Understanding the Self: Material Self PDF

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Module 6. Unpacking the self: Material Self “”.. → David Beckham - To protect his legs, Material Self Beckham reportedly took out an  Mat...

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Module 6. Unpacking the self: Material Self “”.. → David Beckham - To protect his legs, Material Self Beckham reportedly took out an  Material self is a dimension of the self that insurance policy worth $70 million. related to physical materials The policy covers any damage to his  It refers to our body, as well as the tangible legs or any other unforeseen objects, places, things that we describe as circumstances that could prevent “My” or “Mine” him from playing football in the  It has 2 sub-classes: future. In addition to his legs, David → Bodily self: Beckham has also reportedly insured 1. physical (arms head, legs, etc), his whole body for $195 million. This 2. emotional (feelings, desires, etc), policy covers him for any accidents or 3. psychological (intelligence, cognition, injuries that may occur while he's etc), and playing sports, but also while he's 4. moral (values, beliefs, etc). traveling, driving cars, or → We strive hard to make sure that this participating in other activities. body functions well and good. Any ailment or disorder directly affects us. We do have certain preferential attachment or intimate closeness to certain body parts because of its value to us. → Extended self: beyond the body 1. It includes the people of great significance to us (family) 2. possessions (house, car, clothes)  Clothes 3. places that matter to us, → Influenced by the “Philosophy of 4. products of our labor (job, handworks, Dress”- Herman Lotze etc). → William James believed that clothing is essential part of the material self The Composition of the Material Self → Lotze, in his book Microcosmus, stipulates that “anytime we bring an According to William James object on the surface of our body, we  Body invest that object into the → inner most part of our body consciousness of our personal → Mariah Carey- Actress/singer who existence taking in its contours to insured two $35 million insurance be our own and making it part of policies – one for her legendary vocal the self”. cords and another for her statuesque → A form of self-expression. We choose legs to wear clothes that are reflection of our self (Watson, 2014) as cited by Alata, (2018).  Immediate Family → Our parents and siblings hold another great important part of our self. → What they do or become affects us. → We place huge investment to our immediate family when we see them as the nearest replica of our self.  Home → Home is where our heart is → It is the earliest nest of our Selfhood Prepared by: Nicole Anne Soria- Sadcopen, Rpsy, Rpm  UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Module 6. Unpacking the self: Material Self → Our experiences inside the home cutting off a pedestrian when in a luxury were recorded and marked on car. particular parts and things in our → self-interest maximization- an idea that home suggests those who have the most money → “If only walls can speak” – an old or occupy higher classes are most likely to cliché about rooms take a “what’s in it for me?” Attitude. They → The home is an extension of self actively work toward the most benefit for because in it, we can directly connect themselves. (Piff, 2012) our self. A. Social and Business Value SHAPING THE WAY WE SEE OURSELVES: THE → Heyman and Ariely (2004) surmised that there are 2 motivations for ROLES OF CONSUMER CULTURE ON OUR completing a given task. SENSE OF SELF AND IDENTITY a. Social value: if a person sees it as a worthy investment of time and a Possessions and the Extended Self part of his/her duty, he/she is  The premise that people regard their usually happy to help out. possessions as parts of themselves is not new. b. Business Value: when money is  If possessions are viewed as part of self, it offered as a motivation, however, follows that an unintentional loss of possessions people start thinking less of the should be regarded as a loss or lessening of self. social aspect and more about business value. Standardized Identity → example: relatives who ask for favor  Goffman (1961) provides a thorough review of nursing the dependent senior citizens the evidence of deliberate lessening of self- require compensation to equate the effort manifested in such institutions as mental done. The money received the more hospitals, homes for the aged, prisons, frequent visits and more task done. If less concentration camps, military training camps, money is paid, the lesser the chances of boarding schools, and monasteries. coming back, with many alibis and  One of the first steps in receiving new members excuses given into these institutions is to systematically B. Self-view deprive them of all personal possessions → The amount one earns could have an including clothing, money, and even names. effect on how he/she views both  Their bodies may be standardized to some himself/herself and other. degree, as with military haircuts, and their → Class essentialism- the idea that behaviors and conversations may be severely differences between classes are based restricted. They are reissued standard upon identity and genetic, rather than wardrobes and minimal possessions to aid in circumstances rebuilding a new standardized identity. → Rich people were more likely to believe  The result of this systematic substitution of that wealth was part of genes and identity, standardized "identity kits" for former that they were entitled to wealth based possessions is an elimination of uniqueness upon their personal circumstances and (Snyder and Fromkin, 1981), and a actions. Wealthy people also believe that, corresponding and often traumatic lessening of more or less, life is fair and people mostly the individual's sense of self. get what they deserve.  