materialism in today's society essay

There’s no shame in being materialistic – it could benefit society

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Materialism gets a bad press. There is an assumption that people who prioritise “things” are inherently selfish. The stereotype is that of highly materialistic people, living in a different world, where their priority is cash, possessions and status. But is the stereotype true? Our research reveals there are two sides to this story.

Highly materialistic people believe that owning and buying things are necessary means to achieve important life goals, such as happiness, success and desirability. However, in their quest to own more, they often sideline other important goals. Research shows that highly materialistic people tend to care less about the environment and other people than “non-materialists” do. These findings lead to the assumption that highly materialistic people are largely selfish and prefer to build meaningful relationships with “stuff”, as opposed to people.

But other research shows that materialism is a natural part of being human and that people develop materialistic tendencies as an adaptive response to cope with situations that make them feel anxious and insecure, such as a difficult family relationship or even our natural fear of death .

Underlying desires

Materialism is not only found in particularly materialistic people. Even referring to people as “consumers” , as opposed to using other generic terms such as citizens, can temporarily activate a materialistic mindset. As materialism researchers James Burroughs and Aric Rindfleisch said:

Telling people to be less materialistic is like telling people that they shouldn’t enjoy sex or eat fatty foods. People can learn to control their impulses, but this does not remove the underlying desires.

As such, efforts directed towards eliminating materialism (taxing or banning advertising activities ) are unlikely to be effective. These anti-materialism views also limit business activities and places considerable tension between business and policy.

The caring materialists

Our research examined how materialism is perceived across cultures and it revealed that there is more to materialism than just self-gratification. In Asia, materialism is an important part of the “collectivistic” culture (where the emphasis is on relationships with others, in particular the groups a person belongs to).

Buying aspirational brands of goods and services is a common approach in the gift-giving traditions in East Asia. Across collectivistic communities, purchasing things that mirror the identity and style of people you regard as important can also help you to conform to social expectations that in turn blanket you with a sense of belonging. These behaviours are not unique to Asian societies. It’s just that the idea of materialism in the West is more often seen in sharp contrast to community values, rather than a part of it.

We also found that materialists in general are “meaning-seekers” rather than status seekers. They believe in the symbolic and signalling powers of products, brands and price tags. Materialists who also believe in community values use these cues to shed positive light onto themselves and others they care about, to meet social expectations, demonstrate belonging and even to fulfil their perceived social responsibilities. For example, people often flaunt their green and eco-friendly purchases of Tom’s shoes and Tesla cars in public to signal desirable qualities of altruism and social concern.

Reconciling material and collective interests

So how do we get an increasingly materialistic society to care more about the greater good (such as buying more ethically-sourced products or making more charity donations) and be less conspicuous and wasteful in its consumption? The answer is to look to our culture and what sort of collectivistic values it tries to teach us.

We found that a simple reminder of the community value that resonates with who we are as a society can help reduce materialistic tendencies. That said, the Asian and Western cultures tend to teach slightly different ideals of community value. Asian communities tend to pass on values that centre around interpersonal relationships (such as family duties). Western societies tend to pass on values that are abstract and spiritual (such as kindness, equality and social justice).

Unsurprisingly, many businesses have been quick to jump onto this bandwagon. Tear-jerking commercials from Thailand reminding people to buy insurance to protect loved ones, Christmas adverts reminding viewers to be kind to one another are just two examples. But nice commercials alone won’t be enough to do the job.

Social marketers and public policymakers should tap into society’s materialistic tendencies to promote well-meaning social programmes, such as refugee settlement, financial literacy programmes and food bank donations. The key is to promote these programmes in ways that materialists can engage with – through a public display of consumption that communicates social identity.

A perfect example is the Choose Love charity pop-up store in central London, where people get to purchase real products (blankets, children’s clothing, sleeping bags, sanitary pads) in a beautifully designed retail space akin to the Apple store, which are then distributed to refugees in Greece, Iraq and Syria.

Materialism undoubtedly has an ugly face but it is here to stay. Rather than focusing efforts to diminish it, individual consumers, businesses and policymakers should focus on using it for promoting collective interests that benefit wider society.

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Materialism: a system that eats us from the inside out

T hat they are crass, brash and trashy goes without saying. But there is something in the pictures posted on Rich Kids of Instagram (and highlighted by the Guardian last week) that inspires more than the usual revulsion towards crude displays of opulence. There is a shadow in these photos – photos of a young man wearing all four of his Rolex watches , a youth posing in front of his helicopter , endless pictures of cars, yachts, shoes, mansions, swimming pools and spoilt white boys throwing gangster poses in private jets – of something worse: something that, after you have seen a few dozen, becomes disorienting, even distressing.

The pictures are, of course, intended to incite envy. They reek instead of desperation. The young men and women seem lost in their designer clothes, dwarfed and dehumanised by their possessions, as if ownership has gone into reverse. A girl's head barely emerges from the haul of Chanel, Dior and Hermes shopping bags she has piled on her vast bed. It's captioned "shoppy shoppy" and "#goldrush", but a photograph whose purpose is to illustrate plenty seems instead to depict a void. She's alone with her bags and her image in the mirror, in a scene that seems saturated with despair.

Perhaps I'm projecting my prejudices. But an impressive body of psychological research seems to support these feelings. It suggests that materialism, a trait that can afflict both rich and poor, and which the researchers define as " a value system that is preoccupied with possessions and the social image they project ", is both socially destructive and self-destructive. It smashes the happiness and peace of mind of those who succumb to it. It's associated with anxiety, depression and broken relationships.

There has long been a correlation observed between materialism, a lack of empathy and engagement with others, and unhappiness. But research conducted over the past few years seems to show causation. For example, a series of studies published in the journal Motivation and Emotion in July showed that as people become more materialistic, their wellbeing (good relationships, autonomy, sense of purpose and the rest) diminishes. As they become less materialistic, it rises.

In one study, the researchers tested a group of 18-year-olds, then re-tested them 12 years later. They were asked to rank the importance of different goals – jobs, money and status on one side, and self-acceptance, fellow feeling and belonging on the other. They were then given a standard diagnostic test to identify mental health problems. At the ages of both 18 and 30, materialistic people were more susceptible to disorders. But if in that period they became less materialistic, they became happier.

In another study, the psychologists followed Icelanders weathering their country's economic collapse. Some people became more focused on materialism, in the hope of regaining lost ground. Others responded by becoming less interested in money and turning their attention to family and community life. The first group reported lower levels of wellbeing, the second group higher levels.

These studies, while suggestive, demonstrate only correlation. But the researchers then put a group of adolescents through a church programme designed to steer children away from spending and towards sharing and saving. The self-esteem of materialistic children on the programme rose significantly, while that of materialistic children in the control group fell. Those who had little interest in materialism before the programme experienced no change in self-esteem.

Another paper, published in Psychological Science, found that people in a controlled experiment who were repeatedly exposed to images of luxury goods, to messages that cast them as consumers rather than citizens and to words associated with materialism (such as buy, status, asset and expensive), experienced immediate but temporary increases in material aspirations, anxiety and depression. They also became more competitive and more selfish, had a reduced sense of social responsibility and were less inclined to join in demanding social activities. The researchers point out that, as we are repeatedly bombarded with such images through advertisements, and constantly described by the media as consumers, these temporary effects could be triggered more or less continuously.

A third paper , published (paradoxically) in the Journal of Consumer Research, studied 2,500 people for six years. It found a two-way relationship between materialism and loneliness: materialism fosters social isolation; isolation fosters materialism. People who are cut off from others attach themselves to possessions. This attachment in turn crowds out social relationships.

The two varieties of materialism that have this effect – using possessions as a yardstick of success and seeking happiness through acquisition – are the varieties that seem to be on display on Rich Kids of Instagram. It was only after reading this paper that I understood why those photos distressed me: they look like a kind of social self-mutilation.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons an economic model based on perpetual growth continues on its own terms to succeed, though it may leave a trail of unpayable debts, mental illness and smashed relationships. Social atomisation may be the best sales strategy ever devised, and continuous marketing looks like an unbeatable programme for atomisation.

Materialism forces us into comparison with the possessions of others, a race both cruelly illustrated and crudely propelled by that toxic website. There is no end to it. If you have four Rolexes while another has five, you are a Rolex short of contentment. The material pursuit of self-esteem reduces your self-esteem.

I should emphasise that this is not about differences between rich and poor: the poor can be as susceptible to materialism as the rich. It is a general social affliction, visited upon us by government policy, corporate strategy, the collapse of communities and civic life, and our acquiescence in a system that is eating us from the inside out.

This is the dreadful mistake we are making: allowing ourselves to believe that having more money and more stuff enhances our wellbeing, a belief possessed not only by those poor deluded people in the pictures, but by almost every member of almost every government. Worldly ambition, material aspiration, perpetual growth: these are a formula for mass unhappiness.

Twitter: @georgemonbiot. A fully referenced version of this article can be found at Monbiot.com

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The madness of materialism, why are we so driven to accumulate possessions and wealth.

Posted March 10, 2012 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

In January 1848, James Marshall was building a sawmill by a river near present day Sacramento when he found a piece of glowing metal on the floor, which turned out to be gold. Once rumours of the discovery had spread within a few weeks, tens of thousands of people were flocking to the area, struck by "gold fever."

Ships were abandoned all over the California coast, businesses closed down, and whole towns became deserted. In a little over a year, San Francisco grew from a shanty town of 79 buildings to a city of tens of thousands. Over the next few years, at least 300,000 gold-seekers came to California.

The effect on the Native Americans of California was catastrophic. They were driven off their traditional hunting and gathering grounds, and their rivers were polluted by gravel, silt, and toxic chemicals from the new mines. Some Indian groups used force to try to protect their lands, but were massacred by the miners. Those who weren't killed by the miners slowly starved to death, or died from diseases passed on by the immigrants. Others were kept as slaves, while attractive young women were carried off to be sold. As a result, the Californian Native American population fell from around 150,000 in 1845 to 30,000 in 1870.

This savage materialism was typical of European immigrants' attitude to the "New World" of America. They saw it as a treasure-house of resources to ransack, and saw the native population as an inconvenient obstacle to be eradicated.

