FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS ^_^

1. MATERIAL
SELF/ECONOMIC SELF
ANDREA LIRIO
MA. DANIELLA GAPA
CHERRY LAURIO

2. MATERIAL SELF/ ECONOMIC
SELF
I. LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
In this lesson the student will be able to
1. Explore the different aspects of Material/Economic self
2. Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self that are discussed in class.
3. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspect of
Material/Economic self.
II. INTRODUCTION:
This lesson will focus in knowing the important things in life of a person, and to identify
wants from need wherein this is very important in everyday life of a person because it affects
his/her motives and decisions, and result to self-presentation and identity of a person.

3. DEFINITION OF
MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF
• The material self comprises belongings like the body, family, clothes, and
money. Williams James believed that the body was the core, while clothes
expressed one’s identity and status. Money and family were critical parts of
the material self, as long significant wealth altered one’s identity. Critics of
luxury believed the human self existed separate from the material world,
while champions emphasized the importance of material possessions in
human self.

4. FACTORS AFFECTING MATERIAL
SELF
(Here are the factors that affect our material self)
1. Financial constraints- Financial constraints refer to limitations
or restrictions on an individual or organization’s ability to access
and use financial resources. These constraints may arise due to
various factors such as limited income, high debt levels. Financial
constraints can affect an individual’s or organizations ability to
invest, make purchases, pay bills, or achieve financial goals.

5. FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS CAN
AFFECT THE MATERIAL SELF IN
VARIOUS WAYS:
(HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES):
• Limited purchasing power
• Reduced maintenance and repair
• Limited Innovation
• Reduced investment
• Reduced safety and quality
Overall, financial constraints can limit the ability to purchase, maintain and develop
materials, which can affect their durability, functionality, safety and quality. This can
ultimately affect the material self by limiting its usefulness, reliability, and aesthetic
appeal.

6. 2. Availability of items and services- The product or items availability is a retailer’s ability to
meet customers demand at a given item. Retailers may provide detailed information about
product availability to help customers plan and make decisions.
For example, products may be categorized as currently in stock, backordered, stocked on-
demand or unavailable.
( Here are some ways in which the availability of items and services can affect the
material self):
• Access to desired items
• Aesthetic appeal
• Social status
• Convencies

7. 3. Influence of family and friends “ wants” or “needs”- The
influence of family and friends on our wants and needs can have a
significant impact on our materials self. It can shape our values,
preferences, and behaviours when it comes to material
possessions.

8. FACTORS AFFECTING ECONOMIC
SELF
1. Income- The amount of money that a person earns can greatly impact their ability
to purchase and acquire materials.
2. Expenses- The cost of living and expenses such as rent, bills and other
necessities can also impact a person’s ability to purchase materials.
3. Debt- If a person has a significant amount of debt, it can limit their ability to
purchase materials as they may have to divert founds towards paying off their
debt.
4. Employment status- A person’s employment status, such as being unemployed
or underemployed, can impact their ability to purchase materials.
5. Education- Education can also influence economic self by influencing on
individuals ability to secure higher- paying jobs and advance in their careers.
(Here are some Common Factors affecting economic self)

9. THINGS TO CONSIDER IN
ACQUIRING MATERIAL THINGS
• Wants- people buy them for reasons that do not warrant necessity
• Needs- These are important for survival like food, clothing, and shelter
• Utility- Concerned with how things serve a practical purpose.
• Significance- Concerned with the meaning assigned to the object. It is a
also concerned with how objects become powerful symbols or icons of habit
and ritual which can be quite separate from their primary function.

10. MATERIAL SELF PRESENTATION
AND IDENTITY
MATERIAL SELF- means
• From the Latin word “materia” means “wood, matter or
substance”
• the tangible objects, people, or places that carry the designation
“my or mine”,
in short possession, the literal and physical form.

11. ACCORDING TO JOHN HESKETT
• A british writer and professor at institute of
design at illinios institute of technology.
• Two things that can identify the material self:
a. Form
b. Decorations
Form and decorations- reflects the personality
identity.

12. ACCORDING TO JOHN HESKETT
• Heskett says, “forms and decorations reflects the personal identity because
according to him, those things leads to NEED and DESIRES that reflects the
users identity and even thoughts and aspirations.
• Material self presentation and identity- According to John Heskett, a british
writer and lecturer on the economic, political, cultural and human value of
industrial design- “design combines “need” and “desire” in the form of
practical object hat can also reflect the user’s identity.

13. ROLAND BARTHES
1950- Great French Critical Theorist is born
• ROLAND BARTHES
- Critical Theorist “means truth-seeker,
logician and philosopher.
- In short “genius/nerd”

14. ACCORDING TO ROLAND
BARTHES
• When you look closely into an object and study the relationship of it into the life of
people you will unlock the other meaning and message is decoded aside from
its physical and material self.
• ROLAND BARTHES
• Founded the SEMIOLOGY
• Semiology -study of object as signs.
2 ELEMENTS OF SIGNS:
a. Signifier - The physical from an object.
b. Signified – The mental concept of an object.

15. EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFIER &
SIGNIFIED
Signifier
Signified
FEMALE

16. Signifier Signified
Male
Wealth and
Class
Fashion, statement and
dominant

17. • The theory of the meaning of material possessions ( Dittmar 1992, 2004)
suggested that materials goods can fulfill a range of instrument, social
symbolic and affective functions.
1. Instrumental functions- Functional properties of a product.
Example: A person brought a pick-up style of a car for family and business
function.
2. Social symbolic functions- For instance buying an i-phone instead of
other mobile phone.
3. Categorical functions- extent to which material possessions may be
used to communicate group membership and status.

18. Examples: Buying or renting a condo unit in Makati city.
4. Self-expressive functions- Reflect person’s unique qualities,
values on attitude.

19. ECONOMIC SELF PRESENTATION
• Economic- Study of things that a person is lacking, of how people used of
things that they have and making of the right decision.
• Economic consciousness- Result of socialization and professionalization
of the subject that acquires a particular significance in human affair. The
human’s motivation for work and lifestyle change.
• Economic identity- Is a psychological phenomenon that results from social
categorization.