Materialism and Mental Health
A Research Essay by: Madeline Husby
What is Materialism?
Televisions and telephones. Clothes and cars. Today Western society runs around the material, the inanimate, the symbols of status that the majority of the populace uses to determine their well-being. Most people have been victims of the common thinking trap, “Once I purchase [blank], I’ll be happy.” However, while this way of thinking benefits companies and retail outlets, it also negatively impacts the mental health of materialistic people by way of globalization.
The Influences of Materialism
Even before people can talk, they are affected by advertisements. Toddlers, in particular, are especially susceptible to advertisements based around catchy jingles, bright colors, and toys. For example, many children recognize and adore the golden arches of McDonalds not for the stellar food, but for the toys distributed. Be it through commercials, clothing, toys, or books, these coercive promotions influence a person’s perspective of the world, as well as the way in which they move through life. Consumerism is enforced through a variety of ways, however, the major enforcers of consumerism are parents themselves. Hoarding, the now diagnosable mental illness categorized by the American Psychiatric Association, stems from the habits of materialism, albeit on the extreme side. Currently affecting up to 19 million Americans, hoarding is defined as a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save them (Mayo Clinic). This disorder has been noted to run in families, and with this illness comes a whole other slew of mental diagnoses, from depression, to social anxiety, to bipolar disorder, not to mention the severe health risks the disorder alone imposes. Although not all families take part in materialistic tendencies to this extreme, they are nonetheless observed by offspring who go on to practice it. Similarly, people of all ages have the potential to be affected by the “bandwagon effect” , a psychological condition in which one follows through with an action primarily because of what people are doing around them. What one does may conflict with their personal beliefs, but those who experience this phenomena most likely override their internal judgements in order to “fit in” (Staff). This condition, also referred to as peer pressure, most commonly occurs in consumerist situations. Despite a person’s overall family being considered relatively tame when it comes to consumerism, a person is still influenced by friends, media, or even outsiders simply meandering down the street, due to social influences. This is why materialism is such an issue in Western society, and the ever-growing idolization of objects stems from the culture, or lack thereof, of developed countries such as the culturally-inclusive United States.
The Great Melting Pot
The United States is commonly referred to as “The Great Melting Pot,” due to its vast varieties of religions, races and ethnic groups. However, the once wide variety of folk cultures in the United States has slowly been diminishing ever since the rise of globalization and materialism. Globalization is essentially the spreading and distribution of popular culture across the globe, this wave occurring at an exceptionally expedient pace with the new wave of technological advancements. However, the more popular culture expands from developed countries such as the Unites States and takes over developing countries, the more folk culture is abandoned and obscured. Many people drift towards the popular behaviours and mannerisms due to the perceived mass appeal, as well as the influences of peer pressure, media, and family as aforementioned above. This is viewed by many as positive progress, and yet, with the loss of folk culture, another important aspect of society is being diminished as well. Folk culture, along with any social group, has been shown to promote happiness. This is due to a human’s natural instinct to live in groups and socialize. With these groups that bring people together, based on shared ideals and traits, humans experience mutual support and a sense of identity. The cultures of the world vary around what is important to the specific community. Many cultures outside of the Western society revolve around familial ties, such as the Hispanic culture. Groups are connected through their shared beliefs and traditions, and are accepted by those around them, establishing a sense of identity and belonging within an individual. This is what many folk cultures offer, and with the loss of this aspect of society due to globalization, many people's outlets and forms of expression will be lost. Opposing the varying degrees of collectivism that folk cultures establish, globalization promotes the individualistic mindset. Through globalization, products are promoted that endorse the wants of the individual. Personal cravings are met through restaurant chains such as McDonald's, and globalized holidays such as Christmas entice one with the latest gadgets of the year and how great your life will be once you obtain them. Globalized products also are meant to be kept to yourself instead of shared. For example, iPhones have had great success around the world, but although they connect someone to people around the globe, they also isolate their users with their individual design.
Encouraged Solitude
The developed countries of the Western world have been advertised as “the place to be”, and are viewed as the height of society. Immigration rates are high in these places, and people in countries deemed undesirable emigrate by the thousands every day in search of a better life. Thus, developed countries such as the United States have an extremely high population. This is why the sudden enforced isolation is so peculiar, as even in countries with some of the highest densities of people, one could still go an entire day without speaking to a single soul. This is due to evolution and advancement, in both technology as well as economy. The desirable jobs are those that require someone to sit at a screen all day, and with more advancements in technology are more eyes remaining peeled to screens. Both these factors and more are contributing to the isolated bubbles everyone wears, and sustaining the solitude of our daily lives. Psychologist John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago has tracked the effects of loneliness on a number of people, and found that extensive solitude increases one’s likelihood of committing suicide, for any age. It was also found that without social connections, one’s stress levels are increased, both actually and perceptually (Booth). This raises blood pressure, and has a negative effect on the restorative aspects of sleep. Globalization, as well as the current culture of the Western world, enforce and promote solitude and loneliness, if not directly then indirectly. This leads to a vicious cycle of seeking happiness in physical objects, becoming lonely and depressed, and then seeking happiness once more. However, some westerners have claimed to have found the secret to happiness, breaking the cycle completely.
