and prosper, he Materialism – is the importance people give on material feels triumphant; if they dwindle and die away, he feels possessions cast down – not necessarily in the same degree for each thing, but in much the same way for all.” Materialistic person – has a high level of materialism; is excessively concerned with the acquisition of material Overview of the Material Self possessions. Components of the material self: 5. Negative effects: 1. Body - one of the tasks of adolescents is that of accepting and Lack or loss of material possession could lead to appreciating the physical characteristics of their body. anxiety, insecurity and depression. - few adolescents are able to do this successfully. Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) – the strong desire for material possessions could lead to a 2. Clothes psychological dysfunction that is characterized - it represents the self by an obsession with shopping and buying - the style and branding of clothes becomes a symbolic behaviors that causes adverse consequences significance Ponder about this: 3. Other possessions that a person can call as his own Acquiring material possessions is not bad, but we have - e.g., books, bed, money, car, house to regulate it so that it won’t have negative effect on us. How? We can ask the following questions to ourselves: 4. People - which includes our immediate family, extended family “Do I really need this?” members, close friends that we feel psychologically “Will it add value to my life?” connected to. “Is it going to be useful?” - these people are likely to shape and influence the “Do I afford this?” development of the self and identity 5. Pets - pets can symbolically define a person’s identity - a person’s pets could be an expression of one’s social status, pride, and prestige Effects of Material Possessions 1. Possessions can be used a status symbol - cars, house, gadgets, and clothes are the most valuable possessions because they are the most visible in the eyes of others