UNPACKING THE MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF AND SPIRITUAL SELF

William James

• A Harvard Psychologist in the late 19ᵗʰ century.

• He wrote in his The Principle of Psychology in 1890 that understanding the self can be examined through its different components

Material Self

The me-self consists of _______ ____ along with social and spiritual self.

Material Self

consists of things that belong to a person or entities that a person belongs to

Material Self

is composed of body, family, clothes and other material things

1. Body

2. Clothes

3. Family

4. Home

4 Components of Material Self

Body

The innermost part of our self

clothing

Influenced by the “Philosophy of Dress” by Herman Lotze, James believed that _____ is an essential part of material self

Family

What they do or become affects us

Family

We see our ____ as the nearest replica of self

Home

is where the heart is

Material possessions

signify some aspects of one’s sense of self and identity

Possessions

tell a lot about their owners

Needs

are those important for survival

Wants

are synonymous with luxuries

Utility & Significance

2 Process of acquiring material goods

Utility

Is concerned with how things serve a practical purpose.

Significance

Is concerned with the meaning assigned to the object.

Semiology

study of signs

Roland Barthes

According to Him, it is through objects that people assert their identities

Objects

these are not just things but are reflections of the wider lives of communities and individuals; the things people possess are also in sync with what is valued by their community

status

The possession of material things also indicates one’s _____ in the society

personal choices

One’s possessions are perceived as _____ _______ that define people to a certain extent

Russel Belk’s Extended Theory

Belk (1988) argues that “we are what we have”, meaning that possessions are not merely objects but extensions of our identity and self-concept.

1. controlling an object

2. either creating or buying

3. Knowing about something

Jean-Paul Sartre’s 3 ways of connecting with objects

Materialism

belief of a person on the importance of material objects to the achievement of happiness or success (Chan, 2019)

Self-esteem

your overall opinion of yourself, including your beliefs about your personal worth, value, and confidence

Materialism

is inversely related to Self-esteem

Richins (1994)

A study by __________ found that highly materialistic people put value on their belongings for their use, especially as a boost for social status, while less materialistic people value their possession for the joy and comfort that they get from these things

Economy

is an important aspect of life. In a market economy, individuals own most of the resources available: labor, land, and capital, and use of voluntary decisions to control the marketplace

Adam smith

Father of modern economics

Adam Smith

He explained that the best economic benefit that the consumers can get in any cultural place is usually accomplished when the consumers act in their own self-interest.

Consumer Culture

• increases the individual's experiences of anxiety and risk by offering more choice images and choices of different identities and by raising the sense of social risk let in for making the 'wrong choice'.

• This kind of risk may cause identity crisis to some extent with the process of modernity

1. The symbol of individual choice controls our sense of the social

2. Identity itself can be seen as commodity which can be for sale.

3. Material and symbolic resources to which we create and maintain identities increasingly take the form of consumer goods and actions through which create appearance and arrange social encounters and leisure time

3 ways modernity (as mass identity crisis) links with consumer culture

Consumerism

It exploits mass identity crisis by offering its goods as a solution to the problems of identity, and the procedure strengthens it by offering even more plural values and methods of being

status

In a market economy where different cultural behavior emerge, an individual's _____ generally shapes the beliefs and attitudes a person have

1. body

2. soul

3. spirit

3 components of the body

Body

is the physical being that responds to stimuli and communicate with the surroundings

soul

comprises the emotions and thoughts of a person

spirit

is the intangible aspect that communicates with deities in the spiritual realm

Spiritual Self

is considered as the higher self, the inner self, and a person's true being that is greatly influenced by a spiritual deity

Spiritual deities

whom people believed vary from one religious group to another.

Meditation practices

increase positive emotions, which may yield positive consequences for life satisfaction

1. Physical aspect

2. Psychological aspect

3. Spiritual Aspect

3 interconnected aspects of human development

Physical aspect

Biological growth, maturation, and bodily changes.

Psychological aspect

Consciousness and internal qualities expressed through behavior

Spiritual aspect

An essential part of human identity that complements the physical and psychological aspects

Spirituality

has been widely studied by a number of researchers and academics across several disciplines but remains to be elusive in terms of having a standard definition

The spiritual self

• reflects the connection between the mind, body, and spirit.

• It develops through a personal journey shaped by belief in a higher being, culture, relationships, nature, and the search for meaning in life .

Puchalski (2014)

He said that spirituality is the aspect of the self that is associated to an individual’s process of seeking and expressing meaning and how he or she is connected to the self, to others, to the moment and to everything else that composes his or her environment, including the sacred and significant

Sinnot (2002)

who said that Spirituality “is posited as the individual’s personal relation to the sacred or transcendent, a relation that then informs other relationships and the meaning of one’s own life”

Spirituality

• develops throughout a person’s life

• It is shaped by personal, social, and environmental experiences

Spirituality

is not innate ; it is learned and developed over time

1. Their environment

2. Their identity and sense of self

3. The present and the future

4. The meaning of life

People develop spirituality as they reflect on 4 things:

Religiosity

is adherence to the beliefs, values, practices, and traditions of a specific religion

1. Religious rituals and activities

2. Rules about what should be done or avoided

3. Participation in a religious community

4. Commitment to shared beliefs

Religiosity includes 4 things:

Religiosity

is often influenced by parents, schools, religious organizations, and the media

Spirituality

• gives people a sense of purpose, inner peace, and connection to what they consider sacred or meaningful.

• It helps individuals find contentment in their life circumstances and serves as an anchor that guides their beliefs, decisions, and actions

Spirituality

• is associated with positive physical and mental health and overall well-being

• It promotes serenity, self-respect, and self-actualization, helping individuals develop a more positive understanding of themselves and their lives

Spiritual well-being

• develops wisdom, self-transcendence, acceptance of life, and a sense of meaningful existence

• It can increase self-esteem, strengthen interpersonal relationships through trust, and encourage positive and meaningful behavior

Resilience

One of the most important benefits of spirituality

Resilience

• It helps individuals remain strong, find meaning, and maintain hope when facing difficulties and obstacles in everyday life.

• By staying grounded in their spiritual beliefs, people can better cope with challenges and continue moving forward.

Spirituality

• is a natural part of self-development that helps individuals understand themselves, develop personal values, and find meaning in their lives.

• It can be strengthened through family relationships, school activities, and personal reflection

Parents

can nurture spirituality by building strong, supportive relationships with their children.

Schools

can also promote spiritual growth through retreats, recollections, seminars, worship, and teaching strategies that encourage contemplation, reflection, and selfevaluation

oneself

The most important way to enhance spirituality begins within _____

1. Self - reflection and meditation on life choices and decisions

2. Empathy and compassion toward others

3. Faith in a higher being and thoughtful consideration of personal values

Individuals can strengthen their spiritual intelligence through 3 things: