The Material
Self
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
William James
A Harvard psychologist in the 19th
century.
Wrote a book titled, "The
Principles of Psychology" in 1890.
According to him, understanding
the self can be examined through
its different components.
1. Material self
2. Social self
3. Spiritual self
Components of Self
1. Material self– refers to the
tangible elements of the
self.
2. Social self– encompasses
our interaction with our
self and other people.
3. Spiritual self– reflects our
values, morals and beliefs.
Material Self Investment
Diagram
Material Self Investment
Diagram
Body
Intentionally, we are investing in
our body. We are directly attached
to this commodity that we cannot
live without. We strive hard to make
sure that this body functions well.
Any ailment directly affects us. We
do have certain preferential
attachment or intimate closeness to
certain body parts because of its
value to us.
Material Self Investment
Diagram
Clothes
Influenced by the "Philosophy of Dress" by
Herman Lotze, James believed that clothing
is an essential part of the material self.
Lotze in his book, Microcosmus, stipulates
that "any time we bring an object into the
surface of our body, we invest that object
into the consciousness of our personal
existence taking in its contours to be our
own and making it part of the self.“
The fabric and style of the clothes we wear
bring sensations to the body to which
directly affect our attitudes and behavior.
Material Self Investment
Diagram
Immediate Family
Our parents and siblings hold
another great important part of our
self. What they do or become affects
us. When an immediate family dies,
part of our self dies too. When their
lives are in success, we feel their
victories as if we are the one holding
the trophy. We also share their
failures and shame. We care, love,
and protect our immediate family.
Material Self Investment
Diagram
Home
Home is where our heart is. It is
the earliest nest of our selfhood.
Our experiences inside the
home were recorded and
marked on particular parts and
things in our home. There was
an old cliché about rooms: "If
only walls can speak."
Consumption and Production
Consume– defined as "use up,
to spend wastefully, to destroy"
(Gusdorf, 1978).
Production– the action of
making or manufacturing from
components or raw materials, or
the process of being so
manufactured.
Conscious consumption–
practicing responsible buying
habits.
Psychological/Sociological
Consumption
For many people these
days happiness seems
attached to buying
something. Consumption
has become an addiction.
Many people have
forgotten there are things
in life that can bring true
and lasting happiness.
Consumer Culture
Consumerism is one of the
strongest forces affecting
modern people's lives. The
term consumerism does not
simply mean the constant
barrage and intrusion of ads in
our lives, but everything that
is connected to the modern
society's idea that to be
happier and more successful,
we have to buy, buy, and buy.
The Problem with Consumerism
1. It is intrusive.
2. It is manipulative
3. It cannot provide many of the things
that are important to us.
4. It restricts our choices and lives.
5. It affects our worldviews and
characters.
6. It is unsustainable.
Avoid the Trap
Exercise intellectual independence. Be aware of how
consumerism controls your life. Try to defend
yourself from unwanted external pressures. Ignore
advertising. Think for yourself. Question all
information given to you, and start looking for
information yourself.
Consume less, live more. Stop and think about the
influences of consumerism in your life. Then, think
about what really matters to you and how you want
to live it. Strive to live the life you want, not how
others think you ought to live
Positive psychology is a
relatively new form of
psychology. It emphasizes the
positive influences in a
person’s life. These might
include character strengths,
optimistic emotions, and
constructive institutions. This
theory is based on the belief
that happiness is derived from
both emotional and mental
factors. Positive Psychology (goodtherapy.org)
The identification of
the SELF TO
THINGS started in
our infancy stage
when we make a
distinction among
self and environment
and others who may
desire our
POSSESSIONS.
As we grow
older, putting
importance to
material
possession
decreases.
Material possession
gains higher value
in our lifetime if we
use material
possession to find
happiness,
associate these
things with
significant events,
accomplishments,
The possessions that we dearly have tell
something about who we are, our self-
concept, our past, and even our future.
