Materialism - The Curse of Globalisation

Materialism is a dominating sense of desire to pursue wealth and other tangible things that can provide physical comforts in order to lead an extravagant lifestyle. We live in a globalized society today where social status is more often than not, determined by conspicuous consumption of brands that control our every move – from what we wear, to how we communicate, to what we drive, to where we go on holiday. All this requires considerable amounts of money to be spent on product portfolios that will induce high self-esteem, satisfaction and pride. Most people have this incessant need to feel good about themselves and experience a real high only when satiated by a product with high brand recognition. Having bought the latest gizmo therefore becomes a wonderful talking point with family, friends and peers because we want others to perceive us as being successful and having ‘made it’. 

Competition has only exacerbated the issue, as it encourages us to constantly update and modernize our existing belongings, even if they still work well and have absolutely no need for replacement. Therefore, many of us end up having multiple mobile phones, digital cameras, mp3 players, etc, simply because a new trend has caught our fancy, and we feel the need to be a part of what everyone is talking about. The ‘Keeping up with the Jones’ phenomenon is testimony to competition at its aggressive best where a lot of parents find themselves indulging their kids with the latest i-pads and i-phones, just so that their children do not feel left out when they are in the company of their other pre-teen friends. 

At some point in our lives, we are all guilty of being consumed by materialism – some to greater while others to lesser degrees, which can even make us become judgmental, where we tend to view people more by what they have, rather than by the values they possess. While I do feel that there is nothing inherently wrong in possessing luxuries that enrich the quality of our lives, it is the materialistic motive behind purchasing those items that I object to. In my opinion, a product should be purchased for its utility value and not for selfish purposes like one-upmanship or greed. I do believe that we as people are not defined by our material possessions, but by our values and how we conduct ourselves and treat others. 

Research has now shown that people who place a high value on wealth, status, and material possessions are more depressed and anxious and less sociable than those who do not. In recent years, researchers have reported a list of downsides to acquiring and spending - damage to relationships and self-esteem, a high risk of depression and anxiety and less time for family, friendships and engaging work. Also, studies have shown that people who are materialistic, tend to be less satisfied with life and are more likely to be narcissistic, passive aggressive, and mistrusting of others than those who are not. 

Therefore, let us not get carried away with all things extravagant and uber-luxurious. Some of life’s greatest joys involve non materialistic pursuits as well, that can be cherished for years to come. 

To sum up in the words of Thomas Carlyle, “Not what you possess but what you do with what you have, determines your true worth.”