Material Self

The material self, according to William James, pertains to the objects, places, or even people which have the label “mine”. Such possessions are viewed as extensions of individuals' identities.

For instance, your clothes reflect certain aspects of your personality and you designate them as “my wardrobe”.

Specifically, James identified the body as the innermost aspect of the material self. Also, you perceive certain body parts as more private or intimately yours as compared to the others. The next aspect is your clothing; the garments which protect as well as project your body. This is followed by your family; they are connected to you by blood and you share their glory as well as shame. Your home comes next; it is where many aspects of your life have been developed, it is where you feel most comfortable, and it is greatly linked to your identity. This is then followed by other possessions such as gadgets, cars, collections, etc.