Social psychological study of the structure and the functions of material self

本研究旨在通过测量所珍视的财产来探索物质自我的结构和功能。我们的研究阐明了当个体过渡到新环境时，珍视财产在适应过程中的一些功能。我们的调查结果表明，珍视的财产被分为行为对象和沉思对象。第一个是指通过独特的行为发展自我控制。第二种是指建立在群居反思基础上的自我成就。珍爱财产的男性受试者比女性受试者拥有更多的行动客体，并且行动客体的意义是功利性的，沉思客体是记忆。通过对留学生的调查，得到了四个适应因素：一般适应、内控适应、从属适应和外部依赖适应。留学生最珍视的东西是与功利有关的书籍、衣服、护照和金钱。这些结果表明，具有功利功能的珍爱物品对留学生的适应有促进作用。对于住院患者来说，医院生活必需品和享乐用品在珍爱的财物中所占比例较高。在养老机构中，老年人拥有珍爱财产的比例较低。编制了物质自我个体差异测量的唯物主义量表，并验证了该量表的效度和信度。

This study aimed to explore the structure and functions of material self by measuring the cherished possessions. Our investigation clarified some functions of the cherished possessions in the adaptation process when individuals transit to new environments. The results of our survey indicated that cherished possessions were categorized as action objects and contemplation object. The first refers to the development of self control through unique acts. The second refers to an achievement of selfhood based on conscoius reflection. Male subjects of cherished possessions had more action objects than female and the meaning of action objects is utilitarian and the contemplation objects means memories. Survey of international students indicated that four factors of adjustment were attained : general adjustment, internally controlled adjustment, affiliation adjustment, and externally dependent adjustment. The cherished possessions of international students were books, clothes, passports, and money which relate with utilitarian. These results suggested that cherished possessions with utilitarian function promoted the adjustment of international students. For patients in the hospital, the ratio of necessities in the hospital life and things for the pleasure was high in the cherished possessions. For the aged in the aged institution, the ratio of having the cherished possessions was low. Also we developed the materialism scale which aimed to measure the individual differences of material self and confirmed its validity and reliability.