De-materialization and the sense of self: determining the building blocks of individuality once material possessions are removed

• Ano de defesa: 2024
• Autor(a) principal: Latil, Flore Joséphine Hélène Emmanuelle Marie
• Orientador(a): Veludo-de-Oliveira, Tania
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Palavras-chave em Português: Minimalismo; Pertences; O eu; Arrumação; Transição; Comportamento do consumidor
• Palavras-chave em Inglês: Minimalism; Possessions; The self; Decluttering; Transition; Consumer research
• Link de acesso: https://hdl.handle.net/10438/36075

This paper explores the ties between a minimalist lifestyle and the sense of self of individuals from the Western world in their twenties, thirties and forties. It aims to discuss the effects of de-materialization on the sense of self throughout the transition to a minimalist lifestyle. The first section focuses on defining minimalism, the self, and the processes of de-materialization. The research contributes to consumer research by providing insights for a better understanding of the evolution of self through reducing material possessions. The analysis is based on digital methods and interviews, enriched by literature and online blogs. We argue that one is not diminished by minimalism but rather closer to their core self, with novel insight on the motivations, challenges, and benefits of the adoption of minimalism for young adults of the Western world.