Buying a lottery-ticket can undermine your self-control and activate materialistic thoughts.
The idea of gaining money without working or earning it have been considered by many as a form of greed. Now research shows that buying a lottery ticket also can make you spend more money (or eat more chocolate!) even if the winner is not even revealed yet.
"The problem, according to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, is that for most people, a lottery ticket leads to thoughts of the wonderful things you would buy if you hit the -jackpot. That focus on concrete, specific items—a type of thinking psychologists call “low-level construal”—makes it very difficult to exercise self-control."....
"“...Self-control is perhaps one of the most important attributes that a person needs to succeed,” he adds. “Materialism has a negative impact on it, and that is of concern to not only individuals, but also society.”
Money flies!
The study also show that people who rather thinking of traveling instead of buying material things have more abstract and long term thinking, and for this reason are less negatively affected according to self control.
“Lottery-induced self-control failure is not universal,” Kim concludes. But his research suggests it is “predominant.” He adds that plenty of other activities also activate “a burst of materialistic thoughts,” including “media filled with lavish consumption.”
That’s why you can’t stop snacking on Bon-Bons as you leaf through Vanity Fair.
So catalysts creating a materialist mindset are all over, and purchasing a lottery ticket is a strong one. If you do so, go right home afterwards—and keep the computer off. Some of those online sales will probably look pretty enticing."
..You can read it here!
More about how to avoid buying too much : Awake Magasine June 2013
