Mindfulness as a Moderating Variable of Selfishness and Materialism

Abstract

For materialistic individuals, the pleasure of acquisitions is central to life and is pursued to enhance happiness, possessional-defined success and attain status. Materialism can be described as the importance people attach to worldly possessions that are expected to be a source of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Focusing on the present moment is a possible method of reducing the negative influences of materialism. Therefore, this study focuses on mindfulness as a strategy to minimize materialistic pursuits. Mindfulness is the practice of cultivating a mode or state of awareness and is used to eliminate fleeting mindful states and recognize the transient nature of thoughts and feelings. Additionally, previous research has demonstrated how mindfulness can reduce the link between motivation and behaviour and promote rational judgment that is consistent with our innate needs. The present experimental research examines mindfulness activities as a moderating variable of selfishness and materialism in undergraduate students. Selfishness is widely regarded as the excessive tendency to focus on the self, regardless of the well-being of others. Considering previous research, we expect to find the participants scoring high in selfishness and materialism that engage in the mindfulness activity will shift their awareness inwards and not over value materialistic items. This mindfulness state could enhance an individual's awareness and act as a gatekeeper between situational cues and one's mind.

Department: Psychology 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Watson