Chapter 11: Materialism and meaning of possessions Flashcards
What is the difference between objective and subjective ownership?
(1) Objective/ownership = you have bought an object and it is yours
(2) Subjective/posession = you’re temporarily using something of someone. You have not bought it and it is not yours, but temporarily you can do what you want).
What are 3 conditions for having a sense of psychological ownership?
(1) Having control over the target
(2) Coming to know the target, to ‘live with it’
(3) Investigating the self in the target (have you bought it yourself?)
If all above is high, psychological ownership is high
What is the link between possessions and the self?
Possessions can become a part of ‘ me’ . They are instrumental in forming our identity and displaying it to the outside world. Feelings of self-worth are attach to objects
What is materialisms definition?
THe importance a consumer attaches to worldly posessions
Trait approach for materialism means?
Materialism is caused by traits of possessiveness, lack of generosity and envy
Value/belief approach of materialism is?
Materialism is the relation between conduct and goals that organizes behavior across context
What are causes for individual differences in materialism?
(1) Low self-esteem
(2) Social comparison processes
What is the relationship between materialism and subjective wellbeing? (1)
(1) Materialism is negatively related to wellbeing (money does not buy happiness)
What is the relationship between materialism and subjective wellbeing at societal level? (2)
(1) Capitalism is positively related with materialist values
(2) Materialist values increase in times of crisis or crisis events
What can be said about the relationship between wealth and subjective wellbeing? (5)
(1) Individuals with larger income report more happy
(2) However, their happiness remains almost constant regardless of added wealth
(3) People believe they will be more happy and have been less happy
(4) Higher income leads to belief that more goals and desires will be fulfilled
(5) Aspirations rise with income, possibly explaining why people don’t get more happy from more wealth
What is the theory of leisure class?
Depending on someone’s measure class (1899), people had different drivers, objects of consumption , consumers and behavioral dimensions
What is conspicuous consumption?
The purchase of goods and services to display wealth publicly rather than to cover basic needs