The Solution?
Renowned minimalists, Joshua Fields and Ryan Nicodemus, have branded themselves “The Minimalists”, traveling around the world physically and digitally promoting and informing over 20 million people of the minimalism lifestyle. The pair define minimalism as “a lifestyle that helps people question what things add value to their lives.” The Minimalists claim that “[by] clearing the clutter from life’s path, [anyone] can…make room for the most important aspects of life: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.” The Minimalists are not the only proclaimed followers of this lifestyle, and although it is impossible to measure the exact amount of people who consider themselves minimalists, this lifestyle is definitely attracting quite a following on social media. This much is evident, be it through the numerous established forums, blogs, websites, and documentaries. What may be so appealing about minimalism is the lack of guidelines. The Minimalists frequently touch upon the unique journey each individual experiences, and the tensile way in which this loose lifestyle molds for everyone. When it comes to consumerism and minimalism, The Minimalists clarify that compulsive consumerism is the true issue, not consumerism itself, and that to overcome this problem one must ignore the demands of our culture, and the inane advertisements that barrage our life (Hughes).
A Bleak Future
In a culture run by consumerism, initiated through the reaches of expedient globalization, society’s mental health is at a low point. With the influences of the “bandwagon effect”, genetically derived compulsive disorders, and the obscurement of folk cultures across the globe, consumerism is at the heart of it all, thriving off of the impulsive decisions of society. People have claimed that minimalism has been claimed to offer an escape from this endless cycle. However, it is still evident that a crucial change of some kind must take place in the imminent future before the world becomes too far gone.
Call to Action
It is straightforward enough to call for a change in today’s society, brimming with the exponential growth of culture and products worldwide, but it is another thing altogether to construct and initiate a plan of action. The close relationship between globalization and materialism has led to a world brimming with poor mental health, along with a sundry of mental conditions negatively affecting our society’s productivity and outlook on life. When considering mental health, globalization has actually had a negative impact on society, though paradoxically it must be understood that globalization is a crucial factor regarding societal growth; thus, in order to construct a solution, our values must first be molded to fit said solution’s outcome.
Globalization VS Folk Culture
Through globalization, many folk cultures have become eclipsed by their popular counterpart, and materialistic lifestyles have become the norm, celebrated by media. With the loss of folk culture, a once key factor in a person’s life, many have lost their sense of identity and connection with those around them. Although currently disregarded as an antiquated pastime, folk culture gave people an opportunity to connect with those of similar backgrounds, and offered a path to those needing guidance. Popular culture, initiated through globalization, is a path of solitude and nontangential satisfaction. This is due to the culture being built around technology and wealth, two pillars of sand of tantalizing appearances, but as unsteady as the wind. With globalization spreading this unreliable culture across the world, communities everywhere are becoming affected. The definitions of mental health are changing, and new generations are building their trust in sand. Thus, a change must be made, but this much is obvious. What is not obvious is what that change should be, especially within the context of globalization.
Is Globalization Bad?
The highly problematic aspect of this entire affair involves the controversial opinions regarding globalization. Made out to be villainous, this process is, in actuality, necessary in order for a country to expand and progress in the modern world. Disregarding this fact as a nation would ensure certain doom for the future. Globalization has been responsible for bringing nations of all monetary statuses together through trade and businesses. Through this increase of trading and communicating worldwide, countries have drastically improved, due to having access to information, products, and goods closed off before. Thus, to attribute the problem of consumerism in Western society to globalization alone would solve nothing, and may in fact cause more problems.
Constructing a Solution: The Big Picture
The Role of Media
When considering examples of political figures, celebrities, and other prominent figures in the media, a popular example to turn to is that of memes. Through just a peculiar looking image, clip or phrase, the same content can become shared, transformed, and seen by thousands in the span of a day. This is the power of the internet, and a real-life example of this is the “Cash me Outside” Girl. Her brief appearance on Dr. Phil, a seemingly fifteen seconds of fame, turned the Girl into a living meme and recognizable face across thousands of screens. This power of social media through the internet is undoubtedly powerful, although used for trivial matters. Used correctly, however, could spark an unstoppable domino effect of change, for better or for worse. There is indeed an example of this, prominent in America’s latest presidential election. Donald Trump, from the moment he entered the race, spread across the nation as a subject of controversy, mockery, and/or curiosity. No matter where a person looked, his face would be plastered against some News station or article. The media continued to cram the actions, words, and face of Donald Trump down the country’s votes, and this incessant barrage of the candidate definitely assisted in him being elected. This proves that through publicity, money, and slight humor, the world can be changed through the power of media.