The Diderot Effect: Balancing Desire and Overspending
How New Possessions Can Lead to Overspending and How It Can Be Helpful Also - Issue #164
The Diderot Effect is a phenomenon that occurs when acquiring a new possession leads to a spiral of consumption, resulting in the acquisition of even more possessions.
In other words, buying something new can trigger a chain reaction of buying more things, as the new item makes you feel like you need other things to go with it or to keep up with it.
This effect was first described by the French philosopher Denis Diderot in his essay "Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing Gown". Diderot tells how the gift of a beautiful scarlet dressing gown led to unexpected results, eventually plunging him into debt. Initially pleased with the gift, Diderot came to rue his new garment as it made his other possessions seem tawdry in comparison. He replaced his old straw chair with an armchair covered in Moroccan leather, his old desk with an expensive new writing table, and his formerly beloved prints with more costly ones.
"I was absolute master of my old dressing gown", Diderot writes, "but I have become a slave to my new one... Beware of the contamination of sudden wealth. The poor man may take his ease without thinking of appearances, but the rich man is always under a strain".
The Diderot Effect is most damaging when it surrounds status signalling purchases that are more about showing your position to others than fulfilling a genuine need. However, it can also work in your favour in some cases, such as when purchasing a new gym membership that encourages you to identify as a healthier person and make better food, fitness, and recovery purchases to cement that identity.
Overcoming the Diderot Effect
To overcome the Diderot Effect and avoid overspending, it's important to be aware of its influence on your behaviour. Here are some strategies to help you break the cycle of consumption:
Reduce exposure to habit triggers: Unsubscribe from commercial emails, opt out of magazine mailings, meet friends at the park rather than the mall, and block your favourite shopping websites using tools like Freedom. Delete the apps that make you spend money.
Buy items that fit your current system: When purchasing new clothes, look for items that work well with your current wardrobe. When upgrading electronics, get things that play nicely with your existing pieces to avoid buying new chargers, adapters, or cables.
Set self-imposed limits: Create limitations for yourself to operate within, such as agreeing to spend no more than a certain amount on athletic shoes for your children or limiting their television watching to a specific number of hours per day.
Aim for an optimal amount of things, not the fewest: The goal is not to reduce life to the fewest number of things, but to fill it with the optimal amount of things that bring you joy and fulfilment.
Sociologist and economist Juliet Schor uses the term in her 1992 book "The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need" to describe processes of competitive, status-conscious consumption driven by dissatisfaction. In her 2005 essay "Learning Diderot's Lesson: Stopping the Upward Creep of Desire", Schor describes the effect in contemporary consumer culture in the context of its negative environmental consequences.
As Diderot himself concluded, "Let my example teach you a lesson. Poverty has its freedoms; opulence has its obstacles."
The Positive Diderot Effect in Health and Fitness
The Diderot Effect can indeed have positive applications, particularly when it comes to personal health and wellness.
When you take a gym membership and start exercising regularly, it can trigger a cascade of positive changes in your lifestyle:
Improved Diet: As you begin to exercise, you may become more conscious of your nutritional needs. This awareness often leads to making healthier food choices to support your fitness goals.
Better Sleep Habits: Regular exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality. As you establish an exercise routine, you may find yourself naturally adopting better sleep habits to support your recovery and overall well-being.
Enhanced Stress Management: Exercise is a powerful stress reliever. The habit of regular physical activity can lead to improved stress management skills and an overall sense of well-being.
Increased Water Intake: With increased physical activity, you're likely to drink more water, which has numerous health benefits beyond just supporting your workouts.
Time Management Skills: Incorporating regular gym sessions into your schedule may prompt you to become more organised and efficient with your time.
Social Connections: Joining a gym can lead to new social connections with like-minded individuals, potentially expanding your support network for a healthy lifestyle.
Goal-Setting Behaviour: Success in fitness often encourages setting and achieving goals in other areas of life.
Improved Self-Image: As you see physical improvements from your gym routine, it may boost your confidence and motivate you to make other positive changes in your life.
Remember, while the original Diderot Effect was about spiralling consumption, this positive application shows how it can lead to spiralling self-improvement instead.
How are you using the Diderot effect? It all starts with awareness.
In case you missed previous issue on the Five Essential Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, here are the highlights:
Focus on Effort, Not Outcomes (Chapter 2, Verse 47)
True fulfillment comes from giving your best without attachment to results. This reduces stress, builds resilience, and fosters continuous improvement.
Embrace Change with Equanimity (Chapter 2, Verse 14)
Life’s highs and lows are temporary. Accepting change and adapting with grace leads to growth and inner peace.
Master Your Anger (Chapter 2, Verse 63)
Anger clouds judgment and harms relationships. Practicing self-awareness, emotional control, and self-care helps in managing anger effectively.
Overcome Self-Doubt (Chapter 4, Verse 40)
Self-doubt limits potential. Building confidence, celebrating achievements, and embracing growth can help overcome imposter syndrome.
Let Go of Excessive Stress (Chapter 11, Verse 33)
Understand your role as part of a larger plan. Focus on actions, accept outcomes, and trust in the unfolding journey to reduce anxiety.
Five Essential Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita
Did you like this issue? If yes, consider dropping your love on the socials and sharing it with anyone who you think will benefit from it.
See you on the fifty second (Last) Sunday of 2024. Take care!