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Finding Beauty in a Broken World – An Eco Art School

Estefany Intriago

April 25, 2014

IND5937 – Special Topics

Professor Phil Abbott

Spring 2014

FINDING BEAUTY IN A BROKEN WORLD

AN ECO ART SCHOOL

Table of Contents

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I. Introduction Background…………………………Purpose of Study……………………Significance of Study………………

II. Literature ReviewThe basis of Consumerism…………Negative characteristics of consumerism………Sustainable consumption approach……………

Concept…………Sustainable consumption associated with social class…..Sustainable consumption associate with culture………..Adopting a sustainable lifestyle………………

Relationships between consumerism and well-being of people…

III. Conclusion……IV. List of References…………V. Appendix A

Outline………VI. Appendix B

Annotated Bibliography………………………………………………………………20

Introduction

Background

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“Our necessities are few, but our wants are endless.” George Bernard Shaw

“Everyone from the scientific research community, to Green Peace, to Nobel

Laureate Al Gore has argued convincingly and forcefully that our current level of

consumption of natural resources is unsustainable.” (Banbury, et al, 2011, p. 497)

It is well know that American consumption is the major contributor to

environmental destruction. According to the United States Environmental Protection

Agency, the United States is one of the seven countries in the world responsible of

higher greenhouse gasses emissions (EPA, 2013). 99% of things people in North

America buy is thrown away within six month after purchase and that we would

need the resources of three planets for humans to live an “American” lifestyle?

(Mount Holyoke College, 2009). Americans are driven by an irrational consumption

drive that grew more and more severe ever since the Industrial Revolution.

Companies are responsible for inconsiderately designing products with a short life

span (planned obsolescence) and these companies hire marketing companies that

use advertisements to convince consumers they need the new product in the

market (perceived obsolescence) (Mount Holyoke College, 2009).

We are living in a society where the ubiquitous power of media has created a

drive towards materialism and consumption that has never been so prevalent (Hill,

2011, p. 348). This study found that unscrupulous marketing companies study

children behavior and have as an ambition to create false emotional and physical

needs to later try to permeate these false needs into our children’s vulnerable

brains. The author also found that childhood is indeed endangered. Consumerism is

guilty of creating a culture of negation of positive self-image among many other

things. The childhood experiences that our parents or grandparents had are not the

same today. Children are being deprived of these essential experiences because

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marketing companies and the media in general has done the improper job of

showing images, sounds, concepts that are meant to target an adult audience. As a

consequence, play has become tainted with adult cues, imaginations and

expectations and our children’s minds are no longer a sanctuary for creativity and

innocent play (Hill, 2011, p. 349).

The literature review I developed follows a logical structure that will help give

light in the topics of consumerism and sustainable consumption. The reader will see

with no distortions the reality and consequences of a consumerist society. I want to

take the reader into this new pathway of a sustainable mentality. Personally, I was

not aware of all the issues involving consumerism, and I can honestly say that after

acquiring knowledge regarding my topic I find myself taking steps to adopt a more

sustainable lifestyle. I believe that ignorance of these topics is the blameful reason

for our unconscious consumption decisions. Furthermore this paper will cover the

other side of consumerism which is sustainable consumption. The reader will be

exposed to new ways of adopting a more sustainable lifestyle that will consequently

lead to lower the impulsive drive to consume.

Purpose of Study

Consumerism creates an environment of perversity, dishonor, and confusion.

For this reason it is crucial to reveal the significant issues regarding consumerism

and sustainable consumption. The purpose of this literature review is to

unequivocally identify the perceptions of consumerism and how adopting a less

materialistic lifestyle help negate this impulsive drive. This literature review’s

objective is to answer the following questions:

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Central Question:

How may interior design affect the negative perception of consumerism in our

society today with a particular focus on the issues associated with a potential

conflict between consumerism and sustainability?