Some tribes were so confused by the colonists' insatiable desire for gold that they believed that the metal must be a kind of deity with supernatural powers. Why else would they go to such lengths to get hold of it? When an Indian chief in Cuba learned that Spanish sailors were about to attack his island, he started to pray to a chest full of gold, appealing to the "gold spirit" which he believed they worshipped. But the gold spirit didn't show him any mercy — the sailors invaded the island, captured the chief, and burned him alive.

Modern Materialism

In some ways, the gold diggers' rampant materialism was understandable, since they were living at a time of great poverty, and for many of them gold digging seemed to offer an escape from starvation. But most of us in the western, industrialized world don't have that excuse. Our appetite for wealth and material goods isn't driven by hardship, but by our own inner discontent. We're convinced that we can buy our way to happiness , that wealth is the path to permanent fulfillment and well-being. We still measure success in terms of the quality and price of the material goods we can buy, or in the size of our salaries.

Our mad materialism would be more forgivable if there was evidence that material goods and wealth do lead to happiness. But all the evidence fails to show this. Study after study by psychologists has shown that there is no correlation between wealth and happiness. The only exception is in cases of real poverty, when extra income does relieve suffering and brings security. But once our basic material needs are satisfied, our level of income makes little difference to our level of happiness.

Research has shown, for example, that extremely rich people such as billionaires are not significantly happier than people with an average income, and suffer from higher levels of depression . Researchers in positive psychology have concluded that true well-being does not come from wealth but from other factors such as good relationships, meaningful and challenging jobs or hobbies, and a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves (such as a religion, a political or social cause, or a sense of mission).

Explanations for Materialism

Many economists and politicians believe that acquisitiveness — the impulse to buy and possess things — is natural to human beings. This seems to make sense in terms of Darwin's theory of evolution: Since natural resources are limited, human beings have to compete over them, and try to claim as large a part of them as possible.

One of the problems with this theory is that there is actually nothing "natural" about the desire to accumulate wealth. In fact, this desire would have been disastrous for earlier human beings. For the vast majority of our time on this planet, human beings have lived as hunter-gatherers — small tribes who would usually move to a different site every few months. As we can see from modern hunter-gatherers, this way of life has to be non-materialistic, because people can't afford to be weighed down with unnecessary goods. Since they moved every few months, unnecessary goods would simply be a hindrance to them, making it more difficult for them to move.

Another theory is that the restlessness and constant wanting which fuels our materialism is a kind of evolutionary mechanism which keeps us in a state of alertness. (The psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi has suggested this, for example.) Dissatisfaction keeps living beings on the lookout for ways of improving their chances of survival; if they were satisfied they wouldn't be alert, and other creatures would take the advantage.

But there is no evidence that other animals live in a state of restless dissatisfaction. On the contrary, many animals seem to very slow and static lives, content to remain within their niche and to follow their instinctive patterns of behaviour. And if this is what drives our materialism, we would probably expect other animals to be acquisitive too. But again, there is no evidence — apart from some food-hoarding for the winter months — that other animals share our materialistic impulses. If it was necessary for living beings to be restless and constantly wanting then evolution would surely have ground to a halt millions of years ago.

In my view, acquisitiveness is best understood in psychological terms. Our mad materialism is partly a reaction to inner discontent. As human beings, it's normal for us to experience an underlying psychological discord, caused by the incessant chattering of our minds, which creates a disturbance inside us and often triggers negative thoughts. Another source of psychological discord is the strong sense of separateness many of us feel, the sense of being isolated individuals living in a world which is "out there," on the other side of our heads.

We look to external things to try to alleviate our inner discontent. Materialism certainly can give us a kind of happiness — the temporary thrill of buying something new, and the ego-inflating thrill of owning it afterward. And we use this kind of happiness to try to override, or compensate for, the fundamental unhappiness inside us.

In addition, our desire for wealth is a reaction to the sense of lack and vulnerability generated by our sense of separation. This generates a desire to makes ourselves more whole, more significant and powerful. We try to bolster our fragile egos and make ourselves feel more complete by accumulating wealth and possessions.

It doesn't work, of course — or at least, it only works for a very short time. The happiness of buying or owning a new item rarely lasts longer than a couple of days. The sense of ego-inflation generated by wealth or expensive possessions can be more enduring, but it's very fragile too. It depends on comparing yourself to other people who aren't as well off as you, and evaporates if you compare yourself to someone who is wealthier than you. And no matter how much we try to complete or bolster our ego, our inner discontent and incompleteness always re-emerges, generating new desires. No matter how much we get, it's never enough. As Buddhism teaches, desires are inexhaustible. The satisfaction of one desire just creates new desires, like a cell multiplying.

The only real way of alleviating this psychological discord is not by trying to escape it, but by trying to heal it. — which will have to be subject of another blog post. http://www.stevenmtaylor.com

Dr. Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK. This article is adapted from his best-selling book Back to Sanity. www.stevenmtaylor.com

Steve Taylor, Ph.D., is senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University. He is the author of several best-selling books, including The Leap and Spiritual Science.

