The Cost of Materialism

This is the second post in a three part series on the dangers of materialism. For an introduction to the subject, please read “The Scourge of Materialism.”

Our society has centered itself around materialistic pursuits. We place a high value on financial success, social status and the many symbols that represent both. Quite often, we push the people and activities that we love onto the back burner as we pursue the better job, the bigger house, the shinier car.

But these symbols of success have a price and we're not just talking about money. The costs of materialism are far broader than that. Their impact extends well beyond our bank accounts to our personal

well-being, our relationships and our environment. Let's take a look at the true cost of materialism.

Personal Costs

We've been warned for eons by various forms of religion and schools of philosophy of the dangers of money, but researchers have begun to provide scientific evidence to back up these warnings.

Studies have measured individual's tendencies toward more materialistic values and then associated these scores with measures of life satisfaction, happiness, depression, and anxiety. The findings? The more focused a person is on buying and having, the less happy they tend to be. Materialistic values are associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, narcissism, dulled positive affect, substance abuse and health problems such as digestive disorders and headaches.

Social Costs

The decision to pursue wealth and possessions at all costs is a personal one. Many people make this choice. The problem is that this choice affects, not only the person making it but, those around him as well. People who hold material wealth in high esteem become increasingly willing to manipulate others with little concern for their well-being.

Now I am not suggesting that every person who wishes to enjoy the many wonderful things that money can buy is a crook, a swindler and a liar. But research, and real life, demonstrate that people who are in hot pursuit of money and power tend to behave in ways that are not in the best interests of those around them.

Think of corporate CEO's who enjoy multi-million dollar bonuses while lower level employees are laid off in droves. Think of politicians who vote against legislation designed to ease the burdens on everyday citizens to protect the interests of themselves and their wealthy friends. Think of employees who embezzle money from the charitable organizations that employ them. These people are clearly putting their own financial interests above those of their friends and neighbors. Why does a focus on materialistic values lead to such negative social behavior?

Research studies have shown that people are unable to hold conflicting values and that materialistic (extrinsic) values conflict with pro social (intrinsic) values. Values regarding wealth, social status or power simply outweigh and stamp out values regarding honesty, responsibility, kindness and social justice. Studies have also shown that people who are materialistically focused are less empathic, less generous and more manipulative.

Ecological Costs

If materialism is associated with a less caring attitude toward other people, it naturally follows that it would correlate with a less caring attitude toward the earth and it's non-human inhabitants as well. Industrialism and economic growth have taken a heavy toll on our world. In order to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for things, we have managed to wreak havoc on our world. In 200 years, we have created a lifestyle that may well lead to our extinction unless we make massive changes, and soon.

Research has found that materialistic people care less about protecting the environment, are less willing to make even small changes to benefit the environment and are more willing to overuse precious resources than those who have more intrinsic values. Look around and you will see that this is true and that the impact of such behavior is enormous.

So what now? We know that our preoccupation with material gain is harmful to ourselves, to those around us and to the world at large. What are we to do about it? How, in a culture that lives and breaths consumption, achievement, wealth and power are we to change our attitudes and behaviors in a way that is more life affirming, more socially responsible? It won't be easy, but there are ways of doing this. Stay tuned for the next installment in this series.

Much of the research information alluded to here was gleaned from an article by Tim Kasser in the book “A Life Worth Living” by Mahaly and Isabella Csikszentmihalyi.

Comments

[Barbara Swafford]

"Research has found that materialistic people care less about protecting the environment....." That, I find interesting. Being so wrapped up in their own selfish needs and wants, materialistic people will sacrifice the environment for future generations.

That's sad!

[Lori]

Barbara,

You're right, it is sad. Look at our current administration for example. George W., an oil man whose focus on materialistic goals has served himself and his family well, has undone most of the legislation designed to protect the environment in the name of protecting jobs when we all know it's corporate profits that he's looking out for. His administartion also made the US look like a bunch of self-centered and ignorant fools by refusing to participate in worldwide planning efforts for addressing global warming. That's what happens when you have a wealthy businessman in the White House. Capitalism at all costs is coming back to bite us you know where.

[Michael Miles]

In general, money is acquired in exchange for value given. A CEO (who is doing his/her job properly) is providing alot of value to shareholders and customers. Such a person is leveraging skills to provide value on a large scale, and so naturally acquires more money. A rock singer or a soccer player are also providing enormous entertainment value and so tend to acquire more money. I suspect what we are talking about here is what we mean by 'value.' Broadly speaking, it is 'what people want,' and this explains why a rock singer earns more than a teacher, for example.

[Beth Nixon]

What GREAT food for thought! I struggle with my own beliefs and those of the affluent friends we have. We live very different lives and I can't reconcile the differences. They may be the nicest people but the choices they are making, to get the biggest and best of everything, conflicts with everything I hold dear.

Thanks for the article.

[Lori]

Michael,

Thanks but I understand the principles of economics quite well. My point is that the financial compensation differences are far larger than the differences in value provided (after all, would the CEO be able to accomplish his or her lofty corporate goals without hard-working employess who implement them?). Also we, as intelligent and compassionate human beings, can choose to alter our value systems and our behavior to share the wealth and spare the environment.

In other countries, this is recognized in a way that it isn't in the US. In these countries (not necessarily socialist empires) the culture values the common good, the well-being of every person and the planet itself. An unchecked focus on material gains simply runs counter to this type of value system. This is not just my opinion but a fact supported by much research.

