Managing Materialism and Carnality The acquisition of material has been equated with happiness in this country. The majority of Americans believe that wealth and happiness are the same. It is a result of our market economy that encourages consumption and conditions us to think that we need material possessions to be happy. Our materialistic attitudes are a result of the free market economy in this country. Consumers are taught that they need to have all the things that the businesses are trying to sell. It is true that this desire for things is what drives our economy. The free market has given us great blessings, but it has in some