Find me strength in things: Fear can explain materialism
通过四项实验发现，恐惧感会增强人们的物质主义倾向，因为物质产品能带来安全感，而体验性消费则不能。
Abstract Individuals feel fear when they face potential dangers and threats. It causes individuals to take actions and make choices that help them face the threat, such as by seeking out others because there is “strength in numbers.” We conjecture that fear also increases materialism in individuals because there is “strength in things.” The results from four experiments illustrate that situationally felt fear can increase materialistic orientation (Study 1) because of a desire for safety (Study 2). Importantly, fear increases preference for material and not experiential goods (Study 3). Finally, consistent with our theoretical account, having more material products (vs. experiences) can reduce fear (Study 4). Together, our findings across four studies suggest that fear increases materialism. Our findings also offer unique insights into another precursor or antecedent to materialism, a human value related to both possessiveness and selfishness and that restricts individuals' pursuit of true happiness.