Sociology Assignment: An Overview of Materialism

Question

Sociology Assignment Task:

Question 1) What is Materialism (1200 word count)

The 1200 words should be broken up into three big paragraphs

First paragraph must include:

- what is materialism

- what does it include

-How did we get to this point

-unpacking materialism

Second paragraph must include:

-what the needs is to want to buy things

-psychology behind it

- How is it important

Third paragraph must include:

- have a generational comparison- compare generation x and generation z in terms of materialism and what’s differs between them in terms of materialism.

2) The future impact of Materialism on adolescents (1200 word count)

The 1200 words should be broken into three paragraphs for this as well-

First paragraph Must include

- first impact: how they will become more money-hungry

Second paragraph

Second impact: Less educated.

Third paragraph

Third impact: Become lazier

Answer

Answer 1) What is Materialism

Materialism

Materialism, explored in the segments of sociology assignment, is that philosophy where possession of earthly commodities creates comfort in life. When goods, wealth and material objects fulfill the desire of soul and add to sense of accomplishment even greater that individual's spiritual worth it is acknowledged as materialism tendency. Requirement of luxury products, facilitating daily life of items, to shape one's lifestyle is eminent in contemporary world behavior[1]. The societal shaping is greatly manifested through the significant influence of material when fascination of brands, updated products, market surveys are dominating. The entire value system of individuals is surrounding encompassing the practice of new cars, branded clothing, accessories, technologies and possessing properties.

- Materialism include(stuff like exotic cars, designer clothes, jewllery etc)

The attitude of preoccupation with material possession is defined in social sciences as the materials-oriented behavior. Such practices are controlling the social structures and cultural mentalities. As the time passes by, more and more attraction towards possession of material products, and comforting goods and luxuries have grown among populations. The research carried out at British Journal association for Sociology stated that taking the ancient culture and societal practices into concern, less of abundance, mediocre income and limited requirements to facilitate lifestyle was necessary[2]. A moderate house, some jewelries and for the upper grade economic group or higher professional ranks as doctors or engineers and managers possessed one personal vehicle. However, materialism seems to penetrate in deeper and frequent manner when the contemporary times are observed. Research survey upon Global Marketing shows how excessive need for branded clothing, latest accessories, digitalized technological gadgets and updated forms of newly launched cars with jewelries and flamboyant personal house or property owning has marked the lifestyles[3]. The standard of living, elevated needs for health safety and remaining updated in pacing with progressive world has compelled and persuaded individuals to surround them with material objects and products of facility. This certainly includes all the materials which were previously viewed as luxuries and presently turned to necessities and essentials with growing materialism.

-Ways to get to this point

With evolution in time, societal structures transformed and cultural needs grew. The practice to seek satisfaction from non-worldly things like spending time with family members, friends, and relatives in person by gathering together is scarcely existent. Empirical research findings substantiate that people have shifted from traditional visits to modern approaches depending upon technological dependence[4]. The constant upgrading in lifestyle pattern, intensified consumerism need based marketing approach and commercialized business approaches have heightened the possibility and desire to possess materials. Lucrative advertisements of luxury cars, easy loan and EMI generated property availability and higher employability economic growth has enhanced consumer buying potential and feasibility.

-Unpacking materialism

With evolution in economic buying power, some strata of society derive greater material-oriented purchasing capability. The elevated materialism practices reflect from shopping from branded clothing companies, expensive accessories, bags, watches and technologies with car purchases and property booking. International research on Productivity and Performance Management confirms that other half of society encompassing economic deprivation with significantly lower income is distinguished[5]. This creates discrepancy in societal structures. Materialism seems to impact status consciousness positively. When possession of desired goods, commodities, material objects are successfully attained materialism gets unpacked.

Needs is to want to buy things

Materialism has taken control over present-day mindsets of individuals. Rahman et al. (2017) research on generation Y's materialism and consumption for fashion clothes indicate how people are viewed as customers across the world and are becoming more and more commercialized[6]. People develop need to support their lives in every step of a day. From morning alarm, smart watch to calculate jogs and walks or runs made to the coffee-maker instrument and laptop with smart phones to guide professional and personal contacts. The AC in the household or office or personal cars to reach schools, universities and workplace or a perfect property turned into home with exquisite interiors and furnishing are some features reflecting standard of living. All these objects and material earthly things are required to be bought to maintain normal quality elevated life keeping pace with contemporary times.

-Psychology behind it

Social and cultural growth is the prime motive behind the attraction and drawing towards materialism construct. In the psychological context, individuals are social creatures who are driven by progress of social evolution and cultural development. Zakaria et al (2020) research paper reflects culture, religion and materialism to influence foreign brand purchase trends where people fall under luring to marketing approaches, others tend to get influenced by it[7]. Social compliance and conformity are psychological reasoning to justify such buying behavior to be reinforced to indulge in car buying, jewelries accessories and technologies or property possession. It states how personal and un-earthly relationships are replaced with materials to provide happiness and satisfaction in life.

