Social Psychology | Edition: 10

Author: Saul Kassin, Steven Fein, Hazel Rose Markus

Comment on the postings of at least two peers, and provide an analysis of each peer's postings while also suggesting specific additions or clarifications for improving the discussion question response.

Peer #1 -

Materialism is weighing possessions as more important then things of moral value such as relationships. America has taken a turn for the worst in my opinion when it comes to materialism. We no longer just crave new clothes and a nice house, we now put the amount of likes we get on social media at greater value than an actual successful life. I am getting married in a few months, and one of the first conversations we had was about finances, but not because we needed a lot of things but because we wanted to use wisdom.

What we found was that we are on the same page, we personally weigh experiences over possessions- we would eat sandwiches for months if it meant saving money to go to Greece. Our society can't even live their lives because everyone is too consumed in the life that they dream of. When we are so consumed in the next best thing, its because we aren't content in what we have!! Its a true wake up call when you realize nothing you buy will fill the void you are attempting to put back together, a wake up call that I have personally had.

Like I said earlier though, materialism in our generation is flowing into our social media... or is it flowing from? How often do you scroll through your Instagram and Facebook feed and think "oh I need that" or "look how happy they are with (blank)" ? Materialism is both socially destructive and self-destructive and research shows is often paired with broken relationships and depression. Materialism is a horrible cycle that I believe is eating away at our society from the inside out. Unlike the popular phrase, I believe that money CAN'T buy you happiness.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/09/materialism-system-eats-us-from-inside-out

Peer #2 -

Social psychology would suggest that if we desire to be happy and healthy, that we should spend time communicating with others and building relationships (Kassin, Fein, & Markus, 2017). This could mean that we start a new friendship, get into an intimate relationship or join a group in our local community. And even though a person might state that family and friends are most important that may not necessarily be true.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the material world where we desire to consume what is shiny and new. And having money and possessions can give us a feeling of importance and that we have the ability to fit into specific, elite groups of people. Materialism may even change what we focus on, where we decide to work and what we spend our leisure time on, but it appears to be a false love that people dote upon.

Sometimes people find that their desire and hunt for money and more possessions has led them astray. Instead of getting them farther ahead in life, it has drawn them away from what is really important, relationships. Some people may have to reinitiate their relationships with their spouse, family and friends after realizing that these relationships have been left untended for too long.

There is a place for material goods and a need for money, but there is also the recognition that these things may come and go and that only relationships will remain. And those relationships are what offer us support, love and acceptance - things that money and material goods can not bring.

Reference

Kassin, S., Fein. S., & Markus, H. R. (2017). Social psychology (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.