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — Materialism — Importance of Materialism: Balancing Positive and Negative Impacts

Importance of Materialism: Balancing Positive and Negative Impacts

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Published: Mar 16, 2024

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Home Essay Examples Economics Materialism

The Role Of Materialism In American Culture Today

• Category Economics
• Subcategory Economic Theory
• Topic Materialism

In American culture today, materialism ranks highly throughout our nation. The value of physical possessions is becoming superior to morals and personal connections. Modern culture brainwashes Americans into the inaccurate belief that materialistic items are necessary to be accepted into today’s society. This issue has created mental health problems within the American population. While putting our energy and faith into materialistic goods, Americans are losing basic social connections and appreciation for thoughtful goods.

Materialism reflects upon our everyday lifestyles, and convinces consumers that they need multiple advanced products to be accepted in today’s society. Everyday, Americans are unwillingly exposed to commercials or billboards for new and improved items every day. Advertisements convince the American population new products are needed for acceptance in today’s society. Consumers are no longer happy with what they own, they only crave the next new thing. It is making Americans feel as if they are judged by others based on only physical possessions.

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Throughout American society, pressure to fit in and be accepted has created problems within mental health. Americans tend to feel discriminated based on what they do or do not have compared to others. Society often feels forced to obtain popular materials, or they will be disliked within the group. One in five students struggle with mental health. In society today, Americans are never satisfied with what they own or how they are viewed by peers. Mental health problems and materialism are vigorously growing in American culture today.

Throughout society, crucial social skills have slowly diminished resulting in the evolution of today’s materialistic world. Americans value the pleasure of receiving new and improved belongings over social interaction. A modern day example of this issue is the lack of appreciation for quality family time. Holidays such as Christmas are no longer about seeing family or enjoying one another’s company. Family bonding time and traditions are being suppressed through the overabundance of materialistic goods. Today’s culture fails to focus towards the sentimental value associated with a gift, and are more concerned about the expense. Our community has lost the sense of gratitude and appreciation. Society often gravitates towards materialistic goods because possessions can not hurt or judge individuals. Knowing this information makes it easier to confide in materials, but Americans have lost the personal connection due to the attachment of goods. It is now replaced with items that only hide how people really feel. Materials give Americans an instant dose of satisfaction and reliability that humans sometimes cannot portray.

Modern culture has taken over our lives, and replaced our personal connections with earthly products. Americans and all people need to reprioritize, put the items away, and talk to those around each other. Society is continuously being succumbed to worship materials over basic human interaction. Materials are affecting our mental health and is a problem that if not fixed can be catastrophic. Modern day society has been impacted by materialism and their needs to be a change. Americans need to understand that they are accepted in today’s world just as they are, without the needs of materials to fit in.

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Materialism In Society And How We Can Overcome It

A common problem we all face is not having enough money. But when looked more closely. We can see that the real problem is not (only) our limited resources. The real problem we experience – or so I hope to convince you – is that we’ve unwittingly inherited a troubling understanding of how to use our limited resources. We use money not as a tool that can generate more money – e.g., invest. But as a way to obtain more possessions so we can prove to others our worthiness.

There’s no shame in being materialistic – wanting stuff. But it’s problematic when stuff is all you pursue.

No wonder why materialism in society is affecting how we operate.

These days. We can only be happy when we know for certainty that we have what others have.

Not because we need extra things. But because we crave extra attention.

After all, acquiring something new triggers a sequence of events:

• We get to share our shiny new possession.
• This invites eyeballs to our persona.
• Thus, the pleasant sensation of recognition goes through our veins.

Every time others are looking at us, this is feeding our appetite to feel accepted. We get a sense of belonging. We feel valued. And this aspect further enables a safe feeling of being part of a group.

But when you join a group that is purely driven by inciting envy in others – by unexhaustingly talking about what’s next on their shopping list so they can appear superior. How is this a good long-term relationship?

Your day-to-day life becomes an endless struggle to earn more so you can purchase more.

Collecting bread crumbs of joy.

But never being truly satisfied.

Not because the act of buying is not pleasantly stimulating the mind. But because there is always something new being produced and new to buy – a new line of clothes, new trendy boots, a new gadget that looks bizarrely unuseful but since others own it…

Outside might appear that we have it all. But inside we are saturated with despair.

If your goal with the money you earn is to get more stuff. I’d like to challenge your approach and hopefully lead you somewhere worthwhile.

In this post. I’m going to uncover the ugliness in our society. Our materialistic society.

What Is The Impact of Materialism On Our Society?

Apart from unstable finances and a cluttered home. The main impact materialism has on our society is the depressing feeling of never being good enough.

After all, every time you see others possessing things you don’t. A sensation of resentment grows inside of you both toward the individual for attaining this thing and toward yourself for not being capable of having it.

When this situation occurs. We usually respond by either purchasing what others have – which put us in greater debt. Or, we get eaten from our feelings until this thing is no longer fashionable.

But this is just part of the problem.

You also start to aim toward the wrong things – have wrong personal value s. 1

Instead of trying to build a stable home built upon honesty, generosity, and hard work. You knowingly or not transfer your urgers to obtain material possessions to your kids.

