ABSTRACT

This book brings together an international collection of authors from a variety of disciplines who offer new and critical perspectives, summarize key findings and provide important theoretical frameworks to guide the reader through the ‘why?’ of consumption. The book answers questions such as:

  • What is the nature of motives, goals, and desires that prompt consumption behaviours? 
  • Why do consumers buy and consume particular products, brands and services from the multitude of alternatives afforded by their environments? 
  • How do consumers think and feel about their cravings?

Unique in focus and with multifaceted approach which anyone interested in consumption and consumer research will find fascinating, this topical book provides an excellent overview of current research, and imparts key insights to illuminate the subject for both academics and practitioners alike.

chapter 1|8 pages

Introduction

The “why” of consumption

chapter 4|22 pages

Minimizing negative emotion as a decision goal

Investigating emotional trade-off difficulty

chapter 8|24 pages

Authenticating acts and authoritative performances

Questing for self and community

chapter 9|13 pages

Representations of women's identities and goals

The past fifty years in film and television

chapter 10|20 pages

The urge to buy

A uses and gratifications perspective on compulsive buying

chapter 11|19 pages

On selling brotherhood like soap

Influencing everyday disposal decisions

chapter 12|21 pages

Timestyle and consuming time

Why we do what we do with our time

chapter 14|23 pages

The power of metaphor