Materialism is frequently defined as a system of values which accentuates on possessing goods and exposing them to underline one’s belonging to a well-off social group. Psychologists claim that an urgent desire to mute one’s sadness with the help of shopping is actually an ineffective way to overcome depression. The act of purchasing helps to lift spirits only for a while but, on the other hand, it exacerbates dependence on getting more new things irrespective of whether they are necessary or not.
Relying on the materialistic culture will obviously make all people unhappy – those who cannot stop purchasing things and their counterparts who watch others exposing their numerous treasured possessions. First of all, lower social classes who make an insight into the lifestyle of the wealthy through Instagram or Twitter become even more discouraged and dissatisfied with their own way of life. Social layering is quite dramatic today, and tracking materialistic persons is not the healthiest way to bring one’s leisure time. And people pursuing materialistic values get so much used to the excessive number of costly things around that they devalue them at once.
Several studies showed that materialistic people express less happiness, satisfaction, commitment to others then non-materialistic individuals. Looking through the results we can make the conclusion we cannot buy happiness for money even if “happiness” refers to a number of definite tangible objects. Materialists purchase goods, yet feel unsatisfied with their possessions and try to buy even more things than before. It looks like a vicious circle which enables the access to positive thinking.