They become more interested in showcasing themselves as worthy citizens of the modern world – by sharing photos wearing luxurious clothes , standing beside pools, etc. But actually not being valuable – lack empathy, sense of purpose, autonomy.

When stuff is the guiding principle, a social image is projected where the person is supposedly unrealistically happy all the time while inside he’s fighting depression.

We focus not on what we have. But on what we could have.

This keeps us away from feeling joy from what’s currently in front of us. We are consumed by agony because we focus on imagining what can someday be in front of us.

And this is true not only for things. But for relationships also.

Eventually, with each year. Society becomes more focused on things rather than people.

Yes, you still need people. But not in a way you’d imagine.

People are not called community. People are not called friends.

We label them as an audience.

We talk about followers and subscribers. Words that exclude the human soul sitting behind the screen and only focus on the purchasing power of the mass.

No wonder we feel so alone in this crowded world.

And it’s not only me saying this as an observer of how humans tend to operate these days. There are numerous studies that confirm this statement – that materialistic goals are associated with decreased well-being. 2

It’s no longer about building relationships – “How can I help you?” But about the monetizing relationships – “What can you give me?”

What Causes of Materialism?

On the surface level. We can say that materialism is caused by our open world.

You can easily see what others have these days. Just open your favorite browser and your social media and you see what others are doing.

Internally though, the problem is much more subtle.

It’s not only because we have 24/7 access to what our fellow humans do. But because of internal issues – feeling insecure and not receiving enough attention from others.

As Eric Berne writes in his book Games People Play : “Recognition-hunger is far more important than food-hunger.”

Being alive is far down the list of desired features than others acknowledging your presence.

And to get people to recognize you. These days, it’s way easier to purchase something than to build something.

Not only can we show a new scarf, a new handbag much more easily, but we cannot adequately present learning a new language.

Also, in the first case, the purchase of a new item requires only pushing a couple of buttons and money – money you don’t even need to have. While in the second case, it requires grit, disciple, hard work, and showing up every day .

Since we are primarily focused on getting immediate results, we prefer the former.

The moment we feel inadequate. When the spotlight is no longer on us. When others don’t seem to care. We immediately jump into the vortex of shops to escape the vulnerable feeling that we’re not good enough.

Instead of doing something worthwhile. We choose to spend a good amount of our time and money on things to persuade others that we are worthwhile.

That’s one of the main reasons we endlessly shop.

Can Materialism Be Good for Society?

It doesn’t seem to make sense to suggest that there might be such a thing as good materialism. After all, isn’t being dependent upon physical possessions plain bad, always?

In truth, the act of acquiring things does come with certain “goodies”.

I’ve identified 3 good things in materialism that are important for the person to understand:

Materialism To Feel Good

As noted above. Gettings things is the fastest way to get a sense that you matter.

This can be a shallow and selfish drive. But it remains an important component of our personalities.

When you work hard. Save. And eventually have enough money to purchase a new car, for example. This is direct evidence that you’re a capable person. Yes, it’s kind of feels sad to compare an individual to his purchasing powers. But the sensations we get from getting stuff are too big to be neglected.

Every time you feel incapable. You can look around and see what you already have. Thus, you can feel better.

In other words, what you have is kind of like a safety net. When you feel like a loser. You can bounce back and feel better by reminding yourself of everything that’s already in your possession – “Oh, I’ve created a beautiful home. I’m not a complete disappointment.”

Materialism to Support Our Identity

Material objects that support our desired identity give us the power to continue our journey.

Say you want to become a writer. Your internal motivation is a good start to take on the long journey of improving the words you type on a page. But the initial setback can quickly discourage you.

As religion endorses the purchases of icons and medallions so you can keep believing. Physical possessions like a fancy pen or a new desk where you exercise writing can be things that support your desire to become the person you want to be.

To a visitor, your new desk is simply a place you sit to do work. But on a psychological level, this purchase supports your desire to become a writer. Every time you see it. You get reminded that this is a tool that allows you to be the person you decided – a writer.

The more you increase the set of items that are related to being a writer. The closer you feel to becoming one. This is an important part of our inner evolution. 3

Materialism Drives Innovation

From a practical perspective. It doesn’t make sense to start a website that publishes book summaries – as I do on this site. There are plenty of sites that synthesize the main topics of great books.

And yet, if there is only one place for book summaries, for clothes, only one brand of cars. This will mean that there are so few opportunities for creative work.

While shopping can be viewed as a prime evil. It can be viewed as a source that drives innovation.

The more we spent. The more we support the global economy. More goods are produced and more money is allocated for innovation.

Plus, if you happen to choose to support small businesses owners – not big monopolistic corporations. You will help more individuals do creative work.

Negative Effects of Materialism

Like everything else.

Balance is key.

Yes, as I just noted. There are good traits in materialism and consumption. But we are rarely in the middle ground.

Most commonly, we are throwing money around and sharing our new possession with the prime incentive to present ourselves are better than the rest.

Earning a decent salary may buy you some level of comfort. You will surely impress a certain group of people. And in the short term, you will certainly feel happy about yourself.

Materialism becomes problematic when we connect our happiness only to the act of purchasing.

