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“A man’s self is the sum total of all that he can call his” – William James

Our material possessions significantly influence our sense of self. May it be conscious or
unconscious, some of our important decisions have been caused by economic pursuits. William
James, an American psychologist, defined the material self as referring to tangible objects which
we call as “mine”. They are viewed as extensions of ourselves as our identities are associated
with them.

Possessions and Behaviour


Our relationships with objects have evolved over time. The following are based on “The
Psychology of Stuff and Things” (Jarret, 2013):
*Understanding Ownership
 By 2 years old: already understand the concept of ownership
 By 2 to 4 years old: children assume that the person who first possessed something is
always the owner, even if the object was already given away
 By 6 years old: exhibit “endowment effect”, the phenomenon characterized by preferring
objects which are already possessed over those which are not
*Envy/Jealousy
- Piaget observed that even babies show signs of aggression when their toys are taken away
from them and given to someone else.
*Attachment Object
-Most children have a “favorite” toy or object with which they have intense relationships. A child
would normally respond in horror if someone would get his favorite toy or even make a copy of
it.
* Materialism
When children aged between 8 and 18 were interviewed regarding what makes them happy,
materialism was seen to peak during middle adolescence (15-17 years old). Interestingly, this is
also the time when self-esteem tends to be lowest. According to the research, letting
adolescents have a sense of self-worth is effective in lessening their materialistic attitude.
*Sense of Identity
When research participants’ brains were scanned, the areas known to be associated with
thinking about the self were activated when they were shown objects which were labeled with
“mine”. This implies that we create associates between our identities and the things we own.
Product-image congruity specifies that we tend to buy products that are congruent to one’s
self hence buying branded designs and logos to communicate self-concept.
*Conspicuous Consumption
Conspicuous consumption is the public display of economic power by spending much money on
luxurious goods.
*Membership
Our possession of certain things can signal association with specific social groups. Loyalty is
one of the reasons why some fans are motivated to fall in line for many hours to avail of a
product or to spend much money on something with a logo.
*Loss
The more that our belongingness is linked with our identities, the more precious they become.
This explains why destroyed, lost, or stolen valuables can cause grief or trauma feeling
psychological impact more than financial.
*Disposal
There are also times when we intentionally let go of possessions. This may become a
symbolism of having a new start like when you gave away your toys when you were a child or
when you threw some mementos from a past relationship. Like a carapace, you shed some of
your belongings to have a new identity.

“He who has a “why” to live can bear with almost anyhow” – Viktor Frankl

Spirituality is a broad term with a room for many perspectives. Some experts’ definition of
spirituality includes:
1. Aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and
purpose.
2. Any experience that is thought to bring the experiences into contact with the divine.
3. Set of personal or private beliefs that transcend the material aspects of life and give a
deep sense of wholeness, connectedness, and openness to the infinite.

Three Main Themes of Spirituality as Viewed by Filipinos (Yabut, 2016):


1. Connectedness with the sacred – the development and maintenance of one’s
connection to the sacred
2. Sense of meaning or purpose – generally associated with the development of a
focused sense of self, individuality, and values
3. Expressions of spirituality – manifesting values in one’s relationships and activities
with family, friends, and other people
***How do you express your spirituality? Perhaps, you are thinking you are not religious;
however, being religious is not exactly being spritual. You may realize how you manifest your
spirituality after watching this video:
Rituals
We often participate in various rituals when expressing our spirituality. Can you give an
example?
A ritual is “a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, and objects, performed in a
sequestered place, and performed according to set sequence”. All peoples have rituals and
these are actions that follow a prescribed pattern and are believed to be highly efficacious. It is
often viewed as a sincere religious series of actions which follow a certain order.
Many rituals intervene at the different stages of the life-cycle: birth, courtship, marriage, and
death (Demetrio, Cordero-Fernando, & Zialcita, p. 139). Some reasons for doing rituals are:
1. Healing
2. Smooth journey to the next world
3. Success in fishing and hunting
4. For an abundant harvest
5. Victory over enemies
Logotherapy: Finding Meaning in Life (Viktor Frankl)
Human beings are motivated by a “will to meaning,” an inner pull to find a meaning in life.
The meaning in life according to Viktor Frankl lies in finding a purpose and taking responsibility
for oneself and others.
This video creatively explains his concepts:

In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl said that there are three ways of finding
meaning in life:
1. By creating a work or doing a deed;
2. By experiencing something or encountering someone; and
3. By the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering
The most important, however, is the third avenue. Even the helpless victim of a hopeless
situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, may grow beyond himself,
and by so doing change himself.

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