Extended self and digitisation: needs and opportunities
The concept of the extended self is treated by Russel Belk in an article of 1988, starting from some of William James’ considerations about the concept of the self.
In particular, he argued that the self is not only the sum of body and mind, but also the sum of one’s objects, meaningful relationships and the opinions of others.
Belk focuses on the field of marketing and consumption, believing that one’s possessions (brands and products) influence and reflect one’s identity.