UNDS111

Material Self
Unpacking the Self

Mara Escasinas RPm, MP

Prepared by
 THE SELF
I
“In its widest possible sense ... a man’s Me
[empirical self] is the sum total of all that he

William James ME CAN call his, not only his body and his
psychic powers, but his clothes, and his
Father of American (Empirical Self) house, his wife and children, his ancestors
Psychology and friends, his reputation and works, his
lands and horses, and yacht, and bank-
account.”
Material Self
-is not only consisting of his own body but also includes
the different things he possess from ones family, friends, as
well as things such as: clothes, house, cars, gadgets, and even
the amount of money he has in the bank.
Components of Material Self

Family
and/or
Friends
Home
Possessions

Body
 BODY

• We invest and strive to

make sure that we are in
good health.

• There are certain body

parts that we have more
attachment with because
of the value we see from
it.
 POSSESSIONS

• The things we own

symbolically represents us
and in a way can affect
our behavior and
attitude. All of this
contributes to whether
we are accepted or not in
the world we live in.
• Form of self-expression.
 FAMILY/FRIENDS

• We are being defined by

the people we are
acquainted with.
• They shape and influence
us.
• We also celebrate every
milestones of their lives.
 HOME

• The cradle of our selfhood.

• Holds imprints of our
memories and experiences
in the past.