It has been suggested that materialism is a weakness of insecure people who doubt their self-worth. However, until now, there was little published evidence to confirm this theory.
Professor Robert Arkin and colleagues from Ohio State University in Columbus conducted a number of studies with undergraduate students. In one study, the students were asked to complete questionnaires that examined their levels of self-doubt, materialism and other psychological traits. The results showed that uncertainty and self-doubt around other people were significant predictors of materialistic orientations. For example, people with chronic self-doubt were more likely to agree with statements such as "I like to own things that impress people" and "The things I own say a lot about how well I'm doing in life".
In another study, participants were primed to experience doubt and insecurity by memorizing self-doubt words and relating these to their own experiences. The research team found that inducing feelings of self-doubt increased materialistic tendencies in people with chronic self-doubt.
Reporting in the journal Psychology and Marketing, Dr Arkin said, "For those people who are chronically insecure, materialism seems to be a coping mechanism that they use when they are put in a situation that makes them doubtful about themselves." "Chronic self-doubters are not interested in possessions because they bring happiness or because they simply like owning a lot of things. They are interested in possessions because of their meaning, the status they confer. They believe their possessions demonstrate success," he said.
The authors note that other studies have shown a materialistic approach to be linked with poor psychological functioning and lower life satisfaction. They conclude that, rather than focusing on material possessions, self-doubters should find other goals in life in which they can excel.
The research is published in the journal Psychology and Marketing.
To see more focused health-related content, go to http://www.health-news.co.uk
(c) Health Media Ltd 2002