Materialism is thought to operate primarily as a buffer for negative emotions in the context of difficult psychological states, therefore mindfulness, which mediates better emotional regulation and impulse control, is theorized to reduce materialism and its harmful properties, through urge reduction to cope with psychological discomfort, weakling the habit of turning to materialistic acquisition in the face of emotional unpleasantness. Mindfulness functions as a reduction of motivations underlying materialistic values. 

Mindfulness function as a solution to materialism

Comparative aspect of self-regulation that is focused on critically evaluating one’s own state, as it relates to other people in order to judge relative quality. Assessment promotes highly critical self-judgments and evaluations of others persons on various dimensions, including attainments and social image. This type of regulatory mode is characterized by an intense focus on self-evaluation, fear of invalidity, self-consciousness, need for social comparison and greater sensitivity to deviations from external standards.

Regulatory modes mediating materialism: Assessment

Individuals high in this type of mode does not weight the value of a goal, but rather appreciates the steady movement as it progresses forward. Locomotors focus more on the present moment in time and current physical and psychological state of being. Characterized by ability to ignore past events, willingness to self-forgive, absence of counterfactual thinking and regret and is therefore negatively correlated with materialistic behaviors

Regulatory modes mitigating materialism: Locomotion

Investing in material possessions is connected to diminished well-being, including self-determination and meaning in life. Research demonstrates these costs may be due to how the individual’s approach to material things and are therefore mediated by trait motivations to avoid negative experiences. A capacity to accept and improve aspects of the self is an integral part of maintaining well-being, but material objects merely provide an external distraction and immediate gratification. 



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Individuals who endorse materialistic values and who invest more heavily into consumer culture have been shown to experience more negative self-appraisals, higher rates of depression and anxiety, compulsive buying behavior and poorer physical health overall. The perceived belief of these individuals that happiness is something to achieve is associated with enhanced negative affect. 

Negative impact of consumer culture on well-being

Keefer, L. A., & Rothschild, Z. K. (2021). Attachment anxiety mitigates the well-being costs of object attachment. Journal of Individual Differences, 42(1), 41–56. https://doi-org.libezproxy2.syr.edu/10.1027/1614-0001/a000328

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