Our relationships with things that we own are complex and multidimensional. Such objects can be both ordinary and exceptional, while their meaning often goes beyond their material value. Interdisciplinary analyses, combining psychology, sociology, anthropology and consumer behaviour research demonstrate the diversity of our relationships with things. As suggested by Russell W. Belk, such relationships can serve as tools of self-expression, enabling people to present their individuality and identity. The “endowment effect” shows that we frequently attribute more value to the things we own, resulting from both emotional and rational aspects of our interactions with objects. Things are also meaningful in the context of loss and grief, as they constitute material connections with the past and memories of the beloved. In extreme situations, such as migration or refugeeism, the selection of objects we bring along becomes an act of memory and protection of identity. This article argues that understanding deep relationships with objects can facilitate better understanding of ourselves and others, helping to create more empathetic and responsible narratives in museums and other institutions of culture. In the light of humanitarian crises, such relationships can offer crucial insights into experience and needs of persons affected by migration and refugeeism issues, and reveal the meaning of objects in our lives as something more than material property.
Keywords: relationships with objects, psychological ownership, material culture, migration, grief