Subquestions:

1. What are the bases of consumerism?

2. What are the current negative characteristics of consumerism?

3. What is sustainable consumption?

4. Is sustainable consumption associated with a certain population or culture?

5. Is there a relationship between materialism and the well-being of people?

Significance of Study

The results of one of the articles I read stated that it is possible to intervene

in adolescents’ lives so as to decrease the priority they place on materialistic goals

(Kasser, et al, 2013, p. 17). After immersing myself into the consumerism and

sustainable consumption topics I came to the conviction that education is the most

efficient way to counteract a consumerist society. I realized that among all of us,

children are the ones that are most manipulated to continue with the legacy of the

madness of consumerism. In view of this absurdity, I find myself in the imperative

mission of bringing light to the different aspects of consumerism to the reader.

Ultimately, the knowledge gain in this process will serve as guidance in designing a

supportive environmental community where creativity and self-esteem are

enhanced and environmental awareness is taught to children.

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Literature Review

The basis of consumerism

Historic Background

According to McKendrick, Brewer and Plumb (1982) the birthplace of

consumerism took place in the eighteenth century in England. The anthropologist,

Grant David McCracken, explains that towards the end of the 16th century Elizabeth

I started using the acquisition of goods as a way to communicate legitimacy, power

and majesty (Friese, 2000). The author noted that back in that time, the Elizabethan

family tradition was to purchase objects that could represent honor from previous

generations and family status. Noblemen started traveling to London and compete

with each other to bid for the Queen’s attention and receive her favours. The 16 th

and 17th century period prepared the path for the changes that were coming.

Following this period came the 18th century and as Damme and Vermoesen

(2009) indicate “second-hand consumption was truly a way of life or, as Donald

Woodward noted in a pioneering work: ‘Few goods were lightly abandoned; fewer

still were left to rot by the roadside’” (p. 295). In Europe, according to Damme and

Vermoesen, people from villages of the 18th century such as Erembodegen would

even engage in public auctioning activities where they would sell deceased’s

possessions, furniture, kitchen goods, clothing and so on. It is interesting to know

that people from all social classes were free to buy in public auctions. It is by the

end of 18th century that consumer practices went through a transition. Objects

started to being cherished for its novelty, style and aesthetics not for their function.

In fact, objects became instruments to express status among all social classes. In

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addition the term fashion, as we know it today, was born and it started replacing

consumer’s goods in a never ending manner (Friese, 2000, p. 11). No longer were

goods preserved, fixed, reused until their usefulness was exhausted, rather people

would keep them as long as they felt satisfied with the demands of fashion.

Consumerism in the 19th and 20th century

In the 19th century the United States went through significant changes in

society, politics, and culture. For instance, this was the period of the introduction of

the department store and there were exhibitions taking place around the world that

caused excitement among the people of that era (Friese, 2000, p. 11). Friese points

out that before the first department store opened, individuals would shop for the

only reason to acquire goods they really needed or wanted. Interestingly, that way

of shopping was completely different from what we know today. For instance, a

customer would enter a shop and only one person would attend the needs of that

customer. The customer did not walk around the store and had to wait until the

shopkeeper show the desired item on the counter, without having many choices

available. Custom made things were made, long negotiations would take place to

set up a price and a delivery date and the return/exchange policy didn’t existed.

When department stores opened the architecture and interior design of the

buildings often took on monumental forms. The activity of shopping within a store

added a dream like quality to consumption and the whole atmosphere was designed

to increase demand. One of the articles by Zukin & Maguire (2004) stated “to the

extent that it is theorized, this work strongly suggests that mass consumption was

produced by manipulating consumers’ desires to be well dressed, good looking, and

beloved; to surround themselves with visions of beauty; and to surrender common

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sense and sobriety to individual dreams of self-enhancement” (p.176). As Bowlby

suggests, shopping took attributes of a new religion of consumption (Friese, 2000,

p. 14).

On the social/political note, Kruger (2001) mentions that during the 1960s

students and young people were responsible for much of the cultural and political

change. During this period the Students for a Democratic Society movement was

created and they wrote a statement of philosophy. In this document they called for

the treatment of people as important and empowered human beings and to create

a new sense of community where individuals are able to interact in a meaningful

way (Kruger, 2001, p. 17). This movement criticized the materialistic values, the

lack of dignity and empowerment of the individual in post-war America. The

research by Kruger also mentioned that concepts of individuality, dignity and

empowerment were also part of American Literature. Such is the case of Walt

Whitman who taught that everyone was entitled to dignity, not matter social class

or race. Much of the American literature reflected a refusal of the longing of

accumulation of wealth. In the article by Friese, she states that:

