The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the story of Jay Gatsby and his pursuit of the American Dream. Fitzgerald successfully portrays the lost and dissipated generation of 1920s and their struggles with money, status, and reputation.

Readers might find it clear in The Great Gatsby that materialism is something that people pursued almost frantically in the 1920s. We see its dramatic impacts on people both physically and mentally in The Great Gatsby. However, readers might question about what materialism would really bring to human. In a psychological perspective, in what ways does materialism negatively impact individuals?

According to Tim Kasser in the High Price of Materialism, materialism negatively affects individual well being in the ways that the desire it associates raises the risks of depression, anxiety, and reduction of self-esteem. Researchers have found that those who "focus on materialistic value reported less self-actualization and vitality and more depression", and these emotions tend to decrease the quality of their daily life (Kasser 12).

Moreover, according to the article The Madness of Materialism, Steve Taylor has proven that no correlation exists between happiness and material goods. In fact, when income exceeds the basic materialistic needs, the level of income would not make big difference to the level of happiness (Taylor 45). People with extremely high income do not experience higher level of happiness, but they are instead exposed to higher rate of depression. Taylor further clarifies the conception of genuine happiness as having healthy relationships, meaningful jobs, and connection with the world (53).

Some people might rebut by bringing up the notion of acquisitiveness, as Taylor mentions in his article. Acquisitiveness by definition means the impulse to fulfill material wants; and many people would use this concept to justify materialism. However, Taylor analyzes the unnatural aspect of acquisitiveness by stating that people from ancient times possessed no sense of materialism nor the desire to accumulate money (76). Another theory that opposers advocate is that restlessness in wanting is evolutionary; this has shown to be irrational since Materialism is not present in animals (83).

What then does acquisitiveness come from? Taylor further investigates that this psychological emotion comes from inner discontent, and in another words, psychological discord. Psychological discord is a normal state that human experience; it is generally "caused by incessant chattering of our minds", and it often creates negative thoughts within us (Taylor 101). Overall, materialism only gives us a temporary happiness on a superficial level, but it is the discontent that it generates that we should be paying attention.

Also, human' s desire for materials is understood as our reaction to the sense of vulnerability, which is caused by separation (Taylor 132). We as humans try to pursue materialism so that our insecurity can be fulfilled, and our ego can be inflated. Tim Kasser defines this sense as our "narcissistic tendencies"; which can be interpreted as a desire to cover inner emptiness with a fake, flashy exterior (12) . This tendency that materialism generates can eventually shift individual value in a negative way.

The characters Daisy Buchanan and Tom Buchanan portrayed by F. Scott Fitzgerald resonants with Tim Kasser's psychological theory. In the novel, this couple obviously do not possess genuine happiness. They pursue materialism to the point that it exceeds way over their essential needs, but both of them are still having affairs and arguments. Just like how Kasser concludes, materialism does not correlate with absolute happiness even in people wealthy like Tom and Daisy.

Besides Tom and Daisy, Gatsby is definitely worth mentioning as his psychological condition perfectly relates with Steve Taylor's article. As Taylor describes, Gatsby pursues materialism in Daisy due to his inner discontent. Gatsby starts out the journey of his life poor and separated (Fitzgerald 98), and thus by pursuing wealth his ego is able to be inflated. According to Taylor's study on psychological discord, materialism brings Gatsby a sense of satisfaction that is considered superficial; and eventually his values distorted and Daisy becomes his earnest dream, just like how Taylor concludes. At the end of the novel, Gatsby's tragic death can even be interpreted as a consequence of pursuing Materialism.

In conclusion, Materialism negatively impacts individuals in the ways that it can possibly increase the rate of depression and generate a superficial value. Moreover, materialism does not correlate with happiness but a sense of emptiness and discontent. The best way to achieve happiness is to set up a healthy living style instead of pursuing meaningless materialism.