Understanding the Self: The Material Self and Materialism

Flashcards based on lecture notes detailing William James's material self, Herman Lotze's philosophy of dress, Russel Belk's extended self, and the psychological correlates and roots of materialism and happiness.

Material Self

A component of the self introduced by William James consisting of the body, clothes, immediate family, and home, in which an individual deeply invests themselves.

Four Components of the Self (William James)

The framework formulated in 1890 dividing the self into the material self, social self, spiritual self, and pure ego.

Self-Feelings

The emotions and feelings aroused by the constituents of the self, according to William James.

Self-Seeking and Self-Preservation

The specific actions and behaviors prompted by the constituents of the self to protect, maintain, and advance oneself.

Body (in Material Self)

The innermost constituent of the material self that individuals actively maintain through health and appearance.

Philosophy of Dress

The perspective originated by Herman Lotze stating that clothing is an essential part of the material self that influences attitudes, behavior, and self-expression.

Microcosmus

The book by Herman Lotze which asserts that whenever an object is brought onto the surface of the body, that object is invested into the consciousness of personal existence.

Immediate Family (in Material Self)

A constituent of the material self whose successes and failures affect an individual deeply due to shared identity and investment.

Home (in Material Self)

Described as the earliest nest of selfhood, where daily experiences fundamentally shape an individual's personal identity.

Extended Self (Russel Belk, 1988)

The theory proposing that 'we are what we have and what we possess,' viewing material possessions as literal extensions of personal identity.

Materialism

The philosophy that matter constitutes the entirety of the universe, leading to the belief that having material goods is all that matters and using wealth to measure success and existence.

Self-Gift

The act of purchasing gifts for oneself as an expression of materialism, driven by self-centeredness, narcissism, and defining success and happiness through goods.

Correlates of Materialism

Observed negative or inverted relationships between high materialism and psychological outcomes, including lower happiness, lower self-esteem, reduced well-being, and poorer financial stability.

Type-A Behavior (Gregoire, 2021)

A pattern of highly competitive and aggressive behavior that is strongly linked to materialist values in consumer culture.

Relative Happiness

The psychological principle that subjective feelings matter more than objective wealth and that satisfaction is evaluated in comparison with others rather than absolute possession.