Childhood materialism and low self-esteem linked
More evidence of the relationship between materialism and low self-esteem in children and teens comes from University of Minnesota just down the street.
From “Growing up in a Material World: Age Differences in Materialism in Children and Adolescents” (Lan Nguyen Chaplin and Deborah Roedder John):
For many constituents, the key question is what can be done to diminish materialism among children and adolescents? The ideas receiving the most attention appear to be those centered around placing constraints on media and advertising exposure—such as bans on advertising to children, bans on corporate marketing in public schools, and parental limits on TV exposure. Our results suggest that strategies aimed at increasing self-esteem among tweens and adolescents would be effective. In fact, we found a simple selfesteem manipulation to be so powerful among adolescents that it decreased their focus on material goods to the level of much younger children.
That’s good news, as it confirms that parents and educators have the power to help kids.
Still, I can’t help but ask, why is it a battle to help maintain our children’s self-esteem? Don’t corps have any social responsibility here?
Related (in a new-researchy way): Media violence “significantly increases the risk that both children and adults will behave aggressively.”
The only [threat to public health] effect slightly larger than the effect of media violence on aggression is that of cigarette smoking on lung cancer . . . .
photo courtesy cedar
December 1st, 2007 at 5:57 pm
The link between low self esteem and consumerism makes sense but man it feels very disturbing in young children.
December 1st, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I didn’t phrase my thoughts well there. I mean I know that is how a lot of marketing works but it seems soooooooo exploitative when you think of it working away on children like that.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:36 pm
blue milk, see why I’m so up in arms? Join PEM!
December 2nd, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to defend our children from the normal workings of our social order? “No child left behind” indeed.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I was pondering to my self this evening, ” why was I so materialistic at such a young age”. Materialistic to the point of stealing as young as 6 years old. my mother called me materialistic, obviously noticing it in me. I recall even at the age of 6 being very aware of my financial standing, at school and at home. which i remember driving me to want what others had, and not fully understanding why i could not have it, other than my family being too poor, which kinda pissed me off – even then-, now i wasnt some greedy kid, underserving etc. my want was not out of greed, but actual want of seeming equality within my peers. which at this oddly young age I was aware of…jumping forward to this evening, I decide to google childhood psychology and materialism, and come across this post, with the ties to materialism and low self esteem… and wonder if there is a link, being that I have floundering self esteem at best..I am laughing while typing…if anyone can point me in the direction to learn more, I would appreciate. other than that, thanks for letting me rant