When we buy something, our brain releases endorphins and dopamine. This improves our current state. But it quickly diminished with time. 4

When the new pair of shoes are no longer a source of joy. Or at least no longer can keep us away from our problems. We are back in the virtual or physical store wanting to get more stuff.

The core question is this: What internal switch triggers an uncontrollable shopping spree?

What makes us waste our hard-earned cash on stuff?

Primarily, it’s our inability to cope with our deep emotions.

When we are bored. When we feel sad, not good enough, depressed. Or when we have problems in the office or our relationship is in a bad state. Instead of trying to fix the situation by communicating. We turn to the local mall to soothe our feelings.

After all. Getting a new laptop, toaster, or whatever, comes with certain benefits:

• It’s fast.
• It’s an act that doesn’t require special powers.
• You can do it even if you don’t have the money.
• A new thing can’t hurt your feelings. It can only signal to others how well you’re doing in life.

This internally translates that you only need money to feel good.

Since money can buy you things. And when things make you feel good. Mathematically speaking, it means that the more you earn, the happier you will feel.

So, what do you think happens?

Oh yes, we value money more than anything else. Because money equals things. And things equals recognition.

Is this really the case?

Not exactly.

If we turn to goods every time we are in a bad state. We’ll never create a stable relationship with the person we said yes to a while back. We’ll change relationships like we change clothes.

The greatest negative effect of materialism is that it powers this fantasy world where there are no limitations. Which, in turn, will focus you not on fortifying the single relationship that matters but on trying to impress the mass that in the long term doesn’t matter.

Let me explain…

Eventually, the relationship with your partner (or a small group of friends) will start to feel uneventful. Boring even. You start to see all the ways your partner is inevitably finite. This feels deeply disappointing compared with the unlimited joys consummation can bring – and here the word consummation is not only used in a sense of getting stuff.

After all, why should you spend another evening where you’ll have the same discussion about how your days went by when you can browse the infinite online catalogs that offer new excitements?

The answer seems obvious. That’s why it’s concerning.

When we start to focus on possessions. When they are our measurement for success. Other more important things seem unimportant.

As long as there are others who are liking how we appear – even though we don’t personally know them, they are just online avatars. It doesn’t matter if the one person who happens to be our lifetime roommate is feeling lonely while being near us.

And yet, if you think about when you are actually happy. Not temporarily satisfied. But joyful for hours. How often the answer is: “When I bought a new pair of shoes!” Or, “When I received 100 likes on my new photo!”

Usually, you’ll respond with something like: “When I was hiking with my best friends.” Or, “When I was working on a painting and I lost track of time.”

The question – if we want to feel happier for longer and get a sense of meaning in this seemingly meaningless world – then becomes: How can I schedule more experiences that bring me lasting joy instead of buying things that only come with fleeting sensations and push me to get even more things?

How to Overcome Materialism?

When you identify with the things you own. You naturally become obsessed with owning more.

You see yourself as this walking billboard. The more expensive things you put. The more expensive you feel. You start to think that others should respect you more because you are increasing your value.

But say that things are to be removed. Say for a moment that you have none of the possessions you have right now. If this happens, how can you identify yourself? How can you label yourself when you have nothing?

As Erich Fromm writes in his book To Have or To Be , “If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I?”

The answer will reveal something you know but avoid.

It’s not what you own. But what you do that matters.

• Acquiring everything writing-related doesn’t make you a writer. Writing does.
• Spending hours online sharing photos where you’re supposedly happy with your kids doesn’t make you a good parent. Spending time with your kids does.
• Spending money on things and sharing these items with others doesn’t make you a valuable citizen. Doing valuable things without needing to tell others for others does.

With this in mind. Let’s see how we can overcome materialism:

Steps To Overcome Materialism:

First, prepare on a piece of paper a list of everything that you got to have.

Think about everything that you feel you need. All of the items that you think will supposedly make a difference in your life. Some of these things will probably be a new car, a new set of dining dishes, etc.

Second, think about how would you feel if you get these things.

What will happen if you got the new car? How your life will change?

Write these things down.

Your initial thought, probably, will be that you will feel like you’re really succeeding in life. But the thought that you’ll try to cover – the one that it’s really important for you. Is that the new purchase is primarily a tool to make others envy you. To make others like you more.

When you think about it though. Do you really want people to respect you for what you own? Not for who you are as a person?

When we demonstrate our worthiness through stuff, what we’re really doing is portraying emptiness.

We feel insecure and confused. We don’t know what we want to do with our lives and that’s why we adopt materialistic values.

Thirdly, moving beyond possessions. Do this: Write a list of things you enjoy doing.

Focus on experiences. On actions. On things you do with your hands. On conversations with people.

For example, building a chair from scratch. Writing an essay. Going for a walk with your kid and partner.

Fifth, think about how would you feel if you do more interesting things rather than purchase more physical possessions?

In other words, what do you think will feel better: Purchasing new writing equipment regularly? Or, writing a novel and discussing that novel with your partner?

I bet it’s the writing and the discussions that will count.

Finally, think about this: Can you keep doing what feels good without constantly trying to own more things?

When you choose what to devote your life to. When you are no longer looking for someone better – but choose to stay together with the person you said yes to “for better or worse”. You’re no longer trying to impress others.

