Consumer Culture, Identity and Well-Being: The Search for the 'Good Life' and the 'Body Perfect' (European Monographs in Social Psychology)

Advertising, materialism and consumption are central aspects of contemporary Western culture. We are bombarded with idealised images of the perfect body, desirable consumer goods, and affluent lifestyles, yet psychology is only just beginning to take account of the profound influence these consumer culture ideals have on individuals’ sense of identity and worth. Consumer Culture, Identity, and Well-Being documents the negative psychological impact consumer culture can have on how individuals view themselves and on their emotional welfare. It looks at the social psychological dimensions of having, buying and wanting material goods, as well as the pursuit of media-hyped appearance ideals. In particular, it focuses on: the purchasing of material goods as a means of expressing and seeking identity, and the negative consequences of this psychological buying motivations in conventional buying environments and on the Internet the unrealistic socio-cultural beauty ideals embodied by idealized models. Throughout, different approaches from social psychology are integrated, such as self-completion, self-discrepancy and value theory, to create a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding the impact of internalising core consumer culture ideals on how individuals see themselves and the implications this has for their psychological and physical health.This book is of interest to anybody who wants to find out more about the psychological effects of living in modern consumer societies on children, adolescents, and adults. More specifically, it will be of interest to students and researchers in social psychology, sociology, media studies, communication and other social sciences, as well as to psychologists, health workers, and practitioners interested in the topics of identity, consumption pathologies, body image, and body-related behaviours. Advertising, materialism and consumption are central aspects of contemporary Western culture. We are bombarded with idealised images of the perfect body, desirable consumer goods, and affluent lifestyles, yet psychology is only just beginning to take account of the profound influence these consumer culture ideals have on individuals' sense of identity and worth. "Consumer Culture, Identity, and Well-Being" documents the negative psychological impact consumer culture can have on how individuals view themselves and on their emotional welfare. It looks at the social psychological dimensions of having, buying and wanting material goods, as well as the pursuit of media-hyped appearance ideals. In particular, it focuses on: the purchasing of material goods as a means of expressing and seeking identity, and the negative consequences of this psychological buying motivations in conventional buying environments and on the Internet the unrealistic socio-cultural beauty ideals embodied by idealized models, which for women is typically expressed as ultra-thinness and for men as muscularity, and how this creates body dissatisfaction. Throughout, different approaches from social psychology are integrated, such as self-completion, self-discrepancy and value theory, to create a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding the impact of internalising core consumer culture ideals on how individuals see themselves and the implications this has for their psychological and physical health. "Consumer Culture, Identity, and Well-Being" will be of interest to anybody who wants to find out more about the psychological effects of living in modern consumer societies on children, adolescents, and adults. More specifically, it will be of interest to students and researchers in social psychology, sociology, media studies, communication and other social sciences, as well as to psychologists, health workers, and practitioners interested in the topics of identity, consumption Advertising, materialism and consumption are central aspects of contemporary Western culture. We are bombarded with idealised images of the perfect body, desirable consumer goods, and affluent lifestyles, yet psychology is only just beginning to take account of the profound influence these consumer culture ideals have on individuals’ sense of identity and worth. Consumer Culture, Identity, and Well-Being documents the negative psychological impact consumer culture can have on how individuals view themselves and on their emotional welfare. It looks at the social psychological dimensions of having, buying and wanting material goods, as well as the pursuit of media-hyped appearance ideals. In particular, it focuses on: the purchasing of material goods as a means of expressing and seeking identity, and the negative consequences of this psychological buying motivations in conventional buying environments and on the Internet the unrealistic socio-cultural beauty ideals embodied by idealized models. Throughout, different approaches from social psychology are integrated, such as self-completion, self-discrepancy and value theory, to create a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding the impact of internalising core consumer culture ideals on how individuals see themselves and the implications this has for their psychological and physical health. This book is of interest to anybody who wants to find out more about the psychological effects of living in modern consumer societies on children, adolescents, and adults. More specifically, it will be of interest to students and researchers in social psychology, sociology, media studies, communication and other social sciences, as well as to psychologists, health workers, and practitioners interested in the topics of identity, consumption pathologies, body image, and body-related behaviours. Consumer Culture, Identity and Well-Being......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Author and contributors......Page 12 List of illustrations......Page 14 List of figures......Page 15 List of tables......Page 16 Acknowledgements......Page 18 1. Understanding the impact of consumer culture......Page 20 2. To have is to be? Psychological functions of material possessions......Page 44 3. Consuming passions? Psychological motives for buying consumer goods......Page 68 4. Is this as good as it gets? Materialistic values and well-being......Page 90 5. I shop therefore I am? Compulsive buying and identity seeking......Page 114 6. Does size matter? The impact of ultra-thin media models on women’s body image and on advertising effectiveness......Page 140 7. Think “ideal” and feel bad? Using self-discrepancies to understand negative media effects......Page 166 8. What is beautiful and who is“cool”? Consumer culture and socialisation......Page 191 9. What is the price of consumer culture? Consequences, implications, and the cage within......Page 218 References......Page 242 Notes......Page 268 Author index......Page 269 Subject index......Page 278 This Volume Documents The Negative Psychological Impact Consumer Culture Is Having On How Individuals View Themselves And On Their Emotional Welfare. It Looks At The Social Psychological Dimensions Of Having, Buying And Wanting Material Goods. Understanding The Impact Of Consumer Culture -- To Have Is To Be? : Psychological Functions Of Material Possessions -- Consuming Passions? : Psychological Motives For Buying Consumer Goods -- Is This As Good As It Gets? : Materialistic Values And Well-being -- I Shop Therefore I Am? : Compulsive Buying And Identity-seeking -- Does Size Matter? : The Impact Of Ultra-thin Media Models On Women's Body Image And Advertising Effectiveness -- Think Ideal And Feel Bad? : Using Self-discrepancies To Understand Negative Media Effects -- What Is Beautiful And Who Is Cool? : Consumer Culture And Socialisation -- What Is The Price Of Consumer Culture? : Consequences, Implications And The Cage Within. Helga Dittmar ; With Contributions From Emma Halliwell ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [223]-248) And Index. Includes bibliographical references (p. [223]-248) and index.1. Understanding the impact of consumer culture / Helga Dittmar -- 2. To have is to be? : psychological functions of material possessions / Helga Dittmar -- 3. Consuming passions? : psychological motives for buying consumer goods / Helga Dittmar -- 4. Is this as good as it gets? : materialistic values and well-being / Ragna Garoarsdottir, Judita Jankovic and Helga Dittmar -- 5. I shop therefore I am? : compulsive buying and identity seeking / Helga Dittmar -- 6. Does size matter? : the impact of ultra-thin media models oil women's body image and on advertising effectiveness / Emma Halliwell and Helga Dittmar -- 7. Think 'ideal' and feel bad? : using self-discrepancies to understand negative media effects / Helga Dittmar and Emma Halliwell -- 8. What is beautiful and who is 'cool'? : consumer culture and socialisation / Robin Banerjee and Helga Dittmar -- 9. What is the price of consumer culture? : consequences, implications, and the cage within / Helga Dittmar. "Consumer Culture, Identity, and Welt-Being documents the negative psychological impact consumer culture can have on how individuals view themselves and on their emotional welfare. It looks at the social psychological dimensions of having, buying and wanting material goods, as well as the pursuit of media -hyped appearance ideals."--Jacket