consumerism
Shopping as lifestyle
Consumerism is the preoccupation with acquiring goods and services, or the belief that personal happiness comes through consumption.
The term often carries critical weight, implying excessive materialism: Holiday consumerism starts earlier every year.
In a neutral sense, consumerism can mean advocacy for consumer rights and protections against deceptive business practices.
Things one owns
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- goodsThings for sale
- commoditiesTradeable raw materials
- ownershipLegal right of possession
shopping · buying · purchasing · accumulation · hoarding · collectibles · gadgets · status
Shopping to improve mood
- Black FridayMajor retail discount day
- holiday shoppingPurchasing gifts for celebrations
- mall cultureLifestyle around shopping centers
- impulse buyingUnplanned purchase decision
keeping up with the Joneses · status symbol · lifestyle · trend · fashion · zeitgeist · mainstream · conformity
Unwanted discarded material
- overspendingExceeding one's budget
- disposableMade for one use
- throwawayDesigned for discard
- planned obsolescenceDeliberately shortened product lifespan
fast fashion · single-use · landfill · clutter · surplus · hoarding · indulgence · extravagance
Private profit-based economy
- marketVenue for trade
- supplyFurnish or stock
- demandForceful request or requirement
- productionMaking or generating something
distribution · trade · GDP · inflation · recession · corporation · monopoly · globalization
Capacity to endure indefinitely
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- greenwashingFalse sustainability claims
- exploitationSelfish use of others
alienation · commodification · environmental impact · carbon footprint · waste reduction · degrowth · slow living · reuse
Paid promotional communication
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- logoCompany identifying symbol
- sloganMemorable promotional phrase
- promotionRank increase or publicity
endorsement · packaging · jingle · tagline · influencer · commercial · billboard · targeted ads
possessions
Things one owns
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- goodsThings for sale
- commoditiesTradeable raw materials
ownership · shopping · buying · purchasing · accumulation · hoarding · collectibles · gadgets · status · affluence
retail therapy
Shopping to improve mood
- Black FridayMajor retail discount day
- holiday shoppingPurchasing gifts for celebrations
- mall cultureLifestyle around shopping centers
impulse buying · keeping up with the Joneses · status symbol · lifestyle · trend · fashion · zeitgeist · mainstream · conformity · identity
waste
Unwanted discarded material
- overspendingExceeding one's budget
- disposableMade for one use
- throwawayDesigned for discard
planned obsolescence · fast fashion · single-use · landfill · clutter · surplus · hoarding · indulgence · extravagance · profligacy
capitalism
Private profit-based economy
production · distribution · trade · GDP · inflation · recession · corporation · monopoly · globalization · outsourcing
sustainability
Capacity to endure indefinitely
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- greenwashingFalse sustainability claims
exploitation · alienation · commodification · environmental impact · carbon footprint · waste reduction · degrowth · slow living · reuse · repair
advertising
Paid promotional communication
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- logoCompany identifying symbol
- sloganMemorable promotional phrase
promotion · endorsement · packaging · jingle · tagline · influencer · commercial · billboard · targeted ads · product placement
- 20th century cultureRoaring Twenties, Jazz Age, Great Depression, baby boom, counterculture
- Postwar FranceCharles de Gaulle, de Gaulle, Marshall Plan, economic boom, modernization
- capitalismcapitalism, free market, free enterprise, private property, profit motive
- consumer economyshopping, retail, advertising, brands, marketing
- 1920s AmericaCharles Lindbergh, Jazz Age, Spirit of St. Louis, flappers, transatlantic flight
- 1950sEisenhower, poodle skirt, Elvis Presley, Rosa Parks, baby boom
consumerismanticonsumerism
Opposition to excessive buying
anti-consumerism · asceticism · simple living · anti-materialism · minimalism
consumerismminimalism
Aesthetic of reduction
frugality · thrift · simplicity · essentialism · decluttering
consumerismsustainability
Capacity to endure indefinitely
conservationism · environmentalism · stewardship · zero waste · green living
- ethical consumerismMorally motivated purchasing choices