ABSTRACT

Following on from The Why of Consumption, this book examines motivational factors in diverse consumption behaviours. In a world where consumption has become the defining phenomenon of human life and society, it addresses the effects of critical life events on consumption motives, and the sociological and intergenerational influences on consumer motives and preferences. Its cross-disciplinary approach brings together some of the leading scholars from diverse subject areas to examine the central question about consumption: ‘why?’.

This is a unique and invaluable contribution to the area, and an essential asset for all those involved in researching, teaching or studying consumption and consumer behaviour.

chapter 1|7 pages

Inside consumption

New insights on what we buy and consume

chapter 2|36 pages

Promotion and prevention in consumer decision-making

The state of the art and theoretical propositions

chapter 3|23 pages

Why and how consumers hope

Motivated reasoning and the marketplace

chapter 4|19 pages

Death, where is thy sting?

Mortality and consumer motivation in the writings of Zygmunt Bauman

chapter 6|20 pages

Variety for the sake of variety?

Diversification motives in consumer choice

chapter 7|22 pages

Consuming fashion as flexibility

Metaphor, cultural mood, and materiality

chapter 11|25 pages

We are who we were

Intergenerational influences in consumer behavior

chapter 14|19 pages

How societies desire brands

Using cultural theory to explain brand symbolism

chapter 15|17 pages

Transformations in consumer settings

Landscapes and beyond

chapter 16|21 pages

Star gazing

The mythology and commodification of Vincent van Gohg

chapter 18|8 pages

What consumers desire

Goals and motives in the consumption environment