Beth,

Thanks for the comments. I have friends and aquaintances who are fairly well of also. Some seem oblivious to the plight of others but others live quite simply and share their wealth quite generously. There is really nothing wrong with money or doing things that allow you to accumulate a lot of it. It's only when money becomes your God and the value you place on it supercedes all other values that it becomes counterproductive and downright dangerous.

[Michael Miles]

You say 'In other countries, this is recognized in a way that it isn't in the US. In these countries (not necessarily socialist empires) the culture values the common good, the well-being of every person and the planet itself.'

May I ask which countries? I don't live in the US - I've lived in Europe and Asia all my life - but I've never thought that these kind of values operate at a 'country' level.

[Lori]

Michael,

If you would like to point out examples of countries that you have lived in that don't seem to honor these values or that do, please feel free to share your knowledge with us. It is just my understanding that some of the northern European countries seem to be less materialistic and way ahead of the US when it comes to caring for their own through universal health care and other social programs and caring for the environment through the increased use of alternative energy (Denmark, for example).

Now if you want to nitpick about which European countries are or are not socialist or whether or not their national policies or simply the majority of their citizens are less materialistic than ours , I am really not interested. This is not a blog devoted to international studies and such arguments only divert attention from my main point which is that research is showing that materialistic values do not correlate with optimal psychological health, healthy relationships and compassionate action towards others and respect for the environment.

[Michael Miles]

Lori,

I am simply trying to engage in a dialogue and contribute to the discussion based on my own experience. I actually don't believe that materialism is such a bad thing per se. If views which are different from your own are unwelcome, then of course I will no longer participate in the discussion.

Incidentally, you didn't name any research or studies in your article, and I would be interested in this.

It was not my intention to nitpick or cause you any offense. But my views are quite different from yours.

[Lori]

Michael,

I'm sorry for being so short with you. From your remarks it is clear that you don't think that materialism is such a bad thing...perhaps that is why your comments seemed a bit antagonistic to me. If that wasn't your intention, I apologize. I love discussion on my blog, just not arguments.

It is true that materialistic attitudes are a part of basic human nature and, according to evolutionary biologists, may have helped to ensure survival. Unfortunately, a focus on materialism that places materialistic pursuits above all others leads to negative mental states, social behavior etc. as outlined in my article.

All human behavior exists on a continuum. Almost any behavior can be considered normal and functional when it is of a certain degree in a particular circumstance, however there is always a point at which a certain behavior becomes too much or too little of a good thing and thus becomes dysfunctional.

This is what I am speaking of here. Perhaps I should have been more clear about the definition of materialistic behavior. We are all materialistic to a certain extent...it is part of being human and also encouraged and reinforced by our society, so it's very hard not to feel this way to a point. It's when materialistic pursuits are placed in the top slot of our list of priorities that it can become a problem. That is the focus of the research that I am quoting.

I assure you that I am very well read, fairly well-educated in this area and rarely if ever spout off about subjects about which I know little. But I guess it's impossible for you to know that about me. I do my homework before I go off on anything. As I've already mentioned, many of the facts that are included here come from a book called "A Life Worth Living" which is edited by Mihaly and Isabella Csikszentmihalyi. I relied most heavily on the work of Tim Kasser who has studied the effects of materialism for many, many years. His own studies are discussed in even greater detail in his book "The High Price of Materialism" and he also cites and discusses the research of other academics and marketers as well. In fact, there are hundreds of studies discussed in this book, so I can't possibly list them all but they are quite interesting and amazingly consistent in their findings. If you don't think that making materialistic pursuits a priority is harmful, Kasser's book would be a very eye-opening read. Again, a little bit of materialism is normal and perhaps even necessary. When it takes priority over caring for others and protecting the environment that sustains life as we know it...well, the story ends rather badly.

I started this blog with the intention of putting my own years of study and my constant reading to good use. I read all of the dry, academic stuff so my readers don't have to. I try my best to distill it down to it's essence and share it with my readers, so that we can all benefit.

If you've read any of my more spiritually-focused posts, you already know that I believe we are all in this world together and dependent upon and responsible for each other. I feel it is my duty as a human being to not only improve my own life, but to help others along the path as well. That's why I blog. So maybe you can understand why I got a bit defensive when I felt that you were attacking my integrity. I'm sure that I just misunderstood you, or you me, or perhaps a little of both. I hope that I've answered any questions that you might have had and that, if you're interested, you will read Kasser's book.

[Michael Miles]

Thankyou, Lori, for your reply. Like you, I dislike arguments and I do like open and honest dialogue. Freinds do not have to agree!

Having said that, I suspect our views are closer than either of might have thought at first. My comment that I don't think materialism is a bad thing per se was not supposed to imply that it is never a bad thing, and certianly a foucs on materialism can be to our detriment. I think I did rather misundertsand your position initially, so I am glad we had the chance to explore further and clarify.

I will look up the Csikszentmihalyi book. Thanks once again.

[Lori]

Michael,

I'm glad we were able to clear that up also! If you're interested in reading about materialism specifically, the Tim Kasser book "The High Price of Materialism" is the better bet. The other book contains a variety of perspectives on different aspects of positive psychology only one of which has to do with materialism.