“At the start of the 20th century, working class consumers in Britain spent 50

to 75% of their income on food. Surplus cash was spent on luxuries like drink and

tobacco. Today consumers only need to spend 10 and 30% of their incomes on

food. Therefore, much more money is left over to spend on services and

entertainment, the various forms of savings and items of conspicuous consumption

like dress, personal possession and decoration for the home (Gabriel and Lang,

1995).” (Friese, 2000, p. 15)

Definitions and Facts

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In an article by Day and Aaker (1970), they start describing consumerism

using the words of one of the earliest adopters of the term, Vance Packard. Packard

linked consumerism with strategies to encourage consumers to rapidly magnify

their needs and wants by making them insatiable, compulsive and wasteful (p.13).

As a matter of fact, the research done by Friese (2000) states lower classes observe

the life and habits of higher classes and strive to imitate their ways. Chiefly, the

motives for the exaggerated display of their possessions are emulation, pride and

envy (p. 17). The article by Day and Aaker (1970) also states that consumers lack

the information necessary to allow him to make a smart purchase. The reasons

behind this issue are the vast number of consumer products in the market and the

misleading information of advertising and packaging of products. The authors of this

article suggest that ‘sophisticated consumers are demanding more personal

relationships and security in their purchases’ (p. 16). Furthermore, Gross (2006)

acknowledges that according to his research globalization impacts consumerism

making approximately 1.1 billion ‘new consumers’ pursuing the so dreamed

western lifestyle; thus increasing consumption of cars, meat and electricity. As a

matter of fact, Gross mentions that even furniture and fashion commodity chains

manipulate the fashion of furniture to accelerate the lifecycle of products. Such is

the case of Denmark, where exterior spaces express social status and interiors

declare love of family. By the same token, this study argues that individuals are

disillusioned with the mall concept, and that an open-air ‘neo-village’ will be the

new trend that liberates shopping. Gross (2006) concludes by manifesting that we

need more spiritual education and to critically judge mass media so we can discover

the hidden intentions of companies.

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Negative characteristics of consumerism

Consumerism and Credit

The introduction of credit occurred in the 19th century. Individuals were now

able to pay in instalments to previously unobtainable objects (Friese, 2000, p. 13).

Specifically, credit “is the driver of consumerism and economic growth and credit

cards give people the opportunity to undertake consumption that otherwise would

not take place” (Manktelow, 2011, p. 259). People attempted to compare their

personal standard of life with others, and the outcome of such action was feeling

envious, dissatisfied and disempower followed up by the efforts to acquire goods

that express an improved social status using credit. Such is the example of what

happened with a community in Derry City, Northern Ireland. People got into debt

using credit to satisfy their consumerist drive and now they are experiencing

isolations, strain and powerlessness. There are two general purposes to use

consumer credit. The first one is to finance consumerist behavioral patterns for the

middle and higher social classes and to pay the basic needs of those people on low

incomes. For this and several other reasons, Manktelow (2011) acknowledges that

consumerism has been blamed for destroying traditional cultures and solidarities

engendering a sense of alienation as a natural response to the hopelessness of

modern consumer life (p. 260).

Endangered Childhoods

Hill (2011) developed a study that points out how the pervasive media,

technology and a culture of consumption are affecting the structure of childhood.

Modern children are being affected from a significant physical, emotional and social

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deficit that can be blamed on consumerism. Although technology has helped

education immensely it has also generated an anti-social behavior in children

reinforcing pattern like racism and sexism. Influential corporations and media have

been able to infiltrate past differences of class, ethnicity and gender. Children are

being deprived of the series of childhood experiences that would have had if it was

not for consumers. The power of media is responsible for the drive towards the

materialism and over consumption that is constantly destabilizing children’s

identity. This research also reveals that play has become professionalized and

tainted with adult cues, imaginations and expectations. This finding makes me

realized that I need to create an interior environment that strengthens and actives

critical thinking and the creative mind of a child. A new positive realm for today’s

children is much needed; a realm that cancels out perversity, dishonor, confusion

and consumerism. It is very interesting to note that children’s play is no longer an

