Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 39 views

    Unit 3: The Material Self: Did You Know?

    Uploaded by

    Four Nines
    This unit will examine how material possessions and consumer culture influence our sense of self and identity. It will explore the concept of the "material self" and how much we define ourselves by our possessions. Research shows that the more attached we become to objects, the more they become part of our identity. Consumer culture also plays a role, as shopping malls have proliferated in the Philippines and Filipinos are highly confident consumers. Spending habits provide insights into how Filipinos prioritize expenses. Overall, this unit analyzes the complex relationship between goods, money, and self-perception.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Unit 3: The Material Self: Did You Know?

    Uploaded by

    Four Nines
    39 views5 pages
    This unit will examine how material possessions and consumer culture influence our sense of self and identity. It will explore the concept of the "material self" and how much we define ourselves by our possessions. Research shows that the more attached we become to objects, the more they become part of our identity. Consumer culture also plays a role, as shopping malls have proliferated in the Philippines and Filipinos are highly confident consumers. Spending habits provide insights into how Filipinos prioritize expenses. Overall, this unit analyzes the complex relationship between goods, money, and self-perception.

    Original Description:

    MOD

    Original Title

    MOD2UNIT3

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This unit will examine how material possessions and consumer culture influence our sense of self and identity. It will explore the concept of the "material self" and how much we define ourselves by our possessions. Research shows that the more attached we become to objects, the more they become part of our identity. Consumer culture also plays a role, as shopping malls have proliferated in the Philippines and Filipinos are highly confident consumers. Spending habits provide insights into how Filipinos prioritize expenses. Overall, this unit analyzes the complex relationship between goods, money, and self-perception.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    39 views5 pages

    Unit 3: The Material Self: Did You Know?

    Uploaded by

    Four Nines
    This unit will examine how material possessions and consumer culture influence our sense of self and identity. It will explore the concept of the "material self" and how much we define ourselves by our possessions. Research shows that the more attached we become to objects, the more they become part of our identity. Consumer culture also plays a role, as shopping malls have proliferated in the Philippines and Filipinos are highly confident consumers. Spending habits provide insights into how Filipinos prioritize expenses. Overall, this unit analyzes the complex relationship between goods, money, and self-perception.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 5

    UNIT 3: THE MATERIAL SELF

    This unit will delve into the role of material possessions as they contribute to the
    definition of the self and how consumer culture contributes to your sense of self and
    identity. Reflective guide questions will facilitate your understanding of your economic
    self.

    “A man’s self is the sum total of all that he can call his‖ – William
    James

    DID YOU KNOW?


    • In the Philippines, shopping malls outnumber parks and there are
    approximately 153 malls in the National Capital Region alone.
    • In the second quarter of 2016, Filipinos were deemed to be the world‘s
    most confident consumers (Nielsen, 2016).
    • 86% of Filipinos are willing to pay extra for products and services that come
    from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.
    • According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (2015), Filipino households
    spend the most on food and non-alcoholic beverages, miscellaneous
    goods and services, and utility fees. On the other hand, Filipino households
    spend the least on health, communication and recreation and culture.
    • Nescafe, Lucky Me, and Surf are among the top brands whose products
    are most frequently purchased by Filipino consumers for the home.

    WHAT IS THE MATERIAL SELF?

    • The Material Self includes all the


    physical elements that reflect who a
    person is (e.g. possessions, cars, home,
    body, clothes, immediate family)
    • The more people invest themselves in
    objects, the more attached they
    inevitably are to them.
    • Money can powerfully influence the
    thoughts and actions of individuals in
    ways that they are often not aware of,
    no matter what their economic circumstances

    HOW DOES MONEY CHANGE PEOPLE?

    1. Social and Business Value: Motivations For Completing A Given Task (Heyman &
    Ariely, 2004)
    a. Social Value
    • When people recognize the social value of a task, they think that
    it is a worthy investment of their time, that it is part of social duty,
    and they are often happy to help out
    • When money is involved, people think less of social value and
    more of business value
    b. Business Value
    • People that focus on the business value of a task often demand
    for compensation before or after they have engaged in it.
    E.g. When taking care of the elderly or young relatives, some
    people do it voluntarily (social value) while some ask to be
    compensated (business value).

