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Belk Materialism Scales

BELK-MATMaterialism defined as the importance a consumer attaches to worldly possessions, comprising three subtraits: possessiveness (inclination to retain control or ownership of possessions), nongenerosity (unwillingness to give or share possessions with others), and envy (displeasure and ill will at another person's superior possessions, success, or happiness).

24 items 1985 α 0.57–0.80 Free Belk, R.W.

What it measures

The original multidimensional materialism measure, validated in student (n=237) and mixed adult samples (n=338). Overall 24-item alpha 0.66–0.73. Subscale alphas: Possessiveness 0.57–0.68, Nongenerosity 0.58–0.72, Envy 0.64–0.80. Test-retest (subsample n=48): Possessiveness 0.87, Nongenerosity 0.64, Envy 0.70. All three subtraits correlate negatively with happiness (rapprox.–0.26) and life satisfaction (rapprox.–0.24). Ger & Belk (1990) identified a fourth cross-cultural dimension ('tangiblization'/'preservation') in international samples. The Richins & Dawson (1992) MVS (id:487) generally supersedes the Belk scale for most research, but the Belk scale remains valuable when possessiveness and nongenerosity are theoretically central.

Representative items

I tend to hang on to things I should probably throw out. (Possessiveness)
I worry about people taking my possessions. (Possessiveness)
I don't like to lend things, even to good friends. (Nongenerosity)
I am bothered when I see people who buy anything they want. (Envy)
When friends have things I cannot afford it bothers me. (Envy)

Citation

Belk, R.W. (1985). Materialism: Trait aspects of living in the material world. Journal of Consumer Research, 12(3), 265–280.

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