Materialism and Diminished Well–Being: Experiential Avoidance as a Mediating Mechanism

Abstract

Being preoccupied with the pursuit of money, wealth, and material possessions arguably fails as a strategy to increase pleasure and meaning in life. However, little is known about the mechanisms that explain the inverse relation between materialism and well-being. The current study tested the hypothesis that experiential avoidance mediates associations between materialistic values and diminished emotional well-being, meaning in life, self-determination, and gratitude. Results indicated that people with stronger materialistic values reported more negative emotions and less relatedness, autonomy, competence, gratitude, and meaning in life. As expected, experiential avoidance fully mediated associations between materialistic values and each dimension of well-being. Emotional disturbances such as social anxiety and depressive symptoms failed to account for these findings after accounting for shared variance with experiential avoidance. The results are discussed in the context of alternative, more fulfilling routes to well-being.Americans are flooded with cultural messages, whether television shows on the lives of the rich and famous, advertising, or conversations with peers, that the pursuit and possession of material goods, income, and wealth is the route to increase well-being and quality of life. However, for decades, psychologists have suggested that individuals preoc-

Entrepreneurial Identity

“…Such spikes in negative emotions are particularly detrimental as people are unable to accurately evaluate the consequences of extreme actions, such as self-violence (Baumeister 1988) and even suicide (Baumeister 1990). Moreover, people have limited self-regulatory resources , so before long, the effort required to continue a deconstructed state becomes too exhausting (Kashdan and Breen 2007;Vohs et al 2005). In turn, this exhaustion leads to higher levels of lethargy and passivity (Baumeister 1990;Twenge et al 2003), perceptions that time is dragging (Twenge et al 2003), and less genuine social interactions with others (John and Gross 2004;Kashdan and Breen 2007).…”

“…Moreover, people have limited self-regulatory resources , so before long, the effort required to continue a deconstructed state becomes too exhausting (Kashdan and Breen 2007;Vohs et al 2005). In turn, this exhaustion leads to higher levels of lethargy and passivity (Baumeister 1990;Twenge et al 2003), perceptions that time is dragging (Twenge et al 2003), and less genuine social interactions with others (John and Gross 2004;Kashdan and Breen 2007). When one reaches this state, his or her recovery process has been suspended (or not even really started), and the person begins to experience chronic dysfunction (Baumeister 1994;McIntosh and McKeganey 2000).…”

The Rags-to-Riches Story of Income Mobility and Its Impact on Emotional Well-Being

“…High income mobility means that people are free to pursue their goal of financial success, if this is indeed a personally meaningful goal. Past research demonstrates that materialism and striving for financial success are prevalent North American ideals (Ger & Belk, 1996;Kashdan & Breen, 2007). Thus, perceptions of high income mobility could then have a stronger effect on emotional well-being amongst individuals striving for financial success and a smaller impact on those less concerned with financial success.…”

Práticas De Consumo Consciente Em Campanha Publicitária De Organização Competitiva

“…O consumo consciente pode ser um dos resultados alcançados ao se fazer, segundo Kashdan e Breen (2007), atividades relacionadas com a responsabilidade social corporativa. A consciência no consumo é parte positiva do comportamento de um novo consumidor, ligado a questões ambientais, sociais e econômicas, conforme os autores.…”

“…O gerenciamento ativo na composição de um estilo de vida, demonstrado pela aquisição de bens, serviços e experiências que tem é dele, consumidor. Também entendem assim Kashdan e Breen (2007), quando defendem que o desejo de possuir novidades em bens e serviços não é independente da cultura e do meio em que vive o consumidor. Os autores sugerem que o contexto familiar, de bairro e de trabalho interferem diretamente no consumo, no gosto e no gasto.…”