Material self

MATERIAL SELF

  • Refers to how individuals define themselves through their possessions and tangible elements.

ACTIVITY: DEBIT CARD CHALLENGE

  • Task: Create a list of items you desire using an unlimited debit card to promote personal happiness.

  • Follow-Up Questions:

    1. How do you feel during this challenge?

    2. Which item from your list is your favorite and why?

    3. If you could choose one item in real life from your list, which would it be and why?

WILLIAM JAMES

  • A significant figure in psychology, authored "The Principles of Psychology" (1890).

  • Proposed understanding the self through multiple components:

    1. Material Self

    2. Social Self

    3. Spiritual Self

COMPONENTS OF SELF

Material Self

  • Encompasses tangible aspects such as body, clothing, immediate family, and home.

Social Self

  • Involves interactions with others, including relatives, friends, colleagues, etc.

Spiritual Self

  • Reflects individual values, morals, beliefs, and perspectives on life.

MATERIAL SELF INVESTMENT

Body

  • The body is seen as a critical investment.

  • Personal health and appearance are directly linked to self-identity.

Clothes

  • Clothing acts as a means of self-expression and influences attitudes and behaviors.

Immediate Family

  • Family members significantly impact our identity, sharing feelings of success and failure.

Home

  • Represents the core of our selfhood with experiences marking our personal development.

SUMMARY

  1. Self-identity is shaped by possessions.

  2. Possessions are integral to the self-concept.

  3. William James' quote: "A man’s self is the sum total of all what he CAN call his."

APPLICATION

  • Review the Debit Card Challenge list and categorize items into:

    • Related to body

    • Related to clothes

    • Related to family

    • Related to home

CONSUMERISM

  • Defined as a theory suggesting that high consumption leads to better individual well-being.

  • Economists link consumer spending to economic growth and fulfilling basic needs.

CONSUMERISM AS A LIFESTYLE

  • Consumers often portrayed as victims of exploitation but retain personal agency.

NEED VS. WANT

  • Understand the distinction between basic needs and discretionary wants.

SELF-ACTUALIZATION PYRAMID

  • Levels include:

    • Physiological Needs: Basic survival (air, food, water).

    • Safety and Security: Health, employment, property.

    • Love and Belonging: Family, friendship, community ties.

    • Self-Esteem: Self-worth, achievement, respect.

    • Self-Actualization: Pursuit of morality, creativity, personal growth.

COMMON STRATEGIES IN PERSUASION

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

  • Initial agreement to a small request facilitates later compliance with larger requests.

Door-in-the-Face Phenomenon

  • Starting with an excessive request, followed by a reasonable one, increases chances of acceptance.

AVOIDING THE TRAP OF CONSUMERISM

  1. Exercise Intellectual Independence: Recognize the control exerted by consumerism and advertising.

  2. Consume Less, Live More: Reflect on consumer influences in your life.