OBJECTIVES:

Develop understanding about material self.

Describe the basic components of

material self.

Discuss the influence of media in material

possessions.

Develop qualities of being a wise buyer.

HOW DOES THESE MATERIAL THINGS
HELP IN BUILDING A PERSON?
Play Video
 Material Self

It is “the sum total of all

The material self, that he/she can call
according to William his/her, not only one’s
body, psychic powers, Such possessions are
James, it pertains to the
clothes, house, wife, viewed as extensions of
objects, places, or even husband and children, individuals' identities.
people which have the ancestors, friends,
label “mine”. reputation and works,
lands, and bank account”.
 Components of Material Self
1. BODY - The basic component of the Material Self

Perceptions about what makes a body beautiful are usually

influenced by media as shown in television and internet.

One of the tasks of adolescents is that of accepting and

appreciating the physical characteristics of their body.

William James identified the body as the innermost aspect of the

material self. Also, you perceive certain body parts as more private or
intimately yours as compared to the others.
 Components of Material Self
2. CLOTHING is the essential part of our material self

The clothes that

Clothes adolescents tend
represent to wear are
greatly influenced
the self. by their peer
groups.
 Components of Material Self
The material component of the self
3. FAMILY also includes people such as immediate
and extended family members (my
family) as well as close friends
(my friends) that the person feels
psychologically connected.

These people are likely to shape and

influence the development of self and
identity.
 Components of Material Self
4. PLACES

The material component of the self

also includes the places such as your
HOME or workplace.

It is where many aspects of your life have been

developed, it is where you feel most comfortable,
and it is greatly linked to your identity.
It is an extension of self, in it, we can directly
connect our self.
5. Some cases of extended Self

❑A person’s pet could

also symbolically
define a person’s
identity.
❑Our pet's behavior
reflects how well or
rude we are towards
them.
 Material Possession
Valuable
possessions
are those that It becomes an
opportunity
are visible to to display our
Possessions the eyes. wealth, our
can be used importance, and
as status The more our financial
symbol. expensive, the success with the
more other world.
people are
impressed
 MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

SELF IDENTITY
One’s possessions are perceived as personal choices that
define people to a certain extent.

These personal choices build one’s material which is an

extension of his or her social identity.
 Material Possession
The objects or material things help make or build
a person and shows what kind of person he/she is.
 Material Possession
❑ Belk, R. (1988) in his work
on Are We What We Own?,
suggests that material
possession act as an objective
manifestation of the self.

❑ Material Possessions can be a

reflection of hard work and success.
Material Possession

❑ Defining the self by material

possession can also contribute to
feelings of well-beings, including
a sense of personal growth and
purpose or meaning in life.
Material Possession

❑ Developmental evidence suggests

that this identification with material
things begins quite early in life but
remains high throughout life as
people seek for happiness (Belk,
1988).
Social and cultural factors are seem to strongly
contribute to the person’s material self
 Material Possession

Materialism is the
Someone with a high
importance people
level of materialism is
give on material
called materialistic.
possession.
The strong desire for
material possessions
could lead to
psychological
dysfunction or
impairment in
functioning such as
Compulsive Buying
Disorder (CBD) which
is characterized by an
obsession with
shopping and buying
behaviors that causes
adverse
consequences, e.g.
debts.
 Material Possession

Thus, the greater the material

People tend to appraise other
possessions, the more one is likely
people through their material
to attain acceptance, approval,
possession.
and esteem from other people.
 Influence of MEDIA in Material Possessions
Exposure to Mass Media greatly We are more susceptible
to advertising than we
influenced what we want. believe.

On average, we see 5,000

advertisements every day.

Every advertisement carries

the same message: your life will
be better if you buy what we
are selling.
Influence of MEDIA in Material Possessions

We slip into a cycle of wanting

Media reinforces our more things – to get new
tendencies to compare a lot iPhone model, get latest gadget,
ourself with the material wear the trendiest clothes,
acquisition of others. hang out in places where cool
people go.
 Influence of MEDIA in Material Possessions

Comparing ourselves with others

(wanting to be like them or be in
their position) will lead us to
constantly feeling dissatisfied and
never happy with what we have.
 Material Possession
For instance, during calamities,
people who lost their homes,
Lack or loss of material
businesses, loved ones, pets and
possession can be disruptive to
others things may experience
mental health.
emotional and psychological
problems.
 Lack or loss of
material
possessions
What would you feel if you lose your could lead to
cellphones? anxiety,
insecurity, and
depression.
THE SELF IN A MATERIAL WORLD
“People are likely to purchase products
that can relate to their personality”
When we talk about material self, basically we
talk about our possessions. And base on that…

We are able to freely express ‘who’ and

‘what’ we think we are from the inside.
SYMBOLIC MOTIVES
- It is the extent to which people
believe they can derive a sense of
recognition or achievement from
owning and using the right kind of
product.

1.Status - Status ,may increase consumption and

can motivate behavior (e.g. one will buy
a flat screen TV of a known brand, with
latest features because its more
expensive than other brands)
SYMBOLIC MOTIVES
Thus using affective motive: people buy the
goods not only because they think they
need it but more so because of the
joy/happiness (affect) buying the goods
provide through the mere acquisition of it.

2. Affective
Motive In relation to the economic self,
affective motive, can be a basis of the
buying behavior.
THUS, WHEN A PERSON IS ABOUT TO MAKE A PURCHASE,
HE/SHE SHOULD A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION:
DO I REALLY NEED THIS?

Mind full or Mindful??

WANTS OR NEEDS?

Wants are
synonymous to luxuries.
People buy them for
reasons that do not Needs are important
warrant necessity.
for survival
TWO THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED IN
ACQUIRING MATERIAL GOODS:

1. Utility – is concerned with how

things serve a practical purpose.

2. Significance – is concerned
with the meaning assigned to the
object and with how the objects
become powerful symbol or icons
of habit ritual.
CONSUMERISM
AS A LIFESTYLE
• Consumers are often viewed as
victims of greedy companies. But,
take note that everyone has free
will.
 AVOID THE TRAP!
1. Exercise intellectual independence
Question all
Try to defend
information given
yourself from
Think for to you, and start
unwanted Ignore advertising.
yourself. looking for
external
information
pressures.
yourself.

2. Consume less, live more

Stop and think Then, think about Strive to live the life
about the influences what really matters you want, not how
of consumerism in to you and how you others think you
your life. want to live it. ought to live.
Jenielyn L. Basadre,RPm