    2. Self-sufficiency and Service


    • Money-conscious individuals typically strive to be more self-
    sufficient or independent than those who do not prioritize money

    3. Self-view
    • The amount that people earn could have an effect on how they
    view themselves
    • Class Essentialism is the belief
    that differences between classes
    are based upon identity and
    genetics, rather than
    circumstance
    • Wealthy people are more likely
    to believe that they were
    entitled to wealth based upon
    their personal circumstances
    and actions, whereas poor people tend to believe that anyone
    can be rich and anyone can be poor.

    4. Ethics
    • Those who perceive themselves to be in a
    higher class are the most likely to engage in
    unethical behavior • According to Piff (2012),
    Self-interest Maximization is the idea that
    suggests those that have the most money or
    occupy higher classes are more likely to
    according ask ―What‘s in it for me?‖

    5. Addiction
    • Addiction is brought about by a
    positive response from a certain type
    of behavior
    • Behavioral or Process Addiction
    occurs when there is compulsive
    behavior motivated by a process
    that leads to a seemingly positive
    outcome (not an addictive
    substance).
    E.g. Earning can become ‗addictive‘ since obtaining money or
    seeing a large number one‘s savings account can cause a
    chemical reaction in the brain that result to positive feelings.

    WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF CONSUMER CULTURE ON OUR SENSE OF SELF?

    A. Possessions and the Extended Self:


    • Since possessions are viewed as part of the self, unintentionally
    losing these possessions are regarded as a loss or lessening of the
    self

    Here are some research findings and articles that expound on possessions and
    the self:

    a. Goffman (1961) described this point


    in that there is a deliberate
    lessening of the self that is
    maintained in some institutions
    (metal hospitals, homes for the
    aged, prisons etc.). When people
    go to these places, they become
    deprived of personal possessions
    and adapt to standardized ‘identity kits’ (e.g. same uniforms, haircuts).
    There is an elimination of one‘s uniqueness and a traumatic lessening of
    the sense of self.

    b. According to Rosenblatt, Walsh, and Jackson


    (1976), the non-voluntary loss of possessions through theft or casualty may
    diminish the sense of self. Possessions have sentimental value and people
    experience grief and mourning following the loss of these possessions.
    E.g. When you lose your umbrella/bag/phone, you cry and say
    “Sayang! Pinagipunan ko yun at matagal na sa akin”.

    c. McLeod (1984) claims that feelings of loss of a


    part of the self are experienced by victims of
    natural disasters or casualty. They undergo the
    process of grief or DABDA (denial, anger,
    bargaining, depression, and acceptance).

    d. Juliet
    Schor (1998) studied the connection between
    wealth and well-being. There is what she termed a
    ―Cycle of Work and Spend‖ wherein people work
    more to buy more and the income one earns
    determines the level of consumption
    which becomes a reward for working hard.
    WHAT ARE SPECIAL CASES OF THE EXTENDED SELF?

    1. Collections
    • “I shop, therefore I am;
    I have, therefore I am”
    • Modern humans
    assemble
    collections of non-
    necessities for
    distinction and self-
    definition (e.g. cars,
    shoes)
    • Collections may be
    security blankets for
    adults

    2. Pets
    • Representatives of the self and given characteristics of people
    • Some pets are regarded as family members and become
    surrogate parents for children and surrogate children for adults.

    3. Body Parts
    • Cathexis is defined as charging an object, activity or an idea
    with emotional energy.
    • When a body part is more highly cathected, there is greater use
    of grooming products to care for this part of the body
    • Women generally groom and tend to cathect body parts to a
    greater degree than men and that such cathexis reflects self-
    acceptance.
    • The body is more likely and more strongly cathected as
    compared to other objects since it is permanent.
    References:

    Chafee, J. (2013) Who are you? Consciousness, Identity and the Self. In the Philosopher's
    Way: Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas. Pearson. 106 — 169.
    Heyman, J., & Ariely, D. (2004). Effort for Payment. A Tale of Two Markets. SAGE Journal
    Nielsen (2016). ‗Filipino Consumers Are Most Optimistic in the World in Q2 2016‘, 2
    August. Retrieved from
    http://www.nielsen.com/ph/en/insights/news/2016/filiinoconsumers-are-most-
    optimistic-in-the-world-in-q2-2016.html/
    Piff, P., et.al. (2012) Higher Social Class Predicts Increased Unethical Behavior. National
    Academy of Sciences. Retrieved from
    http://www.pnas.org/content/109/11/4086.full
    Villafuerte, S. Quillope, A. Tunac, R. Borja, E. Understanding the Self, NIEME Publishing
    House Inc., Quezon City 2018

    You might also like