is a human being naturally materialistic, or is it just a product of society?

Question

i think some materialistic tendencies are natural, such as a woman who wants someone to provide for her.

Answer 1

We are trained...rather well I might add.

Answer 2

I think most times materialism comes from a person having lacked something growing up. For example, a girl grew up poor, never knowing if her family had money to pay for rent or medicine. This girl worked several jobs to support herself. Now as an adult she surrounds herself with material items such as designer purses, clothes, and jewelry. In some way she thinks that these things will make her feel more confident, more of a woman.

This isn't true because what makes up truly happy is what in on the inside not what's being worn on us. Plus society puts out this idea of what we should all look like which makes us competitive against each other. So not only are we trying to look good for ourself we are also trying to look the best for this false idea of what or who we shoudl be.

Answer 3

Being materialistic is a learned behavior, just like everything else. When you are born, you are like a sponge, you learn from the people and environment around you. Your personality is pretty much achieved by the age of 5. From than on, it just fluoresces with what you have to work with. Meaning money, etc. Some people's personalities are thrifty, some are careless. It could go all ways. It's true about society having a part in our decisions, but again-it's how we view life within our self morally.

Answer 4

I think that it is natural to have some necessary things but society has made us more materialistic because there are so many things and some people want to have more then others and this is real problem because they will end up buying things which are not needed and eventually they will have lost much money which they could have used on something more important.

Answer 5

I would think to some extent but not to the extremes as it seems to be with others--that if placing value or sentimental value in a heirloom being materialistic then yes--as far as being a product of society--well it seems that isnt so much the case as more so just a human thing--

Answer 6

i believe it's all about how you are raised. not all people are materialistic if they are grown up with modesty and limitations on what they recieve. however, money does change people often for the bad and can make people greedy and materialistic. i hate people who are very materialistic and i think one daythey will all realize what's most important in life when they are old and have no friends to be with them in their fancy house!

Answer 7

Society is a by-product of our materialism. The human with the most tools lives a better life and therefor mates successfully more often therefor his/her genes are passed on to the next generation more often!

Answer 8

I think that we are naturally creatures who want "things" for a sense of security. We all see creatures that store away things for a bad time; we are one of the few (maybe the only one) that does it consciously. We do get tripped up by lots of other influences - power, prestige, etc. - but I think that when it comes down to proverbial brass tacks, we're just storing away our nuts for the winter somewhere down deep.

Answer 9

a woman, instinctually, wants someone to provide for her in order that she can provide for the child. This goes way back. The aboriginal culture has a beautiful theory that once you have something in your posession, you have it forever....Even if you give it away five minutes after you get it. You have it in your mind. Have you ever received a bouquet of flowers....after they are gone, you still 'have' them....

Answer 10

Society. I doubt many sub-saharn africans are materialistic when they have nothing they are just worried about there next meal.

Answer 11

We are not born materialistic, all depends with what believes you were raised