Gimme, gimme more
The 5th annual 21st Century Corps of Discovery Lecture was all about materialism. Titled “Always Wanting More: Implications of Materialism for Ourselves and Our World,” the lecture given by Dr. Marsha Richins of the MU Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business struck home with many of the event’s attendees.
Photo by Shane Epping
According to Richins, materialism isn’t all about outward appearances or the stuff that we have or even want. Rather, it’s about what we think those acquisitions will do for us. If you think a new “X” (car, backyard pool, video game, designer handbag, etc.) will make you happy, then you just might be a materialist. Otherwise, you might just be a conspicuous consumer — someone who has a lot of things or experiences (fancy vacations, for example) that you like to show off. Having a lot of stuff doesn’t necessarily make someone a materialist.
The blame game
We’re not entirely to blame for this behavior. In fact, the need to acquire stuff can be traced back to our ancestors’ survival instincts. (They needed new and better tools to make hunting easier and more efficient, in much the same way we “need” bigger refrigerators to hold more beer for that weekend get-together, right?)
The media share some of the blame too. What else are we supposed to think when we’re constantly bombarded with ads showing happy people with expensive things that we don’t yet have? And don’t forget our insecurities. By constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment. (Maybe if I have a PS3, too, I’ll have more friends…)
Because the high of acquiring something new wears off, we need to get more stuff to get our next high. It’s addictive and ultimately results in materialists being less happy overall. Much like other addictions, this can alienate us from our friends and cause us to be self-centered and shallow. According to Dr. Richins, materialists experience more spousal conflict, a higher divorce rate, more debt and shorter friendships than their non-thing-oriented peers.
So how do we become happier?
For starters, focus on what you have, not what you don’t have. The obvious way to do this is by comparing yourself to those less fortunate than you (say, starving children in developing countries) instead of celebrities who have “everything.” Focusing on others by volunteering can also do wonders.
Basically, be grateful.
Dr. Richins is right on target. Except I didn’t hear this first from someone with a PhD. I heard it first from my mother who had an eighth grade education. Things won’t make you happy. Be thankful for what you have.
I also think there’s a huge difference between a caveman (or a carpenter) looking for a better, more efficient tool and me wanting a 60” LCD TV when the old 32” model I have now is working just fine.
David Williams | Sept. 4, 2008
David’s thoughtful comments offer a valuable counterpoint to Dr. Richins’ thought-provoking lecture. It seems as though a fundamental tension exists between our highest cultural values and our natural tendency to display social status through our stuff. The Museum of Art and Archaeology’s exhibition “The Fine Art of Living” clearly shows that humans have long invested objects with all kinds of meanings in order to communicate their power and status. We recognize the king because his clothes are not all covered with dung…
Maybe the University of Missouri could claim a leadership role in creating a new and healthier status system for future generations; that seems like a good thing for a university to do anyway. Let’s figure out ways to honor and celebrate those who discover how to create living-wage jobs for people conserving and restoring natural resources, cleaning up instead of using up our life support systems.
If humans naturally tend to use stuff to send social messages, as Dr. Richins and the Museum exhibition both suggest, we can also choose to send the kind of social messages David suggests. Your turn…
W. Arthur Mehrhoff, Ph.D. | Sept. 6, 2008
Nice and usefull post, thanks, this is one for my bookmarks!
Cleaning Tips | Sept. 1, 2008
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