We extend belks original construct to encompass the digital extended self as we identify three crucial domains where traditional boundaries between selfnot self. Russell belks 1988 seminal paper on the extended self in the journal of consumer research highlighted the central role of material artifacts in defining selfidentity. The purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belk s 1988 landmark paper possessions and the extended self. This work tends to be qualitative, visual, and cultural. A variety of evidence is presented supporting this simple and compelling.
Belks theory of extended self belks advancement of extended self has been argued to render an innovative viewpoint regarding the study of self in consumer behaviour. A variety of evidence is presented supporting this simple and compelling premise. A variety of evidence is presented supporting this. The authors provide a prehistory of related ideas and then examine the controversy it triggered regarding the different paradigms of research in marketing cohen, 1989 some 26 years ago.
Real self vs ideal self real and ideal self concept aka true self false self duration. While self extension to physical possessions has been previously studied, self extension to digital possessions has yet to be explored until recently. Possessions and the extended self self is extended through symbolic incorporation of object meanings belk 1988. The concept of extended self belk, 1988 posits that there is first an atomized individual self that radiates out into the world. Possessions and self belk 2010 major reference works. In the present office worker context, we find that certain selfextending possessions involve an expansion of mental capabilities that. Belk rw 1988 possessions and the extended self journal of consumer research vol from bus 100 at hong kong shue yan university. Belk rw 1988 possessions and the extended self journal of. Belks argument suggests that a selfextended product symbolizes or represents aspects of the self that the person considers relevant. Pdf purpose the purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belks 1988 landmark paper possessions and the extended self.
Purpose the purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belk s 1988 landmark paper possessions and the extended self. Russell w, belk our possessions are a major contributor to and reflection of our identities. Eldon tanner professor of business administration, graduate school of business, university of utah, salt lake city, ut 84060. Most claims from belk are supported, but the notion of a. We provide a prehistory of related ideas and then examine the controversy it triggered regarding the different paradigms of research in marketing cohen.
I have been especially interested in how possessions expand our sense of self. The role of possessions in transpeoples conflicted selves. This paper provides a prehistory of the extended self concept and charts the impact of russell belks seminal paper, using citation analyses and the qualitative comments of prominent scholars. With the study guides and notes written by fellow students, you are guaranteed to be properly prepared for your exams. Pdf belks 1988 possessions and the extended self revisited. Purpose the purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belk s 1988 landmark article possessions and the extended self. Abstract purpose the purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belks 1988 landmark paper possessions and the extended self. This site is part of repec and all the data displayed here is part of the repec data set. Possessions and the extended self journal of consumer.
W, 1988, p 9 belk is very much coming at this from a consumer science, or consumerism viewpoint. For better or for worse, our possessions help to tangibilize our past, our present, and perhaps our future. Read belks 1988 possessions and the extended self revisited, journal of historical research in marketing on deepdyve, the largest online rental service for scholarly research with thousands of academic publications available at your fingertips. Because the construct of extended self involves consumer behavior rather. I, me, and minehow products become consumers extended.
Belk rewards program terms and conditions by participating in the belk rewards program, you hereby agree to be bound by these terms. The extended self means all the products a person buys and at the same time becomes a part of a persons self. Belk, possessions and the extended self, journal of consumer research, volume 15, issue 2, september 1988, pages 9168. He applies theories of philosophy, and philosophical concepts. Belk sees consumers as possessing a core self that is expanded to include items that. Essay on belk the extended self concept 1840 words 8 pages consumer behaviour week 6 the self possessions and the extended self. Research and theory on the extended self must now consider features such as dematerialization, reembodiment, and coconstruction of self. In belks formulation of the extended self, tools and weapons were used to illustrate possessions that literally extend self and thereby enhance physical performances. Nonetheless, belk suggests a consistent structure for the self, at least in western individualistic cultures. Possessions as the extended self article pdf available in journal of consumer research 152.
