Rotariu Cosmin

Society is becoming obsessed with materials goods like fast cars, designer
clothes and flashy jewelry. We have stopped caring about the important
things and that is why divorce rates are so high and family bonds are not as
strong anymore; our value system is disintegrating.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Materialism has been a part of the human psyche for a long time, and as such
it has become a very well documented section of the human behavior as a
whole. It can be argued that the modern world’s obsession with the individual
is the root of all evil, causing rifts in families and facilitating the propagation of
superficial emotions and sentiments. I personally think that there is so some
truth to it.
First things first, we can take a look at what researchers believe promotes
narcissistic behavior, which is often linked with an obsession with material
goods. Narcissism exists within all human beings as a mean of self-
preservation, but destructive levels of narcissism are damaging to one’s self
image and health. As such, there is a promising connection between obsessing
over fancy and expensive things and forfeiting personal relationships in favor
of wealth.
However, this does not mean people who own expensive and fast vehicles are
egocentric. This link does not necessarily go both ways, and not all narcissistic
people are materialistic. Modern society does promote higher standards of
living, and some people may pretend to appear more important than they
really are by owning expensive items.
In the end, I don’t think individualism itself necessarily leads to unhealthy
narcissism. Instead, it is the way our children are taught to react to contrast in
wealth between individuals that makes the difference. Not all rich people are
egocentric, and owning fast cars and expensive jewelry is not an indicator that
these persons are self-centered and treat their family and friends badly.