Rise Of Materialism In America

Picture the classic American home: two story brick, two car garage, white picket fence around a beautiful green lawn, basketball goal and bike included. Ever wonder what the average price of that house in the United States might be? In 2015, that average was $346,400, believe it or not. That number is so high, at least in part, because America’s elite one percent has spent much, much more than that to build enormous mansions. For example, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s “house” cost them a whopping $16 million. That sum is equivalent to 20,000 low income homes built by Habitat for Humanity. These mansions are not just excessive; they also negatively affect the environment and communities. Towns like Rye, New York, have even passed laws

In some ways materialism is an innate human tendency; people crave comfort. However, seeking comfort solely through material belongings ultimately does not satisfy, so the search continues for more and more. While materialism has been around for a long time, studies show that it has been on a rapid rise in America since the 1960s (“Materialistic Couples” 2). The rise is most likely linked to the large increase in consumerism in this nation and the world. Since the Industrial Revolution, merchandise that is wanted, not needed, has been much easier to obtain. The availability of goods has changed perceptions of what a “need” is. How often is a child heard saying to his parent, “Mom, I need it!” People certainly need food, basic clothing, and shelter. Psychologists affirm the human need for love and affection, but do people need what America is selling today? The concept being sold is that to be successful, a family needs to have three cars, a house and a vacation house, nice clothes, beautiful parents, well-dressed kids, and anything else the neighbors

“The average employed American is now working more than forty-seven hours per week…” (Source 6 1) Studies show that “less materialistic couples are more likely to find themselves in happier marriages than those who dwell too much on money and possessions… even among spouses who shared the same materialistic values” (“Materialistic Values” 1). This attitude in marriage affects children too. A poll by CNN and Time shows that 80 percent of the public believes kids are more spoiled today than they were 10-15 years ago. Many do not see a problem with these statistics. Why does it matter if parents work longer hours and kids have countless toys? This materialistic approach to life translates into people becoming increasingly selfish. If being successful means acquiring large sums of money, then people will be much less willing to give any of their “success” away. The standard now is that elite one percent, so even if a family has enough to take care of themselves and some left over to share, they are less likely to share. This emphasis on the material means the earth—the environment that sustains life—suffers. The Center for a New American Dream found that “since the United States consumes more energy, water, paper, steel, and meat per capita than any other country, at least four additional planets would be needed to provide the American lifestyle