- Its importance

Psychological explanation about materialism behavior shows how people have transformed their happiness to be drawn from material object possession. Empirical research findings from Marketing and Logistics show that it is important to understand that people have stopped becoming satisfied with little things, just planting a tree, playing in open playgrounds and visiting friends or relatives[8]. It shows how material world filled with luxuries, shinning objects and expensive goods have changed people's minds and drive happiness from them.

A generational comparison- compare generation x and generation z in terms of materialism and what's differs between them in terms of materialism.

Materialism has a different impact upon different generations. Individuals who were born till 1980s are considered generation X. the needs, accessibility, opportunity, marketing penetration, commercialization, economic viability and exposures were very different and limited. People learned to be happy in the minimum income and scope they received. Drive to excel, attain success, grow to bigger heights and gather all luxuries in life were not prime urge of life. People were personally connected; making foreign ours was not a common aspiration or branded commodities exposures were minimized. Sense of materialism was highly constrained and still is. Kasser (2018) research on materialism and living well reveals how contrastingly generation Z is subjected to a world of abundance and wide range commercialization[9]. Materialism has taken over social and cultural patterns of behavior for generation Z. they are born and brought up in an environment where personal relationships, friends, contacts or un-earthly things do not pleasure them. Rather objects replace satisfaction through virtual gaming, digital connectivity, online shopping, travel to foreign locations, purchase of latest cars and property possession.

Generation z more Materialistic then generation X

Materialism tendency and behavior manifesting material concentrated happiness is intensely witnessed among the generation Z. being born in mid-2000s they are given all the luxuries and commodities to substantiate and support their lifestyles. Rather than getting care from mother or parents, they get it from hired care-givers as their parents are busy working professionally. For meeting the play-mate gap and lack of visit to playgrounds on safety and protection reasons, such generation z is provided with latest electronic gadgets, play-stations, video-games, tablets and smart phones which act as pacifiers. Hence gaining satisfaction from those material objects like expensive ice-cream, home-delivery luxury food-products, branded clothing, and lavish comfortable transport with latest cars gives them sense of status and quality of life. This shows a huge transition on account of materialism differentiating generation x with generation z. the later is intensely under control of materialism. Getting access to an easily available standard of living, without any struggle or striving to attain that is making them used to materialism. Human contacts like grand-parents and parents or community feelings are eradicated due to nuclear social family structure and busy independent professional lives of mothers along with fathers. Being devoid of such care or concern in generation z the inclination and dependence for materialism is natural to replace with. Generation x did get such a compromised environment or social structure, hence excessive materialism dependence is not reflected.

2) The future impact of Materialism on adolescents

First impact: how they will become more money hungry

With the incidence of materialism construct into society, the individuals' buying behavior as a consumer shall get reflected. From the generation Z's attitude, behavior inclination and buying pattern the elevated dependence upon materialism gets revealed. There is huge difference noted between generation x and generation z in terms of materialism. The generation Z's actions can be an example of the future trend of market and social environment. It is within their teens that materialism has made a strong impact upon their lives. Research studies on materialism value through pro-environment conducts embody that with market upgrades, latest products and services surrounds them in future[10]. The craving to possess the supreme power with luxuries, accessories, expensive stuffs and even higher successful and greater life shall be dominant drive. As benchmark to create self-satisfaction will get amplified, the need for money as capital to attain all of it in lifetime will also exceed. As the consumption rates will shoot high up, the need for creating potential to avail them will simultaneously rise up. Generation Z is likely to attain all their pleasures, satisfactions and success from the sense of material possess they have in their store. The value of quality of life shall get measured by the extent of expense they make and the grade of luxury products they attain.

The higher the reach to possess bigger and better cars the more elevated shall become the satisfaction of the younger generation. As future trends set in, no more love, natural relationship bonds and personal ties shall be of worth a value. Research paper on childhood family attitudinal impact on generation Y emphasizes that greater greed, intense hunger for greater social status, power, position, money and self satisfaction attained by possessing them all[11]. The sense of drawing gratification from personal experiences, simple activities, spending time in gardening, fishing, playing in grounds, visiting friends or relatives will be completely replaced with virtual contacts. No requirement for personal experiential possession but only sufficient monetary capability to get the luxuries of life in the form of comfortable living, bigger house, branded goods use and lavish car expenses. The marketing penetration to lure their satisfaction with appealing products and status targeted service approaches will successfully manage the future generation to drive towards money greed.

Second impact: Less educated

Materialism is associated with some of the grievous negative impacts if such persistent traits-controlled society and cultures. As the excessive abundance and easy availability shall dominate consumers in future, the satisfaction drawn from one commodity shall be reduced very rapidly. The constant update and upgrade of materials through commercialized marketing penetration will compel and persuade consumers to consider their existing product to be outdated and low in value of satisfaction. This will eventually lead to misguided and lack of education in marketing practices to fall in trap of materialism. There will be dissatisfaction drawn from materials possessed then by individuals, in car model, in technologies, gadgets or other products. This lack of education will not just intensify frequent commodity buying expenditure engagement but also contribute to environmental threats. Carbon emitted to open atmosphere, use of excessive energy with greater car purchases than required or intensive consumption and generating higher wastes in landfills are ill impacts of excessive materialism.

