Consumerism, Advertising and Society

Paper Summary:

The paper argues that consumerism has a bad overall effect on our lives because of the divisions it has created in our society and the control that corporations have gained over people's buying habits. The paper further reveals that many people who focus on material goods to bring them happiness actually end up being more unhappy in the long run.

From the Paper:

"When a capitalist society reaches the point where most of the people are able to easily fulfill their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing, the people can begin focusing on buying consumer goods for recreation, leisure, or simply the enjoyment of owning a certain item. Such a time is accompanied by overall good feelings, as people don't have to stretch themselves so much simply to make ends meet, and they can focus on getting what they want, instead of what they need. Many people falsely attribute the cause of these good feelings to their purchase of consumer goods when, usually, the cause lies elsewhere. So, while some may say that consumerism can have a positive effect on people, consumerism has a bad overall effect on our lives because of the divisions it has created in our society and the control that corporations have gained over people's buying habits."

Sample of Sources Used:

• ElBoghdady, Dina. "We're Manipulated, Retailers That Know Us Too Well." The Washington Post 10 Aug. 2003: F.01.
• Goldman, Debra. "Can money buy happiness?." Adweek 44.5 (2003): 26-30.
• Pressler, Margaret Webb. "Two Sides to Every Comsumer; We're Empowered, the Internet and Intense Competition." The Washington Post 10 Aug. 2003: F.01.
• Wattanasuwan, Kritsadarat. "The Self and Symbolic Consumption." Journal of American Business, Cambridge 6.1 (2005): 179-184.

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