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More than two in five Americans (43%) say they are driven to accumulate nice things. More than half (55%) disagree, and 2% aren’t sure. Similarly, 43% say shopping makes them feel worthwhile, 55% disagree and 3% aren’t sure.
Slightly fewer judge their progress based on accumulating high-quality possessions. Two in five (41%) believe they are getting ahead when they have nice things, 56% disagree and 3% aren’t sure.
Far fewer Americans (16%) admit it troubles them when friends have nicer things than they do. More than four in five (82%) disagree, and 1% aren’t sure.
“Though few buy things to match or exceed what their friends have, it is likely that the new things people pursue they learn about from friends,” said McConnell. “Pursuing more, better, and newer is enjoyable for many, but it is also common for people to eventually hop off the consumption cycle especially at a stage of life that they comparatively have more wealth.”
Overall, adults younger than 50 and those who attend church more than once a week are more likely to fall into the consumer mindset. Conversely, females, those 65 and older, those without evangelical beliefs and those who attend church less frequently are less likely to be consumeristic.
The younger a person is, the more likely they are to agree they like to have the latest technology, are driven to accumulate nice things and are troubled when their friends have nicer things. Additionally, those under 35 are among the most likely to say shopping makes them feel worthwhile (69%) and they know they are getting ahead when they have nice things (57%).
Religious service attendance is correlated to embracing a consumeristic mindset. Those who attend more than once a week are the most likely to say shopping makes them feel worthwhile (61%) and they know they are getting ahead when they have nice things (56%). They are also among the most likely to say they are driven to accumulate nice things (61%) and like to have the latest technology (55%).
“The most devout practitioners of faith typically are better able to avoid vices. Yet we see that those attending religious services the most often also are the most likely to want to be overachievers in consuming nice things,” said McConnell.
Still, Protestants are among the least likely to agree with several consumerist statements, including they like to have the latest technology (43%), shopping makes them feel worthwhile (39%), they know they are getting ahead when they have nice things (37%) and they’re troubled by friends having nicer things (16%). They are also most likely to disagree that they are driven to accumulate nice things (63%).
Contented mindset
Most Americans believe they have enough stuff but wouldn’t mind having more of what it takes to buy more.
When they look in their closets, most U.S. adults believe they’re doing OK. Four in five (81%) say they have enough clothes and shoes, 18% disagree and 1% aren’t sure. Additionally, another 4 in 5 (80%) say they have enough entertainment in their life, while 19% disagree and 1% aren’t sure.