The point is settling.

You settle for doing certain things. For being part of certain relationships.

This initially might seem unexciting. But eventually, will start to feel better.

You are no longer depressed because you don’t have it all. You feel liberated because you realize that you don’t need to have it all.

Spending every waking hour restlessly scouring the online shopping malls for the perfect item that will make you look superior in front of others is no longer part of your portfolio of actions.

In other words, you don’t dream about what type of joys alternative relationships or items can bring. You focus on nurturing the current relationships and using the items you already have that will support your desired calling.

Some Closing Thoughts

Will getting a new laptop make me feel good?

Absolutely.

Will this feeling going to last?

Absolutely not.

The growing materialism in society instills the wrong values in individuals. We become more resentful towards people. Towards creating useful and valuable creations. And only interested in owning more shiny stuff so we can signal to others that we are worth following.

But soon after you get something. Soon after you go somewhere. You are quickly reminded of how much more there is to possess. To visit.

So, instead of being satisfied with what you already own. Where you’ve been. You are further focusing on how less you own compared to everything available.

This is not only depressing. But it places you in a loop where you are chasing things you will never have.

Thriving in our materialistic society requires being able to settle on a specific group of people, things, and activities. Not completely shut the outside world. But being able to function even when the outside world is constantly shouting “own more”.

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• That’s why it’s so important to take a moment so you can define your values. See more in my piece on the importance of values .
• The original paper by Springer ( this one ) explains how changes in materialism relate to changes in well-being.
• But this doesn’t mean that you should have everything writing-related to be a writer.
• There is a whole concept of retail therapy . Shopping is commonly prescribed as a therapy to eliminate sadness. However, it’s only a short-term solution.

Related Entries

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9 New Materialisms

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Colleen Taylor, 9 New Materialisms, The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory , Volume 31, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 152–173, https://doi.org/10.1093/ywcct/mbad009

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The works reviewed in this year’s essay on New Materialisms raise queries about first-wave New Materialism and signal what some critics refer to as second-phase Neo-materialism. The ‘Neo’ or New Materialisms of 2022 increasingly commingle the rhetorical and the material and address the Western-centric focus of previous New Materialisms. The works reviewed here, including Rosi Braidotti’s ‘The Virtual as Affirmative Praxis: A Neo-Materialist Approach’, Anne Elvey’s Reading with Earth: Contributions of the New Materialism to an Ecological Feminist Hermeneutics , Nina Lykke’s Vibrant Death: A Posthuman Phenomenology of Mourning , and Clayton Crockett’s Energy and Change a New Materialist Cosmotheology , engage new intersections between New Materialist theory and decoloniality, making deliberate gestures to integrate the idea of vibrant materiality and Indigenous cultures. This review essay is divided into five parts: 1. Introduction; 2. Neo-Materialism; 3. Literary Studies; 4. Theology; 5. Postcolonialism/Decoloniality. The essay concludes that New Materialism may indeed be on the brink of a second phase, especially if decolonial New Materialism continues to be explored.

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A psychologist explains why materialism is making you unhappy

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Share All sharing options for: A psychologist explains why materialism is making you unhappy

Materialists lead unhappier lives — and are worse to the people around them. And it seems that social media might be fueling materialistic attitudes, too. This is all according to a fascinating interview the American Psychological Association posted in 2014 with Knox College psychologist Tim Kasser , whose research focuses on materialism and well-being.

Here are the best bits.

Materialists are sad, terrible people:

We know from research that materialism tends to be associated with treating others in more competitive, manipulative and selfish ways, as well as with being less empathetic ... [M]aterialism is associated with lower levels of well-being, less pro-social interpersonal behavior, more ecologically destructive behavior, and worse academic outcomes. It also is associated with more spending problems and debt ... We found that the more highly people endorsed materialistic values, the more they experienced unpleasant emotions, depression and anxiety, the more they reported physical health problems, such as stomachaches and headaches, and the less they experienced pleasant emotions and felt satisfied with their lives.

People become more materialistic when they feel insecure:

Research shows two sets of factors that lead people to have materialistic values. First, people are more materialistic when they are exposed to messages that suggest such pursuits are important ... Second, and somewhat less obvious — people are more materialistic when they feel insecure or threatened, whether because of rejection, economic fears or thoughts of their own death.

Materialism is linked to media exposure and national-advertising expenditures:

The research shows that the more that people watch television, the more materialistic their values are ... A study I recently published with psychologist Jean Twenge ... found that the extent to which a given year’s class of high school seniors cared about materialistic pursuits was predictable on the basis of how much of the U.S. economy came from advertising and marketing expenditures — the more that advertising dominated the economy, the more materialistic youth were.

Materialism is linked to social media use, too:

One study of American and Arab youth found that materialism is higher as social media use increases ... That makes sense, since most social media messages also contain advertising, which is how the social media companies make a profit.

Many psychologists think that materialists are unhappy because these people neglect their real psychological needs:

[M]aterialistic values are associated with living one’s life in ways that do a relatively poor job of satisfying psychological needs to feel free, competent and connected to other people. When people do not have their needs well-satisfied, they report lower levels of well-being and happiness, as well as more distress.