When people shall only run after money making, the value to education, knowledge spread and conservation policies will not be taught. The future generations who will eventually become consumers of markets shall be devoid of awareness and knowledge of value of conservation, lesser consumption, and reduction in expenditures and cut down on materialism dependence. The lesser educative individuals the higher shall be threats to collapse of environment, society and cultural balance. Empirical research data illustrates how the future generation will be exposed to growing and ever-increasing evolution by 78% in market shall lead to boosted buying trends where material needs will escalate[12]. The markets in future shall refresh their products after every session and give their commodities premium grade touch to lure customers and push towards frequent buying and refreshing their possessions. This lack of education at crux of individuals in Z generation of future ones about environmental conservation, purchasing control, satisfaction with minimal essential requirement shall lead them to pay high with threats faced as natural disasters and environmental risks. Life satisfactions shall no more be concentrated to one successful possession of product but draw towards a chain of similar commodities and maintain or elevate the greed for money, higher status and power. The lesser value on personal life experiences, educational compromise will be of no matter. The luxuries comforts and standards of living will only matter that surrounds materialism attitude and approaches.

Third impact: Become more lazy

Excessive abundance, too easy availability and intensified materialism impacts are severe upon youths of future generation. When a marketing perspective is derived in terms of materialism, the individuals are acknowledged as consumers in market to show a taken for granted attitude. If a person is born and brought up in a surrounding where luxury and expensive materials are treated as basic objects of day-to-day life support and substantiation, there will naturally be a lower value towards them. The seriousness, the striving to receive or acquire them and labor efforts to attain the money potential to bring them at comfort shall be absent in minds of youths in future generations. The already availability of lifestyle lavishness provided to them in all aspects will naturally make them lazy. Work value will be degraded by such individuals as they already are in a comfortable and enjoyable space. The toil, efforts and pressure required to be exerted and handled at workplace will never be as important to them to go through. Intense research empirical investigation on advertising impact upon future generation will boost materialism as they will be away from the reality that their previous generations have given the required toil, labor to ensure such comforts for them from crux of life[13]. However, it is never healthy to provide abundance of products, goods, all necessities at ease to a youth. The value of attaining it on caliber will be lost. There shall be no motivation to make them strive to push the boundaries and develop sense of achievement as they already have material centric lifestyle.

Facilitating adolescents, youth or upcoming generations with a state of well-being shall not be mistaken with luxuries, abundance and easy attained comfort. Research by Sreen et al. (2020) on impact of materialism upon sustainability threats indicate the reduced capability to face challenges, perform hard work, and make objectives in life to attain them one at a time with independent willingness, motivation and efforts[14]. Hence, excessive materialism inclination and luxurious lifestyle with many cars to choose from to avail transport, to pick any food to order and any play or gadgets to access from childhood, youth shall destroy their working capacity and interest. Hence, materialism intensification directly proportionate and influences laziness of individuals. a self-satisfaction sense has to be developed through self-built success rather than fostering with materialism and easy access. The value for products, consumption, needs to be imparted with education so that laziness is curbed out from future generation with minimized materialism.

References

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Fox, Nick J., and Pam Alldred. "Re?assembling climate change policy: Materialism, posthumanism, and the policy assemblage."The British Journal of Sociology71, no. 2 (2020): 269-283.

Kasser, T. "Materialism and living well."Handbook of well-being. Salt Lake City, UT: DEF Publishers. DOI: nobascholar. com(2018).

Liobikien?, Genovait?, Julius Liobikas, Janis Brizga, and Romualdas Juknys. "Materialistic values impact on pro-environmental behavior: The case of transition country as Lithuania."Journal of Cleaner Production244 (2020): 118859.

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Rahman, Mahfuzur, Mohamed Albaity, and Billah Maruf. "The role of religiosity on the relationship between materialism and fashion clothing consumption among Malaysian Generation Y consumers."Social Indicators Research132, no. 2 (2017): 757-783.

Sreen, Naman, Shankar Purbey, and Pradip Sadarangani. "Understanding the Relationship Between Different Facets of Materialism and Attitude Toward Green Products."Journal of Global Marketing(2020): 1-21.

Tascioglu, Mertcan, Jacqueline Kilsheimer Eastman, and Rajesh Iyer. "The impact of the motivation for status on consumers' perceptions of retailer sustainability: the moderating impact of collectivism and materialism."Journal of Consumer Marketing(2017).

Zakaria, Norhayati, Wan-Nurisma Ayu Wan-Ismail, and Asmat-Nizam Abdul-Talib. "Seriously, conspicuous consumption? The impact of culture, materialism and religiosity on Malaysian Generation Y consumers' purchasing of foreign brands."Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics(2020).