UNIT 8_MATERIAL SELF

• MATERIAL SELF

  1. The Self and our Possessions.
  2. Possessions as Part of Self.
  3. Mastery of Possession and Human Development.
  4. Ways of incorporating Possessions into the Extended Self.
• The Self and our Possessions - Treating our possessions as extensions of ourselves is not a new phenomenon. Defining ourselves by our possessions can contribute to feelings of well-being, as well as feelings of emptiness and vulnerability. Overreliance on possessions for self-definition may be manifested in how we shop, how we care for the things we acquire, and to what extent we cling to our possessions rather than discard them.
• Materialism - has been defined as "the importance a consumer attaches to worldly possessions." At the highest levels of (), such possessions assume a central place in a person's life and are believed to provide the greatest sources of satisfaction.
• Possessions as Part of Self - The particular possessions we have show a close relationship to the objects we see as most magical, and include perfume, jewelry, clothing, foods, homes, vehicles, pets, religious icons, drugs, gifts, heirlooms, antiques, photographs, souvenirs, and collections. Such objects act as reminders and confirmers of our identity, and that this identity may often reside more in these objects than it does in the individual.
• A psychological explanation suggests that we invest "psychic energy" in an object to which we have directed our labor, time, and attention. This energy and its products are regarded as a part of self because they have grown or emerged from the self.
• In infancy, the distinction between self and not-self emerges as a result of the contingency and kinesthetic feedback produced by the infant's actions. The mother's caregiving produces the first sentiments of ownership: "In the case of the infant at the breast, to have is literally and simply to take into oneself, into one's mouth... This is the ultimate form of ownership, from which all others are derived."
• Mastery of Possession and Human Development - The relationship between a person and an object is never as simple as a person-thing bond.
• Relationships with objects are always three-way (person-thing-person) relationships. One element of the search for identity is that adolescents at this stage increasingly seek identity through acquiring and accumulating selected consumption objects.
• A study of 8 to 30 year olds found that this generation was more likely than its parents and grandparents to cite as favorite possessions those that either reflect skills in use (e.g, athletic equipment) or that the possessor can manipulate or control (e.g., music instruments, stereo, pets).
• During preretirement adulthood, emphasis shifts from defining oneself by what one does to defining self through what one has.
• 40 to 50 year olds were the most likely of all age groups to cite social power and status as reasons to own personal possessions.
• Ways of incorporating Possessions into the Extended Self - Appropriating or controlling an object

  1. Overcoming, conquering, or mastering them (for intangible objects)
  2. Knowing them
  3. Creating it
  4. Giving possessions
  5. But objects may also become a part of us through the knowledge that comes with habituation
• economic/material self

  • biological perspective
  • sociological perspective
  • psychological perspective
  • spiritual perspective
• MASLOW'S MOTIVATION MODEL

  1. Transcendence
  2. Self Actualization
  3. Aesthetic Needs
  4. Cognitive Needs
  5. Esteem Needs
  6. Belonging and Love Needs
  7. Safely Needs
  8. Physiological Needs
• Biological and physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.
• Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, etc.
• Love and belongingness needs - friendship, intimacy, trust and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love; Affiliating, being part of a group (family, friends, work)
• Esteem needs - which Maslow classified into two categories: (a) esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery, independence) and (b) the desire for reputation or respect from others (e.g., status, prestige)
• Cognitive needs - knowledge and understanding, curiosity, exploration, need for meaning and predictability
• Aesthetic needs - appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc.
• Self-actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, and peak experiences.
• Transcendence needs - A person is motivated by values which transcend beyond the personal self (e.g., mystical experiences and certain experiences with nature, aesthetic experiences, sexual experiences, service to others, the pursuit of science, religious faith, etc.).
• Spiritual Perspectives / Two Kinds of Self - Peripheral or masked self and Authentic self.
• Peripheral or masked self - It is taken from the word "periphery," which means surface. Even the word person in this realm originates from the word "persona," which means theatrical mask. This self is the self that is complicated and exhaustible. It is the self that will change, will rot, will fade away or disappear, and will die or turn to dust.
• Peripheral or masked self - is the self that serves as the means for the growth of the authentic self. This includes the following: Body, Power, Achievements, Possession, Sexual Power, Mind, Character, People, Talents, Job, Position, Money, Feelings, and Ideas.
• Authentic self - It is the true self that is simple, equal, and inexhaustible. It is the self that will not change, will not rot, will not die and will remain-self.
• Consumer Culture or Economic Culture - is a form of capitalism and a way of life that focuses on the selling of consumer goods and spending of money. It emphasizes a life style where material goods provide happiness and satisfaction.
• Consumer culture - is a culture driven by the power of money where happiness is attained in buying and owning personal property. At present, the United States is an example of a country where () is very evident. In the past, ancient Egypt and Rome were considered consumerist societies. Wealthy countries like them are identified with consumerism. Industrial revolution paved the way for consumerism and was seen as an effective political option to sustain a healthy, balanced economy.