UNDERSTANDING OUR MATERIAL SELF
about who we are, our self-concept, our past, and even
Learning Outcomes:
-Elaborate on the interrelationship between consumer
self and the material self
-Examine the self against the different concepts and
ideas relating to its material aspect
-“We regard our possessions as part of ourselves. We
are what we have and what we possess.” – Belk (1998)
The Constituents of the Self
-“
A ny
time we bring an object into the surface of our body, we
invest that objects into the consciousness of our
personal existence taking in its contours to be our own
and making it part of the self” –Lotze
-The fabric and style of the clothes we wear bring
sensations to the body which directly affect our
attitudes and behavior
-Clothing is a form of self-expression. We choose and
we wear clothes that are reflection of our self. (Watson,
2014)
-The more investment of self is given to the particular
thing, the more we identify ourselves to it
-“A man’s self is the sum total of all what he can call
HIS” – (James, 1890)
-The possessions that we dearly have tell something
our future
-We develop an attachment with most of the things we
buy because we accord the same to the resources that
enable us to accomplish the transaction
-In the face of material loss, there is a shrinkage of the
personality (James, 1890)
-That is why we “die a little” every time we lose some of
our possessions
The Calvinist Principle
“If we are only to pass through earth, we ought
undoubtedly to make such a use of its blessings as will
rather assist than retard in our journey.”
-John Calvin
-For him, it is through the consumption of material
goods that people can truly fulfil God’s desires
-He justifies that a person’s hard work justifies his/her
consumption
-Though consumption and wealth accumulation are
divine acts, still, these must be done in moderation
-There’s nothing wrong with owning material
possessions. Today’s problem seems to be the meaning
we assign to our stuff
-This may often lead us to forsaking our health, our
relationships, our passions, our personal growth, and
the desire to contribute beyond ourselves
Minimalism
-Being a minimalist means you value yourself more than
material things
-It is making decisions based on what you need instead
of getting everything you want
Benefits of a Minimalist Life
-Decluttering helps people breathe
-It allows for refocusing
-Less stuff equals more money
-You have more time
-You have more energy
Minimalists search for happiness not through things,
but through life itself