Tim Kasser
Encyclopedia
Tim Kasser is an American psychologist
and book author known for his work on materialism and well-being.
After receiving his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Rochester
in 1994, Tim Kasser accepted a position at Knox College in Galesburg
, Illinois, where he is currently a professor of psychology.
He has authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on materialism
, values, goals, well-being, and environmental sustainability
, among other topics. His first book, The High Price of Materialism, was published in 2002; his second book (co-edited with Allen D. Kanner), Psychology and Consumer Culture, was released in 2004. In 2009 he co-authored a book (with Tom Crompton) Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity. He co-authored an article with Tom Crompton of WWF-UK entitled Human Identity: A Missing Link in Environmental Campaigning on climate change denial
.
In the last several years, he has become increasingly involved with activist groups who work against the commercialization of children and who work towards a more inwardly rich lifestyle than what is offered by consumerism
. He lives with his wife, two sons, and assorted animals in the western Illinois
countryside.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and book author known for his work on materialism and well-being.
After receiving his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in 1994, Tim Kasser accepted a position at Knox College in Galesburg
Galesburg
Galesburg is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Galesburg, Illinois, the largest city in the US named Galesburg*Galesburg, Kansas*Galesburg, Michigan*Galesburg, North Dakota...
, Illinois, where he is currently a professor of psychology.
He has authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
, values, goals, well-being, and environmental sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, among other topics. His first book, The High Price of Materialism, was published in 2002; his second book (co-edited with Allen D. Kanner), Psychology and Consumer Culture, was released in 2004. In 2009 he co-authored a book (with Tom Crompton) Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity. He co-authored an article with Tom Crompton of WWF-UK entitled Human Identity: A Missing Link in Environmental Campaigning on climate change denial
Climate change denial
Climate change denial is a term used to describe organized attempts to downplay, deny or dismiss the scientific consensus on the extent of global warming, its significance, and its connection to human behavior, especially for commercial or ideological reasons...
.
In the last several years, he has become increasingly involved with activist groups who work against the commercialization of children and who work towards a more inwardly rich lifestyle than what is offered by consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
. He lives with his wife, two sons, and assorted animals in the western Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
countryside.
Select publications
- Kasser, T. in Human Autonomy in Cross-Cultural Context (Chirkov, VI; Ryan, RM & Sheldon, KM, eds), Capitalism and autonomy, 191-206 (SpringerSpringer Science+Business Media- Selected publications :* Encyclopaedia of Mathematics* Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete * Graduate Texts in Mathematics * Grothendieck's Séminaire de géométrie algébrique...
, Netherlands, 2011). - Kasser, T, Crompton, T, and Linn, S. Children, commercialism and environmental sustainability. Solutions 1(2), 14–17 (2010).
- Kasser, T, Cohn, S, Kanner, AD, & Ryan, RM. Some costs of American corporate capitalism: a psychological exploration of value and goal conflicts. Psychological InquiryPsychological InquiryThe Psychological Inquiry is a quarterly psychology journal published by Taylor & Francis. It aims to be a forum for the discussion of theory and meta-theory, primarily in social psychology and personality. It aims to publish ideas and theories that are broad, provocative, and debatable, while...
18, 1–22 (2007). - Kasser, T, Ryan, RM, Couchman, CE & Sheldon, KM in Psychology and Consumer Culture: The Struggle for a Good Life in a Materialistic World (Kasser, T & Kanner, AD, eds), Materialistic values: Their causes and consequences, 11–28 (American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationThe American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, Washington, DC, 2004).
See also
- Economic materialismEconomic materialismMaterialism is a mindset that views the consumption and acquisition of material goods as positive and desirable. It is often bound up with a value system which regards social status as being intrinsically linked to affluence as well as the perception that happiness can be increased through...
- Cultural CreativesCultural CreativesCultural Creatives is a term coined by sociologist Paul H. Ray and psychologist Sherry Ruth Anderson to describe a large segment in Western society that has recently developed beyond the standard paradigm of Modernists or Progressives versus Traditionalists or Conservatives...
- Post-materialismPost-materialismThe concept of post-materialism is a tool in developing an understanding of modern culture. It can be considered in reference of three distinct concepts of materialism...
- voluntary simplicity
External links
- Tim Kasser's personal homepage
- Knox College homepage about Tim Kasser
- Capitalism, Commercialism, and Children's well-being: Empirical Analyses Across Wealthy Nations video of a talk by Tim Kasser at the 2008 summit of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free ChildhoodCampaign for a Commercial-Free ChildhoodCampaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is a "national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups, parents, and individuals who care about children [and is] the only national organization devoted to limiting the impact of commercial culture on children." It sponsors the...