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The material and immaterial in conflict: Spirituality reduces conspicuous consumption

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  • Stillman, Tyler F.
  • Fincham, Frank D.
  • Vohs, Kathleen D.
  • Lambert, Nathaniel M.
  • Phillips, Christa A.

Abstract

Many spiritual leaders have argued that materialistic pursuits are incompatible with following a spiritual life. Consistent with this view, we found that higher levels of spirituality correspond to a decreased desire to consume material goods in a conspicuous manner. Study 1 was correlational, and found that people who reported having spiritual experiences reported a decreased desire to spend lavishly for visible consumer goods, such as a cell phone. Study 2 was experimental, and found that participants assigned to recall a spiritual event also demonstrated a decreased desire to consume conspicuously, relative to participants assigned to recall an enjoyable event.

Suggested Citation

  • Stillman, Tyler F. & Fincham, Frank D. & Vohs, Kathleen D. & Lambert, Nathaniel M. & Phillips, Christa A., 2012. "The material and immaterial in conflict: Spirituality reduces conspicuous consumption," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 1-7.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:33:y:2012:i:1:p:1-7
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2011.08.012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Guven, Cahit, 2012. "Reversing the question: Does happiness affect consumption and savings behavior?," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 701-717.
    2. Rayco Rodríguez Reyes & Sergio Gallego García & Manuel García García, 2018. "Applying the Viable System Model to an Organization with CSR Goals: The Case of a Charity Organization," European Journal of Economics and Business Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 4, ejes_v4_i.
    3. Zein Muttaqin, 2019. "The Nature of Excessive Behavior (ISRAF) in the Islamic Economic Framework," GATR Journals jber169, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    4. Shino Takayama & Yuki Tamura & Terence Yeo, 2019. "Primaries, Strategic Voters and Heterogenous Valences," Discussion Papers Series 605, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    5. Holger Strulik, 2016. "Secularization And Long-Run Economic Growth," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 54(1), pages 177-200, January.
    6. Lingguo Xu & Peter E. Earl & D. S. Prasada Rao, 2019. "Materialism and Economic Progress," Discussion Papers Series 604, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    7. Strulik, Holger, 2016. "An economic theory of religious belief," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 35-46.
    8. Wei Cui & Insook Cho, 2019. "Household’s Happiness and Financial Market Participation," Global Economic Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(4), pages 396-418, October.
    9. Yulei Rao & Lixing Mei & Rui Zhu, 2016. "Happiness and Stock-Market Participation: Empirical Evidence from China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 271-293, February.
    10. Liang, Yinhe & Dong, Zhiyong, 2019. "Has education led to secularization? Based on the study of compulsory education law in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 324-336.
    11. Patrice Cottet & Magali Muraro, 2020. "La quête de nature comme expérience spirituelle," Post-Print hal-02586618, HAL.
    12. Gabriella Spinelli & Holly Nelson-Becker & Roberta Ligossi, 2019. "Consumer Competence Strategies, Spiritually Inspired Core Values and Locus of Control: What Are the Links?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-22, September.
    13. Omer Gokcekus & Yui Suzuki, 2014. "Is there a Corruption-effect on Conspicuous Consumption?," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 8(3), pages 215-235, August.
    14. Tomasz Zaleskiewicz & Agata Gasiorowska & Pelin Kesebir, 2013. "Saving Can Save from Death Anxiety: Mortality Salience and Financial Decision-Making," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-10, November.
    15. Ouyang, Mingkun & Cai, Xiao & Yin, Yulong & Zeng, Pan & Chen, Ye & Wang, Xingchao & Xie, Xiaochun & Wang, Pengcheng, 2020. "Student-student relationship and adolescent problematic smartphone use: The mediating role of materialism and the moderating role of narcissism," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    16. Abraham Gyamfi Ababio & Anthony Osei-Fosu & Emmanuel Buabeng, 2021. "Religious orientation and poverty in Ghana: associations and explanations," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 23(2), pages 377-396, December.
    17. Sooyeon Choi & Richard A. Feinberg, 2021. "The LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) Scale Development and Validation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    18. Khan, Muhammad Akram, 2020. "Theory of Consumer Behavior: An Islamic Perspective," MPRA Paper 104208, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Anabel Orellano & Carmen Valor & Emilio Chuvieco, 2020. "The Influence of Religion on Sustainable Consumption: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-21, September.
    20. Baltruszewicz, Marta & Steinberger, Julia K. & Paavola, Jouni & Ivanova, Diana & Brand-Correa, Lina I. & Owen, Anne, 2023. "Social outcomes of energy use in the United Kingdom: Household energy footprints and their links to well-being," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    21. Samer Sarofim & Frank G. Cabano, 2018. "In God we hope, in ads we believe: the influence of religion on hope, perceived ad credibility, and purchase behavior," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 391-404, September.
    22. Lee, Seonjeong Ally & Oh, Haemoon, 2017. "Sharing travel stories and behavioral outcomes: A case of travel," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 147-158.
    23. Joshi, Yatish & Rahman, Zillur, 2019. "Consumers' Sustainable Purchase Behaviour: Modeling the Impact of Psychological Factors," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 235-243.
    24. Hafiz Ihsan Ur Rehman & Ayeza Zubair & Maryem Bibi & Saleem Parvaiz & Hafiz Muhammad Imran Akram, 2023. "Impact Of Religiosity And Self-Congruence On Impulsive And Obsessive Behaviour: A Mediation And Moderation Perspective," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 12(2), pages 18-33.
    25. Rafi M. M. I. Chowdhury, 2018. "Religiosity and Voluntary Simplicity: The Mediating Role of Spiritual Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 149-174, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Spirituality; Religion; Materialism; Conspicuous consumption; Spending;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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