expression of joy with no specific purpose but rather it has become an activity that

is controlled by companies looking desperately to make profits at whatever cost. As

a consequence the capacity for play automatically erodes. According to Hill (2011),

there is a social phenomenon called the “tween” which is an unmistakable example

of consumerism. This phenomenon occurs as a result of media seducing children to

adopt an identity older than their developmental age. Furthermore, it is mentioned

in this research that marketing companies are hiring child psychologists to

maximize their understanding of the segments and nuances of the youth market. All

the pervasive media creates issues of identity in children that are directly linked to

negative health indicators such as addictions. Children that have an addiction

problem have previously internalized an identity that justifies this type of behavior.

Marketing companies sell an identity with their goods that children will crave to

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adopt. In other words, consumerism is guilty of creating a culture that tolerates the

negation of a positive self-image.

Hill (2011) reveals in this research that the statistics of children’s health

point to a disturbing trend that children are being robbed of their childhood at an

emotional and physical level. Serious problems of early obesity, drug abuse, alcohol

use, depression and suicide rates are linked in some way or the other to the

consequences of consumerism. These findings urge me to create an environment

that creates a culture of love and acceptance of the self and others. Children have a

cognitive capacity and through television children are being exposed to powerful

messaging, shaping attitudes, motivation, behavior and lastly, one’s identity.

Unfortunately, brand loyalty is sought from the cradle. More importantly, children’s

play is crucial in their early years because they are able to express themselves and

gain a sense of control over their world. Consumerism through the advertisement of

technological products for children is jeopardizing an environment that allows

creativity and critical thinking. As a result, identity suffers because children learn at

an early stage that happiness is based on material goods that define them. We are

all constantly manipulated to think that we can find happiness through consumption

and as a result we are blindfolded dreaming the same consumerist dream.

Marketing companies are working hard to exploit children’s aspirations for a certain

physical or mental attitude/ characteristic. I want, on the other hand, to create an

environment that exploits children creativity, critical thinking and that creates a

connection to nature. Hill (2011) research states that more than half of the brands

used in childhood continue to be used in adulthood, and that children starting at 3

years can be avid consumers. For this reason, marketing companies are using all

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their resources to understand the mind of a child so can create brand loyalty at an

early age.

Sustainable consumption approach

Concept

“A working definition of sustainable consumption proposed by the 1994 Oslo

Symposium on Sustainable Consumption hosted by the Norwegian government

involving NGOs and intergovernmental organization is: The use of goods and

services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while

minimizing the use of natural resources toxic materials and emissions of waste and

pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardize the needs of future

generations.” (Banbury, et al, 2011, p. 497)

In the research done by Banbury, et al, (2011) they state that terms like voluntary

simplicity, use of greens products, reducing the use of natural resources, toxic

materials and emissions of waste and pollutants are among the numerous

definitions of sustainable consumption. By the same token, a research done by Mont

and Plepys (2008) indicates that there is still no specific definition of sustainable

consumption. Some will treat consumption as production issue and they claim that

this issue can be solve if the industry sector implements eco-efficient improvements

in the production process. Others will argue that sustainable consumption is the

implementation of green products in the market. Others with a more radical

perspective will argue that the consumption levels in developed countries need to

be simplified. If individuals living in developed countries want to engage in this new

vision of sustainable consumption they should acquire more green products and

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also find happiness in a less materialistic lifestyle. When referring to sustainability

there are different views according to the different disciples of economics, social

studies, psychology.

o Economic studies focus on how economic forces shape consumer

levels and patterns.

o Sociological studies focus on the influence of social culture, social class

and family, ethnic and religious groups.

o The psychological studies focus on how emotions and habits influence

consumer’s purchasing decisions.

In the same fashion, “the notion of sustainable consumption is often used as an

umbrella term for issues related to human needs, equity, quality of life, resource

efficiency, waste minimization, life cycle thinking, consumer health and safety,

consumer sovereignty, etc.” (Mont & Plepys, 2008, p. 532).

