LET'S BEGIN WITH WHAT IS MATERIALISM?
It is a human tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort more important than spiritual or intellectual values. The belief is that having money is the most important thing in life. A person is considered a materialist when they are more focused on objects, ownership, and wealth. Individuals with high materialistic values will turn to their possessions to find happiness, instead of turning to other people. You can easily detect if a person is a materialist when they are more interested in what you are wearing and how you are looking than what you are saying.
PSYCHOLOGY ABOUT MATERIALISM
I think materialism is viewed in a negative light because people have had unpleasant experiences with materialistic people. Materialistic people treat others in more competitive, manipulative, and selfish ways as well as being less empathic. Such behavior is not encouraged by the average person. People are more materialistic when they feel insecure or threatened, whether because of rejection, economic fears, or thoughts of their death.
HOW DO MEDIA INFLUENCE MATERIALISM IN THE WORLD?
The more people watch television, the more materialistic their values become. That's probably because both the shows and the ads send messages suggesting that happy, successful people are healthy, have nice things, and are beautiful and popular. The vast majority of media makes money by selling advertising.
MATERIALISTIC V/S COMPULSIVE SHOPPER
Materialism is about values and the desire for money and possessions. Compulsive consumption is when a person feels unable to control the desire to consume because they are trying to overcome anxiety or emptiness.
IMPACT OF MATERIALISM ON YOUTH
Materialism is creating a sense of conflict between the poor and rich of society. Materialistic trends among youth are increasing day by day. They have luxuries and more money but still, their lust and craving for products are increasing. Today teens are more materialistic and less interested in working. It is widely evident that social media influencers and celebrities make a huge impact on youth. The young generation tries to follow every ongoing trend to look stylish and trendy. Youth tend to shop more and save less. They will buy clothes from expensive brands even if they are beyond their budget just to show off. Because for them everything that matters materialistic things. They easily get influenced by the advertisements and buy the products even if they don't need them.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MATERIALISM :
1. It smashes their happiness and peace of mind.
2. They are never satisfied in their life.
3. They may become quite snobby.
4. They can't buy true happiness.
5. Materialism will force them to continue buying more products even if they don't need them.
6. They will suffer from depression, anxiety, and unpleasant emotions.
7. This can also lead to physical health problems.
8. They will have poor psychological health.
9. Their sense of security and safety is diminished.
10. People will feel less competent and have lower self-esteem.
Materialistic behavior can also be evident in young adults. They believe that owning and buying things are necessary means to achieve important life goals such as happiness, success, and desirability. They don't like to be hardworking but want to earn more money to have a high standard in society.
IS THERE ANY LINK BETWEEN MATERIALISM AND HAPPINESS?
There is a negative relationship between happiness and materialism across all kinds of measures of materialism, types of people, and cultures. The more highly people endorsed materialistic values the more they experience unpleasant emotions depressions and anxiety and various physical problems such as stomach aches and headaches.
IMPACT OF MATERIALISM ON RELATIONSHIPS
Nowadays, most people are dealing with broken marriages and breakups. This is because people have become highly materialistic and have less focus on their relationships. Materialism is harmful to relationships. Spouses have less emotional maturity which leads to less effective communication, lower satisfaction, and less stability. People are more concerned about themselves and tend to ignore the other person's needs. Money and materialistic things are not everything that matters in a marriage or a relationship. Efforts should be equal from both sides. It is necessary to fulfill each other's emotional needs. Low self-esteem and insecurities are one of the major reasons for broken marriages. Some couples love to live a luxurious life such as buying pricey jewels, fancy furniture, and lavish meals. Materialistic people may spend more time looking for new things than nurturing their relationships.
HOW DO FAMILY, TEACHERS, AND SOCIETY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROMOTING MATERIALISM?
Lack of emphasis on moral values by parents, teachers, and society deepens the magnitude of this problem. Youth tend to be more materialistic than to be driven by moral values however there is still a majority who be more involved with ethical principles, democracy, and human rights. Families, schools, and societies that are supposed to educate the youth and raise awareness about social issues not only neglect their responsibilities but also are sometimes the causes of increased materialism among teenagers. At birth, a human is a plain portrait. He/she cannot have any idea or view about the importance of anything in the world. Parents teach them how to cry, laugh, and some basic values for them. Schools and society add some other values to them. Education starts within the family. Parents encourage materialism in their children by saying we want you to enjoy your life better than this but implicating that a better life is with more money. To save relationships and mental health it is vital to value experiences over possessions and practice gratitude. Focus more on helping others.
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