THE MATERIAL SELF AND DIGITAL

SELF - Chapter 7
 Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

1 Develop understanding the material self and digital self.

2 Describe the basic components of material self and digital self.

3 Identify the composition of material self.

 What is Material Self?

• The material self according to William James, pertains to the object, places, or
even people which have the label “mine”. Such possessions are viewed as
extensions of individuals identities. For instance, your clothes reflect certain
aspects of your personality, and you designate them as “my wardrobe”.

Composition of Material Self

IMMEDIATE BODY
HOME FAMILY CLOTHES
 BODY
• Inner most part of our material self.
• Intentionally, we invest in our body.
• We are directly attached to this commodity
that we cannot live without.
• We strive to make sure that this body
functions well and good.
• Any ailment or disorder directly affect us.
• We do have certain preferential attachment to
or intimate closeness to certain parts because
of its value to us.
• There were people who get their certain body
parts insured.
• Celebrities like Mariah Carrey reportedly
insured her vocal cords and legs.
 CLOTHES

• The style and the brand of clothes

becomes symbolic significance.
• The fabric and style of the clothes we
wear bring sensations to the bod and
can affect our attitude and behavior.
• The material component of the self can
include books, bed, money, car, house
and other things that person can call his
own possession.
• Clothing is a form of self expression.
• We choose and wear clothes that reflect
our self.
 IMMEDIATE FAMILY
• These people are likely to shape and influence the
development of self identity.
• Our siblings and parents hold a great important
part of our self.
• What they do or become affects us.
• We place huge investment in our immediate
family when we see them as the nearest replica of
our self.
• When an immediate family member dies, part of
our self dies.
• When their lives are in success, we feel victorious
as if we are the one holding the trophy.
• In their failures, we are put to shame or guilt.
• When they are in a disadvantageous
situation, there is an urgent to help.
• Pets could also symbolically define a
person’s identity.
• A person’s cat pet could be an expression of
one’s social status, pride and prestige.
 HOME
• It is earliest nest of our selfhood.
• Our experiences inside the homes were
recorded and marked on parts and
things in our home.
• Just like the saying “if only walls can
speak”.
• The home is thus an extension of self,
because in it, we can directly connect
ourself.
 EFFECTS OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

 Regardless of how much or how little material possession people have, they are
interested in material possessions.
 Possessions can be used as status, symbol. Car, house, gadgets, and clothes are the
most valuable possessions because they are the most visible in the eye of the others.
 Material possession can reflect hard work and success.
 People tend to measure success through material possession.
 Material possession can make people more motivated to work harder to achieve
them.
 However, lack or loss of material possessions can be disruptive to the mental health
of some people.
MATERIALISM
• The important people give on material possessions.
• The negative effect of the strong desire for material possessions.

MATERIALISTIC PERSON
• Someone with a high level of materialism.
• Excessively concerned with the acquisition of material possession .

COMPULSIVE BUYING DISORDER (CBD)

• The psychological dysfunction or impairment in functioning caused by strong desire of material possessions.
• Characterized by an obsession with shopping and buying behaviors that causes adverse consequences.

Lack or loss material possessions could lead to:

1. Anxiety
2. Insecurity
3. Depression
 What is Digital Self?
Is the persona we use online.

Sense Of Self Online Self-Extension

1. Can be extended

- User-generated content (social

media)
2. Possession allows us to
enlarge our sense of self
- Online profiles in websites
(online gaming, etc.)

3. The only way we can

know who we are is by
observing what we have
 1. DEMATERALIZATION
DIGITAL
DIMENSIONS 2. REEMBODIMENT

OF THE 3. SHARING

EXTENDED 4. CO-CONSTRUCTION OF SELF

SELF BY BELK
(1988)
5. DISTRIBUTED MEMORY
SELECTIVE PRESENTATION
The behavior that attempts to convey some information about oneself or
some image of oneself to other people.

TYPES OF SELF-PRESENTATION

Pleasing the Trying to match self of audience’s expectations and

audience
preferences.

Self
construction
Trying to match oneself to one’s own ideal self.
 MULTI ASPECTS OF THE SELF

They are the physical or tangible aspects as they relate to the body,

the intellectual and conscious aspects as they relate to the mind, and
the emotional and intuitive aspects as they relate to the spirit.

ACTUAL – The attributes an individual processes.

IDEAL – The attributes an individual world ideally possess.
OUGHT – The attribute an individual ought to possess.