Check out the whole interview at the APA's website.

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Democracy in America

Alexis de toqueville, everything you need for every book you read..

For the purposes of discussing Tocqueville, individualism could be briefly defined as a focus on individual aims and beliefs over those of the collective. Today, Americans often think of individualism as working in tandem with liberty, but Tocqueville not only saw these two ideals as diametrically opposed, he also believed that individualism was one of the most negative and dangerous aspects of American democracy. Whereas Americans believed that individuals having the ability to strive for their own betterment was democratic and egalitarian, Tocqueville saw a world in which everyone was competing against each other for their own benefit, rather than for the benefit of society as a whole. By eroding social and political bonds between people, Tocqueville argues, individualism leads to a materialistic society of single-minded people striving toward wealth rather than the common good.

Contrasting individualistic American society with traditional, French aristocratic culture, Tocqueville notes that, in aristocratic societies, landowners are reliant on each other, on the king, and on those who labor for them. But in the democratic, egalitarian society of the United States, many people have become just stable enough to be able to rely on themselves alone. Today, as in Tocqueville’s time, Americans tend to view self-reliance as a virtue. But Tocqueville claims that the true virtue lies in needing to rely on other people, since doing so creates ethical bonds between citizens that can potentially expand outward, such that people can consider all their fellow countrymen—even those they haven’t personally relied on—as being connected to themselves. These social connections may be abstract, Tocqueville concedes, but for him that doesn’t mean they are artificial or inconsequential. Indeed, he criticizes what he characterizes as Americans’ tendency to privilege “natural” ties of the family over social ties of citizenship. And while “egoism” or selfishness has always existed, Tocqueville argues that it’s only when democracy creates the conditions for people to live self-sufficient lives that individualism might become a threat to the fabric of society.

Tocqueville also argues that individualism is directly tied to materialism, or the privileging of wealth and accumulation above all else. In some ways, Tocqueville does admire what he sees as Americans’ constant activity: their incessant desire to start new commercial enterprises and make more and more money for themselves. This is, after all, part of what has made America such a uniquely stable democracy. But Tocqueville is also suspicious of Americans’ dogged pursuit of wealth, seeing materialism as a moral and spiritual failing, but also a natural result of equality of condition. Even if everyone is given the same chances, he points out, American society still privileges those who work hardest and accumulate the most wealth (rather than those who are born with impressive titles). If materialism is therefore an inevitable result of democracy—and thus an inevitable aspect of France’s own future—Tocqueville believes this is an inherently troubling aspect to an otherwise positive system of governance.

Individualism and Materialism  ThemeTracker

Individualism and Materialism  Quotes in Democracy in America

The great political agitation of American legislative bodies, which is the only one that attracts the attention of foreigners, is a mere episode, or a sort of continuation, of that universal movement which originates in the lowest classes of the people, and extends successively to all the ranks of society. It is impossible to spend more effort in the pursuit of happiness.

The jury teaches every man not to recoil before the responsibility of his own actions, and impresses him with that manly confidence without which no political virtue can exist. It invests each citizen with a kind of magistracy; it makes them all feel the duties which they are bound to discharge towards society, and the part which they take in its government. By obliging men to turn their attention to other affairs than their own, it rubs off that private selfishness which is the rust of society.

In the ages in which active life is the condition of almost every one, men are therefore generally led to attach an excessive value to the rapid bursts and superficial conceptions of the intellect; and, on the other hand, to depreciate unduly its slower and deeper labors.

I am of opinion, upon the whole, that the manufacturing aristocracy which is growing up under our eyes is one of the harshest which ever existed in the world; but, at the same time, it is one of the most confined and least dangerous. Nevertheless, the friends of democracy should keep their eyes anxiously fixed in this direction; for if ever a permanent inequality of conditions and aristocracy again penetrates into the world, it may be predicted that this is the gate by which they will enter.

Democracy loosens social ties, but tightens natural ones; it brings kindred more closely together, whilst it throws citizens apart.

Variety is disappearing from the human race; the same ways of acting, thinking, and feeling are to be met with all over the world. This is not only because nations work more upon each other, and copy each other more faithfully; but as the men of each country relinquish more and more the peculiar opinions and feelings of a caste, a profession, or a family, they simultaneously arrive at something nearer to the constitution of man, which is everywhere the same.

Today's society is considered as materialistic. What are the reasons behind it? Give example.

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Some people feel that boarding schools (where students or pupils live at the school during the term) are an excellent option for children, while other people disagree for a number of reasons. Consider both sides of this debate and reach a conclusion.

It is argued that governments should prioritize addressing environmental pollution and housing issues as a means to prevent health-related problems, nowadays, a growing number of people with health problems are trying alternative medicines and treatments instead of visiting their usual doctor. do you think this is a positive or a negative development, these days, many university courses are offered through the internet. some people think that online teaching has more advantages than conventional classroom teaching or lectures, while others claim that there are significant disadvantages. do the benefits of online teaching outweigh the disadvantages, some people believe that those moving to abroad should try to adopt themselves to the new cultures while others think there is no need to do so. discuss both the views and give your opinion.