Materialism From a Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Some

Materialism from a Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Some sociologists may center on the family tackling issues, for example, marriage, domestic violence divorce and child rearing. In addition, the sociologists may also try to get knowledge of how different cultures define these issues, and their effect on individuals and institutions. Other sociologists may explore larger social organizations such as businesses and governments analyzing their formations. In addition, other sociologists may focus on divisions within a society. From such a definition, a sociologist may study anything.

Application of Theory

Symbolic interactions comments that the society is in a continuous process of production and reproduction through the individual's interaction with the symbolic representations of the surrounding society. However, materialism raises a controversy on whether it is a positive or negative force in society. Puritanism discourages materialism consumption citing it as the major cause of distraction of society from the spiritual ways. Quakerism condemned the acquisition and multiplication of goods as an affront to simplicity. In the society, materialism is a potential cause of inter-group conflict, and materialistic individuals are susceptible to personal discontent. In addition, these materialistic people tend to be unhappy, engage in fast solutions, and susceptible to violence (Solomon, 1983).

The society considers materialism as having a negative social influence. However, some experts suggest that denying oneself material things may lead to psychological disabilities such as eating disorders, masochism, and low self-esteem, therefore, suggesting the need of emphasizing the need of materialism. From a symbolism interactionist perspective, materialism in the society is neutral. On the same perspective, symbolism defines self as being the natural and pervasive part of socialization. An insight into the meaning people or society attaches to materialism plays a role in making consumption behavior fruitful. With time, symbolic meaning moves from society to objects, then from objects to individuals. Acquisition of materials as an expression of symbols of security appears to be a cultural way of consumption.

Objects create a common language for that provides the three fundamental social processes in the society. That is integration, comparison, and differentiation. Integration comes in when goods produced for consumers, make the consumers come together. In addition, different people come together and form a nation unified by harmony, diversification, and consumption of common goods. At the individual level, objects provide a way for individuals to accept cultural values and social integration subsequently showing self-expression. Over time, the objects singularize by the individual and become part of the self-ideology. Any loss of the objects may lead to greater damage because of conceptualization of the objects (Solomon, 1983).

Practical research

Previous research in Australia implies that materialism and its possession-defined success have a correlation with particular Type A behavior that includes competiveness and aggression. In Australia, there is a perception that materialism and Type A behavior fall under the same cultural value of work and wealth. Sociologists have divergent views on materialism, some associate it with the combination of envy, non-generosity, and preservation of personal traits defining themselves using material objects, a style of consuming, others motivated by the need for security, and an extreme desire for material possession.

A research on consumer behavior in Australia suggested that materialistic desires and aspirations might be associated with decreased content in life, increased anger, and depression. An explanation offered for this is that in a market that experiences constant fluctuations where the worth of a person depend on the material possession they have, someone else will always have more possessions, and possessions are likely to hold value for a short time. The result for this is frustration, which may lead to anger (Saunders, Allen & Pozebbon, 2008).

Australian materialists have disinterest in equality that supports the argument that comparisons in the consumer domain mainly aim at acquiring relative success or failure other than determining equity. Materialists support the view that materialism has a basis on social comparison, and this has support from researchers outside Australia. Some samples taken in Australia reveal the strong bond between individualism and materialism. Individualism aims at being the best creating an environment for competition and appears to favor some contemporary marketing practices. In addition, these materialists are more interested in pleasure and comfort and are less interested in the Australian environment (Saunders, Allen & Pozebbon, 2008).

Materialist tends to watch commercial televisions and is more conformist than those who are not materialist. These results are in support of the study of materialist outside of Australia. The study has proven that the materialists are mainly concerned on how other evaluates them and thus they them to conform in normative social influences. Materialism has a very high demand of security, which are evident in national and financial securities, and hoarding of the basic commodities like food. American materialist group were also seen more worried of their personal safety than those who were not materialists. The author tries to depict the materialists as those people who are more concerned of their own interest rather than minding others.

Materialist are also one singe sided in the sense that it highly correlates with individualism. They are also more interested on how to pleasure and lead a comfortable life. They are less interested in a world of peace, but they are only happy when life favors them and thus living a comfortable life without minding the comfort and the interest of others. This shows arrogance self-centeredness and selfishness in the materialists. This group also believes that possession of goods and services are the ideal qualities of living a stress free life. A life full of satisfaction and thus making one feel secured. This is demonstrated by the fact that someone in a market driven society are differentiated by considering how much the person possesses. The question of who they are in the society is disregarded. Materialists also tend to have the spirit and behavior of aggressiveness and competiveness (Saunders, Allen & Pozebbon, 2008).

Sample Sociology Research

Method

Samples

Two hundred and forty two students (112 male, 133 female) between 16-23 years of age from a Southwestern town in UK took part in this study voluntarily. The children had a questionnaire to fill details on attitudes, values, and money management (Flouri, 1999).

Materials

The children had to complete a materialism scale and the poor money management scale. Also, they has to indicate their perception on money as a source of tension between them and their parents, their degree on their relationship with their parents, and demographic details, questions on economic socialization, describe their parents money management.

Discussion

A study that aimed at studying the role of the family in the development of the shared consumptions found misunderstandings between parents and children. The Misunderstandings about consumption issues emerged as an indicator of the children materialistic tendencies and optimism. Materialism measured positive and optimism measured negative. In addition, children felt that their parents were poor managers predicating the children's level of materialism. On the same topic, another study reveals that young adults brought up in broken families showed high levels of materialism than adults brought up in intact families. The study, therefore, suggests that broken families can have both direct and indirect influences in the development of materialistic attitudes in their children.