Sustainable consumption associated with social classes

The research by Elliot (2013) studied the green consumption’s connection to

social status positioning that consumers can use it as an opportunity to

conspicuously signify their social status. The author found that relatively well

educated people find green consumption practice more appealing however in green

consumption social differentiation implication does occur though in part and does

depends on good’s symbolic nature rather than its taste. Results of his study

showed that green consumption desirability is directly related with increasing level

of education, along with having children of 18 years old at home identifying

themselves as an environmentalist.

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Sustainable consumption associated with culture

In a research done by Banbury, et al, (2011), they developed introspective

narratives expressing the different points of the participants. These individuals

come from different backgrounds. One of the participants that was born and raised

in Australia and when she came to the US she noticed the hyper choice of

consumerism that Americans have. She realized over the years that the US society

has an individualistic view. She had to interiorize the neo-classical belief that an

individual is the only one in charge of his well-being and felt that in this country she

is on her own. Being an educated person in the business field she attended a

seminar where she learned how a capitalist economy devastates communities and

the natural environment. Moreover, this lady and her husband had the opportunity

to experience a training program inside an eco-village in Findhorn, Scotland.

Approximately the three hundred people that live in this village engage in

sustainable practices like growing their own food, using solar and wind energy and

walking everywhere they need to instead of using cars. She expresses how she felt

a profound sense of belonging to a community where everybody cares for the well-

being of each other. The other narrative was insightful in that the participant states

that international travel is the best way to learn, compare and understand our

lifestyle, culture and country of origin in a way we never had. Their narratives made

them come to the conclusion that sustainable consumption meant for them the

impact of the consumption on the ecology. One of the participants came to the

understanding of the interdependencies of the natural environment and the well-

being of an individual/society. Another conclusion they reached is that the

education system is the key instrument in awakening society to an ecological

consciousness. The second important point they reached is that as a consumer we

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seek to shape ourselves to represent a particular lifestyle. The final point is that to

have a supportive environmental infrastructure is of critical importance. Our

consumption behavior is shaped by the place/city/country we live in. Furthermore,

the study conducted by Elliot (2013) suggested that not all regions/countries have

the same environmental problems and one message cannot raise the awareness

but it has to be customized and reinforced regularly to make change happen.

Adopting a sustainable lifestyle

Lorenzen (2012) conducted a research where she provides the different

actions one could take in order to change a lifestyle. As the researcher states, one

way to change a lifestyle is by changing an individual’s practices, and the other way

is to tell the story about those changes. The author interviewed 40 individuals and

found that there are similarities on how they starting adopting and acting upon a

more green lifestyle. Deliberation and habit was among those characteristics.

Deliberation happens when current habits fail to solve a problem or when there are

other alternatives that individuals consider and make a slow but clear choice with

an intent that can be verbalized. Green lifestyle is then a pattern of living where one

voluntarily eliminates practices that have uncertain environmental impacts and tell

a narrative that makes that process purposeful.

Participants in these interviews thought green practices are not isolated decisions

or actions but components of an evolved coherent project. People adopting green

lifestyles feel everybody can make a difference by changing behaviors. According to

this research by Lorenzen (2012), products and the behavior we adopt as

consumers are part of an imperfect system of shared meaning that we consciously

or unconsciously integrated into our identity projects. The things that we buy, buy

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less, or not buy at all do shape our identity especially in the case of green lifestyles.

Green lifestyle means having taking decisions and actions that reduce the

consumption of goods, energy and water. According to Horton, socialization through

shared practices, networks, spaces, and times can create positive changes and

influence individuals to adopt sustainable practices. Taken from the article, the

green practices shared by the interviewers were:

o People buy less and try to extend the life of what they have.

o They recycle (cans, plastic, glass, newspaper, junk mail)

o They use cloth bags, compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs.

o They avoid kitchen paper products.

o They keep their thermostats low in winter and rarely if ever use air

conditioners.

o They take short showers and run hot water heater on low.

o They use baking soda instead of commercial green cleaning products.

o They do large loads in the dishwasher and in the washing machine.

o They use clotheslines or drying racks.

o They grow their own food, and cook from scratch buying local and

organic food.

o They avoid red meat or are vegetarians/vegans.

o They buy recycled toilet paper and tissues.

o They use restrictors on water faucets.

o They have rain barrels or rain gardens and they reuse gray water.

o They ride their bicycles to work or carpool.