Although the new, more standardized → Poor people tend to believe that social possessions that are substituted may eventually class was not related to genes, that restore some sense of self, the new self should essentially, anyone can be rich and necessarily be less unique and involve more of a anyone can be poor. shared group identity. C. Ethics → Those who perceive themselves to be Theft or Casualty wealthy were the most likely to engage in  Another instance in which nonvoluntary loss of unethical behavior, particularly when a possessions may bring about a diminished symbol of wealth was introduces, such as sense of self is when possessions are lost due to theft or casualty. Prepared by: Nicole Anne Soria- Sadcopen, Rpsy, Rpm  UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Module 6. Unpacking the self: Material Self  In the case of burglary victims, Rosenblatt,  The level of consumption is set mainly by Walsh, and Jackson (1976) suggest that a people's choices about how much to work, and process of grief and mourning may follow the therefore how much income to earn. discovery of theft, just as one might grieve and mourn the death of a loved one who had been-a Collections ("I Shop, Therefore I Am") part of one's life. What is lost in both cases may be a part of self.  As Belk (1982) notes, humans and animals once  Handbag snatching can produce not only a primarily assembled collections of necessities financial but also an emotional, long-term effect for future security, but today humans more on victims. Similarly, losing photographs of often assemble collections of non-necessities for loved ones that are often carried in a purse may distinction and sell-definition. Collections of this cause the victims' sense of security impaired; sort may be initiated gifts or other unintended  they tend to distrust and feel suspicious acquisitions, but the cultivation of a collection is towards other people, and develop a fear of a purposeful defining act. walking in public and even in familiar  Collecting has become a significant activity in environments. our consumer society as it has become more  Research has also found that victims sometimes widely affordable through the discretionary time describe possession as having high sentimental and money available to the general population value and being much more than functional. rather than just to the wealthy elite (Mason, Victims perceive their belongings as an 1981) extension of themselves, so they feel the loss as  Goldberg and Lewis (1978, p. 64) go further in a threat to their self-identity, which elicits suggesting that "Many collectors who are strong negative emotional reactions (Dinisman, inhibited and uncomfortable in social 2017). interaction, surround themselves with favored  There are also reports on feelings of loss of a objects upon which they project human-like part of self among victims of natural disasters. qualities. They practically talk to these objects; McLeod (1984) found that those who lost they find comfort in being with them and regard possessions to a mudslide went through a them as friends." process of grief similar to that of losing a loved  In this sense, collections may be seen as one - moving from denial to anger, to transition objects or security blankets for depression, and finally to acceptance. adults.  To some extent, a compulsive tendency urges Immediate Family them he increasing desire to collect as much as  Our immediate family is a part of ourselves. Our they could which gives them a greater feeling of father and mother, our wife and babies, are security, and therefore becoming a basis of the bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. When sense of self and identity - "I shop, therefore I they die, a part of our very selves is gone. am; I have, therefore I am.” Clearly what is mourned is loss of self, as Pets as Extended Self material property is an extension of ego, and  Pets are regarded commonly as representative any interference with our property is, for this of self and studies show that we attempt to infer reason, felt to be a violation of the person. characteristics of people from their pets (Foote  If they do anything wrong, it is our shame. If 1956; Heiman 1967). they are insulted, our anger flashes forth as  Some relationship between personality and readily as if we stood in their place. choice of pets does, in fact, exist (Kidd and Kid  Our home comes next. Its scenes are part of life; 1980). Others have observed that, like people, its aspects awaken the tenderest feelings of pets are regarded as family members (e.g., Cain affection; and we do not easily forgive the 1985; Friedmann and Thomas 198; Hickrod stranger who, in visiting it, finds fault with its and Schmitt 1982; Rochberg-Halton 1985; arrangements or treats it with contempt. Wallendorfand Belk 1987).  In this regard, it is significant that we name our Cycle of Work and Spend pets, feed and care for them, photograph them,  There is a connection between wealth and well- spend money on them, groom them, talk to being a belief that feeds what Juliet Schor them, protect them, sleep and play with them, (1998) calls the "cycle of work and spend" - and mourn their death (Hickrod and Schmitt work more to buy more. 1982; Meer 1984). Prepared by: Nicole Anne Soria- Sadcopen, Rpsy, Rpm  UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Module 6. Unpacking the self: Material Self  Carnack (1985), Cowies (1985), and Keddie (1977) found that in some cases of pet death the mourning is similar to that which occurs due to the loss of a home or the loss of a limb.  Levinson (1972) and Robin and Bensel (1985) found that pets are so instrumental to self- identity that they are often useful as transition objects (surrogate parents) for children and as surrogate children for adults.  These observations and popular treatments suggest that pets can be therapeutic in expanding the self of children, hospital patients, and the elderly. Prepared by: Nicole Anne Soria- Sadcopen, Rpsy, Rpm