Just Make it Simple: The Influential Factors, Consequences and Theoretical Mechanisms of Voluntary Simplicity

Li Bin; Zhu Qin; Zhang Kaidi; Yan Renhao; Feng Kai

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240419

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (4) : 918-925. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240419

Social, Personality & Organizational Psychology

Just Make it Simple: The Influential Factors, Consequences and Theoretical Mechanisms of Voluntary Simplicity

Li Bin^1,2,3, Zhu Qin¹, Zhang Kaidi¹, Yan Renhao¹, Feng Kai¹

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Abstract

Voluntary simplicity is a lifestyle in which individuals attain inner abundance and fulfillment in the process of simplifying their external lives, as to give up the possession and satisfaction of physical materials. Instead of living under stress, growing numbers of young people highly value life quality and turn to voluntary simplicity that allows for a better qualitative life. Particularly during the Covid-19 epidemic, consumers' lifestyles and consumption patterns have shifted, with increased acceptance of online purchases and reduced material needs in response to the risk of outings. Voluntary simplicity has emerged as an important lifestyle, and to explore the definition, influences, consequences and theoretical mechanisms of this lifestyle, this review is arranged as follows.
First, we clarified the definition of voluntary simplicity from the perspectives of behavior and values, despite differences, scholars tend to acknowledge this lifestyle as a balance between individual's internal and external growth. Then distinguished this lifestyle from similar concepts. The main difference between voluntary simplicity and green consumption lies in the quantity of consumption, whereas the difference between voluntary simplicity and minimalism emphasizes on the nature of consumption.
Second, influential factors of voluntary simplicity were profiled from aspects like internal factors and external factors. In terms of internal factors, consumers who shift their lifestyles may be motivated by different personal values, such as altruism and green consumption values. Besides, individuals may also choose voluntary simplicity driven by materialism as well as religious beliefs. As for the external factors, negative emotions such as stress and anxiety resulting from consumption may drive individuals away from the consumption world. The outbreak of Covid-19 epidemic has somewhat reduced individuals' consumption desire, which also provides a specific time context for the emergence of voluntary simplicity. Besides, the effects of voluntary simplicity on the environment and individuals were also compiled. Voluntary simplifiers highly value the ecological consequences of their purchases, and emphasize on self-sufficiency and moderate consumption, which have a positive impact on environmental sustainability. The higher the degree of voluntary simplicity consumers have, the less ecological consequences of their consumption behavior and the more friendly to environmental sustainability. Voluntary simplicity is also related to higher life satisfaction and subjective well-being, yet the causal relationship is still subject to further explanations. Voluntary simplicity may promote well-being, and the experience of well-being may also contribute to the willingness of voluntary simplicity. Nevertheless, voluntary simplicity could bring about some negative effects, such as dissatisfaction and unhappiness due to reduced consumption. Moreover, the boundary conditions between voluntary simplicity's positive and negative effects remain to be revealed by further studies.
Finally, theories such as the Needs Theory, the Self-determination Theory, and the Theory of Planned Behavior provide insights into the psychological mechanisms of why individuals shift to the lifestyle of voluntary simplicity. However, the current study overlooked personality which could be a more reliable predictor; future studies should consider exploring the motivations of voluntary simplicity from the perspective of personality traits. Furthermore, present study focuses more on the attitudinal and behavioral aspects of the mechanisms of voluntary simplicity, future research should delve deeper into its cognitive neural mechanisms.

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voluntary simplicity / minimalism / needs theory / self-determination theory / theory of planned behavior / subjective well-being

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Li Bin, Zhu Qin, Zhang Kaidi, Yan Renhao, Feng Kai. Just Make it Simple: The Influential Factors, Consequences and Theoretical Mechanisms of Voluntary Simplicity[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2024, 47(4): 918-925 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240419

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