MATERIAL SELF

AND
SPIRITUAL SELF
Material /Economic Self

MA. XELA V. LAURON

Intended Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the relationship
between possessions and the
self.
2. Examine how consumer
culture affects the person’s
concept of possessions and
self - identity
3. Distinguish the material
possessions that have
economic importance to the
self.
 MATERIAL SELF
 We are living in a world of sale and
shopping spree. Shopping has
become a leisure and a way to pass
time.
 What we want to have or already
possess is related to our body
 Product advertisement are
suggestive of making us feel better
or look good.
 Materialism does not make us
happy.
MATERIAL SELF
A Harvard psychologist
in the late 19th century.
William James wrote in
his book The Principle
of Psychology in 1890
that understanding the
self can be examined
through its different
components.
MATERIAL SELF
He described these
components as:
 Its constituents (material
self, social self, spiritual self
and pure ego)
 The feelings and emotions
they arouse (self feelings)
 The actions to which they
prompt (self-seeking and
self- preservation)
- (Trentmann 2016;Green 1997)
MATERIAL SELF
• The material self according to
James primarily is about our
BODIES, CLOTHES, IMMEDIATE
FAMILY and HOME.
• We are deeply affected with these
things because we have put so
much investment of our self to
them.
• A man’s self is a sum total of all
what he can call his.
MATERIAL SELF INVESTMENT DIAGRAM

BODY
CLOTHE
S
IMMEDIAT
E FAMILY
HOME
 MATERIAL SELF: BODY
 Inner most part of our self is
our body.
 Intentionally, we are investing
in our body.
 We strive hard to make sure
that this body functions well
and good.
 Any ailment or disorder
directly affect us. We do
certain preferential
attachment or intimate
closeness to certain body parts
because of its value to us
 MATERIAL SELF: CLOTHES
 James believed that
clothing is an essential
part of material self.
 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. (Lotze,
Microcosmus)
 MATERIAL SELF: CLOTHES

Clothing is a form of self-

expression. We choose and
wear clothes that reflect
our self. (Watson, 2014)

The fabric and style of

clothes we wear bring
sensations to the body to
which directly affect our
attitudes and behavior.
MATERIAL SELF: 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
 MATERIAL SELF: IMMEDIATE FAMILY
When they are in
disadvantage situation, there
is an urgent urge to help like
a voluntary instinct of saving
one’s self from danger.

We place huge
investment in our
immediate family when
we see them as a nearest
replica of our self
 MATERIAL SELF: HOME
Home is where the 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.

The more investment of

self given to the particular
thing, the more we identify
ourselves to it.
 WE ARE WHAT WE HAVE
Russel Belk (1988) posits Material possessions signify
that “… we regard our some aspects of one’s sense
possessions as part of of self and identity.
ourselves. We are what we
have and what we possess.”
The possession of material
The identification of self to things also indicates one’s
things started in our infancy status in the society.
stage when we make a
distinction among self and
environment and others who
may desire our possession.
MATERIALISM
Is the attitude of someone who attaches a lot of 
importance to money and wants to possess a lot of
material things.

at the highest levels of materialism ,

such possessions assume a central
place in a person’s life and believed to
provide the greatest sources of
SATISFACTION. (Belk 1985)
“I SHOP, THEREFORE I AM”
for the highly materialistic O’Guinn and Faber (1989)
consumer, purchases are potential found some aspects of
panaceas for all manners of materialism to be related
dissatisfaction with self and life to compulsive shopping
generally.
tendencies.
Needs or Wants? Know the difference
 Common Strategies in Persuading Someone

Foot –in-the-door
Phenomenon
Making you agree
initially with a smaller
request. Eventually,
they will start making
bigger requests
 Common Strategies in Persuading Someone

Door – in-the - face

Phenomenon
Following up an
extravagant request with
a reasonable one
 Avoid the trap

1. Exercise intellectual independence – be

aware how consumerism controls your life.
Ignore advertising.
2. Consume less, live more - stop and think
about the influences of consumerism in your
life
 ACTIVITY

• Take a picture of your most treasured or the

MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF
most expensive or valuable item you have
then give your reason why you consider it
your most treasured item.
 INTRODUCTION
• Spiritual self is one of the four constituents of the “self” according
to William James in his book, The Principles of Psychology in 1890.
The spiritual self is the most intimate, inner subjective part of self. It is
the most intimate version of the self because of the satisfaction
experiences when thinking of one’s ability to argue and discriminate,
of ones moral sensibility and conscience, and of our unconquerable
will (James 1890) is purer than all other sentiments of satisfaction.

• The ability to use moral sensibility and conscience may be seen

through the expression of religion, its belief and practices. In the
same manner, cultural rituals and ceremonies are some
manifestations what people believe in. Moreover, seeking the
meaning of life is a journey that the spiritual self is on.
RELIGION
• Rebecca Stein works on the definition of religion “as a set of cultural beliefs and practices
that usually includes some or all of basic characteristics. The characteristics are:

1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as spirit and gods.

2. A focus on the sacred supernatural. Where sacred refers to a feeling of reverence and
awe.
3. The presence of supernatural power or energy that is found on supernatural beings as
well as physical beings and objects.
4. The performance of ritual activities that involves the manipulation of sacred object to
communicate to supernatural beings and/or to influence or control events.
5. The articulation of worldwide and moral codes through narratives and other means.
6. Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism of social control
within a community; provide explanation for unknown and a sense of control for
individual.

• An individual lives in a society where there are many practices of religion. The choice of
religious beliefs lies within the spiritual self. Although the choice maybe influence by the
society and its culture.
RITUALS
• Rituals is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribe by a tradition or sacred
law. Ritual is a specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by all know
societies. It is thus possible to view ritual as a way of defining or describing
humans.
• There are three fundamental characteristics of rituals according to Penner. Ritual
has the characteristics of:
– A feeling of emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in relation to the sacred.
– Dependence upon a brief system that is usually expressed in the language of myth.
– Is symbolic in relation to its reference.

• The self can be described as a ritual being who exhibits a striking parallel between
their ritual and verbal behavior. Just as language is a system of symbols that is
based upon arbitrary rules, ritual may be viewed as a system of symbolic acts that
is based upon arbitrary rules. Participation to rituals is expressions of religious
beliefs.
THANK YOU!!
Prepare for a short quiz on Friday!