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

本研究旨在通过珍爱财产的测量来探讨物质自我的结构和功能。我们的研究阐明了珍惜财产在个体过渡到新环境的适应过程中的一些功能。我们的调查结果表明，珍爱物品分为行动物品和沉思物品。第一种是指通过独特的行为发展自我控制。第二个指的是基于意识反思的自我成就。男性珍爱物主体的行动客体多于女性，行动客体的意义是功利性的，沉思客体的意义是记忆性的。对留学生的调查显示，留学生的适应主要有四种因素：一般适应、内部控制适应、隶属关系适应和外部依赖适应。留学生最珍爱的物品是书籍、衣服、护照和与实用有关的金钱。这些结果表明，具有功利功能的珍爱物品促进了留学生的适应。对于住院患者而言，医院生活必需品和娱乐用品在其珍爱财产中所占比例较高。在养老机构中，老年人拥有珍贵财产的比例较低。并编制了物质自我的个体差异测量量表，验证了其效度和信度。

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.