Materialism vs Happiness in America Essay - 1206 Words

Western society has an obsession. It is a dark and crippling fixation. Many people do not even realize the trap society has lured them into. The procurement of material wealth has become an obsession in modern Western culture. The culture has become obsessed with acquiring vast amounts of wealth and anything associated with â€Å"being wealthy†. This need for material objects has intensified overtime. The progression of materialism in the western world has caused a decrease in the happiness and overall well-being of the people that reside in the society. Materialism as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary is â€Å"a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material†¦show more content†¦Their desire for gold led them to a new world. Materialism can drive humans to do great things. However, there are times when it has driven human beings toward the path of their own destruction. There are not many noteworthy spans of history where human’s materialistic have values diminished. When events that reduced materialism occurred it was usually the result natural disasters or caused by human folly. One of the best examples human follies would be the Housing crash of 2008. The main cause of the crash was the failure of the stock market; which is the perfect illustration of materialism. The quest to amass ever higher profits, led to an unstable system that failed and brought millions of people down with it. Materialism, in this case, drove individuals onto a path that served good only to a few, but harmed millions. As long as humans have existed, there has been greed. It is only recently that scientist have realized the negative effects it has had on individuals. The study of materialism has provided varied results. But the most intriguing views state that materialism is increasing and that it does have an effect on the happiness and well-being of individuals. Studies have shown that materialism lead’s to mental health problems, as well. In modern times it scientist have shown that materialism is rising. Since the 1950’s materialism had been on the rise. RichardShow MoreRelated Materialism in The Great Gatsby Essay1075 Words   |  5 PagesMaterialism may be defined as attention to or emphasis on material objects, needs or considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual values. The acquisition of material wealth is often equated with happiness in this country. This is true today, and it was true during the 1920s, the setting of F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. That the majority of Americans believe that wealth and happiness are the same is a result of our market economy that encourages consumption and conditionsRead MoreInto The Wild By Jon Krakauer1856 Words   |  8 PagesTrail, Alexander Supertramp, in a way that tugs at the buried wanderer inside of everyone. 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