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o They shop at and donate to thrift stores/consignment shops or pick

things up off the curb.

o They have solar panels on their roofs or pay a premium for renewable

energy through their local provider.

o They use geothermal power to heat and cool their homes.

o They own a hybrid card.

Lorenzen (2012) research shows that green practices are more likely to

multiply if the individual defines those practices as a meaningful part of a larger

project. At the beginning of the changing process decisions and actions are highly

deliberative but as actions develop they become automatic responses. This

research explains the idea of a new lifestyle do-yourself mechanism called

bricolage. It states that bricolage includes materials and practices from old lifestyles

and seeing them with a new perspective allows the person to recombine them with

newly adopted materials, practices, and environmental discourses in order to form a

new pattern. This study concludes by stating that a change in behavior follows a

change in values.

Relationships between consumerism and well-being of people

According to a research done by Bauer, et al, (2012) individuals living a

materialistic lifestyle tend to feel more anxiety, unhappiness and lower quality of

social relationship. In other words, materialistic individuals tend to experience low

levels of well-being. This study also points out that money brings a self-sufficiency

orientation where people prefer to have greater distance from others, and to help

others less. This study also asserts that when we invest in efforts to improve a

community we find happiness, health and life satisfaction. These researchers state

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that a wide variety of correlational studies indicates that individuals who score

higher in materialism values have lower levels of mental and physical well-being.

Another study by Kasser, et al, (2013) indicated that money matters and can buy

some happiness however more money does not mean more happiness and it

eventually erodes happiness and sometimes happiness does not require money.

Thus the authors of this article suggest that thrift is a better alternative. The ten

ways they suggested were “cure ills before seeking thrills, meet needs before

indulging desires, don’t borrow - buy it outright, postpone pleasure, learn the thrill

of saving, don’t impress- enjoy, don’t hoard - share, don’t have- do, don’t forget-

focus, don’t binge – savor” (Kasser, et al, 2013, p. 13-39).

Conclusion

The purpose of this literature was to unequivocally identify the perceptions of

consumerism and how adopting a less materialistic lifestyle help negate this

impulsive drive. It is clear to understand how our consumerist habits have evolved

in the past and why we are where we are right now as a society, as individuals. It is

alarming to see how organizations invest their money to shape consumers behavior

the way they want making desire things that most likely don’t need. By doing this,

these organizations are not only affecting and manipulating our minds but also are

making us be responsible for consuming goods where their production threatens the

environment. All of this happens while we keep on living an illusion and not noticing

the real intentions of the very few institutions and wealthy individuals controlling

the media, the food and consumer goods industry. Now that I’m fully aware of

these issues I came to the realization that education is a crucial part of the

changing process. Unfortunately, children are the most vulnerable to be influenced

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by a culture of consumerism. However, I strongly believe that through education I

can instill in children the rejection of a materialistic lifestyle. Growing spiritually,

experiencing nature, embracing community values, human relationships and

sustainable practices is the best instrument to cancel out the impulsive drive of

consumerism. With the help and guidance of an eco-art school children will develop

critical thinking and a sense of identity and they will adopt the innate attitudes of

cooperation, self-love and empathy we once lost. Children will be able to

understand the connections and interdependency of all living things. I will leave you

with these two quotes from the late Terence McKenna, an American philosopher and

ethnobotanist, which much relate to the topics I have previously discussed,

“Culture is not your friend. Culture is for other peoples’ convenience and the

convenience of various institutions, churches, companies, tax collection schemes,

what have you. It is not your friend. It insults you. It disempowers you. It uses and

abuses you. None of us are well-treated by culture.”[...]But the culture is a

perversion. It fetishizes objects. It creates consumer mania. It preaches endless

forms of false happiness, endless forms of false understanding in the form of

squirrelly religions and silly cults. It invites people to diminish themselves and

dehumanize themselves by behaving like machines.”

“We have to create culture, don’t watch TV, don’t read magazines, don’t even listen

to NPR. Create your own roadshow. The nexus of space and time where you are now

is the most immediate sector of your universe, and if you’re worrying about Michael

Jackson or Bill Clinton or somebody else, then you are disempowered, you’re giving

it all away to icons, icons which are maintained by an electronic media so that you

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want to dress like X or have lips like Y. This is shit-brained, this kind of thinking.

