A Snapshot of Five Materialism Studies in Australia

Abstract

Our consumer-driven society is dependent upon economic growth and people's belief that acquiring possessions will make them happier. However, the present results suggest that materialistic values and behaviours might not be associated with psychological health or individual life satisfaction in Australia. This might be attributed in part to materialism being based largely on the process of social comparison. Furthermore, materialistic values and behaviours also do not appear to be congruent with either a love of life itself — biophilia — or environmental concerns. If materialistic persons are indeed more dependent on comparisons with others, then it might be reasonably hypothesised that they would also score lower on self-esteem, and this should be a direction for future research.

Buying to Blunt Negative Feelings: Materialistic Escape from the Self

“…Watching TV predicts materialistic aspirations. Materialists watch more TV than do others (e.g., Bindah & Othman, 2012a; Chan, Zhang, & Wang, 2006; Saunders, 2007; Saunders & Munro, 2000; Sirgy et al, 2012; Sirgy et al, 1998; Speck & Roy, 2008). They also pay more attention to what they see on it (Shrum, Burroughs, & Rindfleisch, 2005; Shrum, Lee, Burroughs, & Rindfleisch, 2011).…”

“…Materialism is negatively correlated with a desire to feel unique (Schroeder & Dugal, 1995). Thus, materialists generally do not want to be different and would rather be like others in order to fit in (Saunders, 2007). This too suggests that awareness of oneself as a unique individual is aversive for materialists.…”

“…Adolescence involves a significant increase in self-awareness (e.g., Tice, Buder, & Baumeister, 1985), and also coincides with a substantial increase in materialism (e.g., Bindah & Othman, 2012b; Christopher et al, 2006; Christopher, Saliba, & Deadmarsh, 2009; Cleveland, Laroche, & Papadopoulos, 2009; Dawson & Bamossy, 1990; Felix, Ahmed, & Hinck, 2013; La Barbera & Gurhan, 1997; Lerman & Maxwell, 2006; Manchiraju & Son, 2014; Pepper, Jackson, & Uzzell, 2009; Promislo, Deckop, Giacalone, & Jurkiewicz, 2010; Ruvio et al, 2014; Saunders, 2007; Tang et al, 2014; Watson, 1998). The general trend is that materialism seems to peak during late adolescence, between the ages of 16 to 19 (Brouskeli & Loumakou, 2014; Burroughs & Rindfleisch, 2002; Chan, 2013; Chang et al, 2006; Dittmar & Kapur, 2011; Flouri, 2004), or perhaps even into early adulthood (Keng et al, 2000).…”

“…Materialism is associated with indicators of negative, self-directed emotion. Materialism is positively correlated with depression (Burroughs & Rindfleisch, 2002; Claes et al, 2010; Frost, Kyrios, McCarthy, & Matthews, 2007; Kashdan & Breen, 2007; Mueller et al, 2011b; Otero-López & Villardefrancos, 2013; Saunders, 2007; Saunders & Munro, 2000), as well as uncertainty about self-worth (Frost et al, 2007).…”

“…More globally, materialists report lower levels of happiness (Belk, 1984, 1985; Burroughs & Rindfleisch, 2002; Kasser & Ahuvia, 2002; Manchiraju & Son, 2014; Saunders, 2007; Stone, Wier, & Bryant, 2008), lower well-being (e.g., Gardarsdottir & Dittmar, 2012; Kasser et al, 2014), less satisfaction with life in general (e.g., Ahuvia & Wong, 1995; Ang et al, 2013; Baker, Moschis, Ong, & Pattanapanyasat, 2013; Belk, 1984, 1985; Burroughs & Rindfleisch, 2002; Chang & Arkin, 2002; Christopher et al, 2007; Gardarsdottir, Dittmar, & Aspinall, 2009; Gatersleben, White, Abrahamse, Jackson, & Uzzell, 2010; Keng, Jung, Jiuan, & Wirtz, 2000; Lambert et al, 2009; Li, Patel, Balliet, Tov, & Scollon, 2011; Manchiraju & Son, 2014; Manolis & Roberts, 2012; Norris & Larsen, 2011; Piko, 2006; Reeves et al, 2012; Saunders, 2007; Saunders & Munro, 2000; Shrum et al, 2011; Sirgy et al, 1995; Speck & Roy, 2008; Tsang et al, 2014; Wei & Talpade, 2009; Wright & Larsen, 1993; see Chen, Yao, & Yan, 2014 for mediating effect of psychological need fulfillment on this relationship).…”