Materialism Link to Depression And Anger

[Guest guest]

Materialism Link to Depression And Anger - Study

By Mike Collett-White

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Designer labels and fast cars may be the dream of

millions, but craving material possessions can cause depression and

anger, research released on Tuesday showed.

 

Australian academics found a positive correlation between

materialism -- or an ``excessive concern'' for material things -- and

negative psychological phenomena.

 

Shaun Saunders, one of the authors of the report from the University

of Newcastle, Australia, said it came as no surprise to discover that

money can't buy you love.

 

But there has been very little scientific evidence to support the

truism.

 

``While there is growing concern over the environmental effects of

materialism and global consumerism, little attention has been paid to

its psychological effects,'' he told Reuters.

 

Saunders explained that one source of depression among dedicated

consumers was the fact that the property they acquired tended to lose

value quickly.

 

``If your self-worth is invested in what you own, as can be the case

in our market-driven society, then these things may not hold their

value for very long,'' he said.

 

Wanting a sports car would not necessarily cause psychological

problems, however, because some enthusiasts could take a genuine

interest in the performance of the vehicle and how it is made.

 

But in most cases materialism is based on people using possessions to

define their place in society. This applies both to the ``haves'' and

the ``have-nots,'' Saunders said.

 

``People want to compare themselves to others. In our society the

criterion tends to be what you own.

 

``This is the 'Keeping up with the Jones's' idea. It can be a very

frustrating experience trying to stay ahead of others, which can be a

precursor to anger expression.''

 

It also leads to conformity, based on the notion that the self in a

market-based society is treated as a commodity whose value is

determined externally.

 

So before heading off on a shopping spree to lift the gloom, retail

therapists should take note:

 

``This may give a person a sense of control through owning something,

but the research shows that materialism is negatively correlated with

life satisfaction,'' Saunders said.

 

http://dailynews./h/nm/20010703/sc/science_materialism_depres

sion_dc.html

[Guest guest]

The research on materialism rings true to me. On the other hand, I

read a study several years ago that showed that people with more

money tended to be happier than people with less money. That also

seems true to me.

 

 

 

 

 

Nisargadatta, " Hur Guler " <Hur1@a...> wrote:

> Materialism Link to Depression And Anger - Study

> By Mike Collett-White

>

> LONDON (Reuters) - Designer labels and fast cars may be the dream

of

> millions, but craving material possessions can cause depression and

> anger, research released on Tuesday showed.

>

> Australian academics found a positive correlation between

> materialism -- or an ``excessive concern'' for material things --

and

> negative psychological phenomena.

>

> Shaun Saunders, one of the authors of the report from the

University

> of Newcastle, Australia, said it came as no surprise to discover

that

> money can't buy you love.

>

> But there has been very little scientific evidence to support the

> truism.

>

> ``While there is growing concern over the environmental effects of

> materialism and global consumerism, little attention has been paid

to

> its psychological effects,'' he told Reuters.

>

> Saunders explained that one source of depression among dedicated

> consumers was the fact that the property they acquired tended to

lose

> value quickly.

>

> ``If your self-worth is invested in what you own, as can be the

case

> in our market-driven society, then these things may not hold their

> value for very long,'' he said.

>

> Wanting a sports car would not necessarily cause psychological

> problems, however, because some enthusiasts could take a genuine

> interest in the performance of the vehicle and how it is made.

>

> But in most cases materialism is based on people using possessions

to

> define their place in society. This applies both to the ``haves''

and

> the ``have-nots,'' Saunders said.

>

> ``People want to compare themselves to others. In our society the

> criterion tends to be what you own.

>

> ``This is the 'Keeping up with the Jones's' idea. It can be a very

> frustrating experience trying to stay ahead of others, which can be

a

> precursor to anger expression.''

>

> It also leads to conformity, based on the notion that the self in a

> market-based society is treated as a commodity whose value is

> determined externally.

>

> So before heading off on a shopping spree to lift the gloom, retail

> therapists should take note:

>

> ``This may give a person a sense of control through owning

something,

> but the research shows that materialism is negatively correlated

with

> life satisfaction,'' Saunders said.

>

>

http://dailynews./h/nm/20010703/sc/science_materialism_depres

> sion_dc.html