By considering the extended self at work, we interrogate,modify, and add to the original formulation of extended self. Purpose the purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belks 1988 landmark article possessions and the extended self. Work self and home self contend for dominance in these displays. How might belks paper differ if he had published it in 20. In other words, the selfassubject i constructs selfreferential objectmeanings that are then assimilated into ones sense of identity that is the selfasobject me. Belk is an american business academic, currently a distinguished research professor and the kraft foods canada chair in marketing at schulich school of business, york university. I have also been interested in possessions to which we devote extra attentiongifts, mementos, souvenirs, collections, heirlooms, monuments, and pets, for example. In order to receive the benefits of the belk rewards program, you need to. Advances in consumer research volume 42, 2014 alternative conceptualizations of the extended self russell belk, york university, canada abstract belk s 1988 formulation of the extended self is an influential conceptualization of the relation between people and possessions. It has recently been updated belk 20 to include digitally medi. Self extension and the desire to preserve digital possessions.
We also recognize, along with mick and buhl 1992 and belk and watson 1998, that the extended self entails various life pro. Purpose the purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belks 1988 landmark paper possessions and the extended self. Extended self in a digital world marketing science institute. A summary table outlines the changes to the extended self concept and the nature of possessions resulting from these features. Belks 1988 possessions and the extended self revisited. Belks 1988 formulation of the extended self is an influential conceptualization of the relation between people and possessions. In these ongoing negotiations self may be extended, but it may also. Belk asserted that the self could extend to possessions, which could then influence behavior surrounding possessions, such as buying, selling, caring for and discarding.
The authors provide a prehistory of related ideas and then examine the controversy it triggered regarding the. Russell belk is york university distinguished research professor and kraft foods canada chair in marketing at york university in toronto. Belk our possessions are a major contributor to and reflection of our identities. They may even provide a type of immortality when they remain attached to our identity after our death. The authors provide a prehistory of related ideas and then. First, people spontaneously mention their possessions when asked to describe themselves gordon, 1968. We draw conclusions about expanding the theories of the extended self and performativity in order to better account for selfconflicts and the role of possessions in dealing with these conflicts. Related streams of research are identified and drawn upon in developing this concept and implications are derived for consumer behavior. As such, belk 1988 explains how we become contaminated in both positive and negative ways through contact with peoples possessions see also.
His research involves the extended self, meanings of possessions, collecting, giftgiving, sharing, digital consumption, and materialism. Related streans of research are identified and drawn upon in devetopjng this concept and implications are derived for consumer behavior. Employees must decide which aspects of the self belong to the domain of work and which belong elsewhere. The self in consumer behaviour the self, attitudes and. The article advances theory both about the composition of the self that consumers construe across cultures, and about the mechanisms by which this self extends through. Possessions and the extended self journal of consumer research. The first analysis compared scholarly citations of belk 1988 with the top ten most cited journal of consumer research jcr articles. Artificial life russell belk, mariam humayun, ahir gopaldas. Designmethodologyapproach this paper takes belk seriously when he argues.
Essay on belk the extended self concept 1840 words. Our possessions are a major contributor to and reflection of our identities. Belk to understand consumer behaviour we need to understand the meanings that consumers attached to possession. Awardwinning marketing professor russell belk talks about how our possessions including our clothing, cars, people, collections, gifts, social media pages, become part of our identity or our extended self. Download file to see previous pages emphasising on this particular issue, the discussion henceforth will be based on analysing selfconcept from the perspective of belk and goffman. Make objects become a part of self is by knowing them by inspiring the desire to have the object. Professor belk is a leading authority on consumption, consumer culture, consumer behaviour, materialism, collecting, giftgiving, sharing and the digital self.
Extended self and possessions in the workplace journal. Recently, these notions of the extendedself and contamination or, contagion have been used to explain peoples desire to own celebrity memorabilia in the west. The purpose of this paper is to revisit russell belks 1988 landmark paper possessions and the extended self. Findings are compared to belks possessions and the extended self. This study of the meanings of possessions displayed in the offices of employees in a high technology firm suggests extensions to the concept of extended self.
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