postmaterialism

Meanings

1. Someone's placing higher importance on nonmaterialist values such as autonomy and self-expression, as opposed to materialist values such as economic and physical wellbeing.
2. The theory that a positive correlation exists between one's level of affluence during childhood and such values, and that these persist throughout adulthood irrespective of any changes to one's personal economic circumstances.
3. The theory that political preferences in contemporary affluent (mostly Western) societies are increasingly based on such values, especially with regard to the leftist spectrum, in such a way that parties move away from traditional Marxist materialism.

Etymology

From post- + materialism.

Translations