That is all cultural diversion, and what is real is you and your friends and your

associations, your highs, your orgasms, your hopes, your plans, your fears. And we

are told ‘no’, we’re unimportant, we’re peripheral. ‘Get a degree, get a job, get a

this, get a that.’ And then you’re a player, you don’t want to even play in that game.

You want to reclaim your mind and get it out of the hands of the cultural engineers

who want to turn you into a half-baked moron consuming all this trash that’s being

manufactured out of the bones of a dying world.”

List of References

Banbury, C., & Stinerock, R., & Subrahmanyan, S. (2011). Sustainable consumption:

Introspecting across

multiple lived cultures. Journal of Business Research, 65(4), 497-503, ISSN

0148-2963, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.02.028.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296311000610)

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Bauer M.A., Wilkie J.E.B., Kim J.K., & Bodenhausen G.V. (2012). Cuing Consumerism:

Situational Materialism Undermines Personal and Social Well-

Being. Psychological Science, 23 (5), 517-523.

Briceno, T., & Stagl, S. (2006). The role of social processes for sustainable

consumption, Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(17), 1541-1551. ISSN 0959-

6526, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.01.027.

(

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095965260600085

0)

Bates, J. (n.d.). Terence McKenna’s Disillusioned Perspective on Mass-Consumerist

Culture | Refine The Mind. Retrieved April 5, 2014, from

http://www.refinethemind.com/terence-mckenna-on-culture/

Buenstorf, G., & Cordes, C. (2008). Can sustainable consumption be learned? A

model of cultural evolution. Ecological Economics, 67(4), 646-657, ISSN 0921-8009,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.01.028.

Chancellor, J., & Lyubomirsky, L. (2012). Money for Happiness: The Hedonic Benefits

of

Thrift. Consumer’s dilemma: The search for well-being in the material world.

New York: Springer.

Damme, I. V., & Vermoesen, R. (2009). Second-hand consumption as a way of life:

Public auctions in the surroundings of alost in the late eighteenth

century. Continuity and Change, 24(2), 275-305. doi:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0268416009007188

http://www.refinethemind.com/terence-mckenna-on-culture/



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Day, G. S., & Aaker, D. A. (1970). A Guide to Consumerism. Journal of Marketing,

34(3), 12-19.

Elliott, R. (2013). The taste for green: The possibilities and dynamics of status

differentiation through “green” consumption. Poetics, 41(3), 294-322. ISSN

0304-422X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2013.03.003.

Figueroa-Rosario, W. (2003). Exploration of the meaning and process of wellness

among families in Vieques: A qualitative study. ProQuest Dissertations and

Theses, 346-346. Retrieved from

http://ezproxy.fiu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/

288104798?accountid=10901. (288104798).

Goss, J. (2006). Geographies of consumption: the work of consumption. Progress in

Human Geography, 30(2), 237-249. doi:10.1191/0309132506ph604pr

Hill, J. A. (2011). Endangered childhoods: How consumerism is impacting child and

youth identity. Media, Culture & Society, 33, 347-

362. doi:10.1177/0163443710393387

Hofmeister-Tóth, Á., Kelemen, K., & Piskóti, M. (2011). Environmentally conscious

consumption patterns in Hungarian households. Society and Economy, 33(1),

51-68. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/SocEc.33.2011.1.6

Kasser, T., Rosenblum, K. L., Sameroff, A. J., Deci, E. L., Niemiec, C. P., Ryan, R.

M., ... & Hawks, S. (2013). Changes in materialism, changes in psychological

well-being: Evidence from three longitudinal studies and an intervention

experiment. Motivation and Emotion, 38(1), 1-22.

Kellogg, C. (2005), Eco Imperative. Archit Design, 75, 100–102. doi: 10.1002/ad.25

Kruger, M. H. (2001). The influence of the 1960s countercultural values of

individualism, anti-materialism, and community on a contemporary

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intentional community. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 456-456.

Retrieved from


304729737?accountid=10901. (304729737).

Lee, M., Pant, A., & Ali, A. (2010). Does the Individualist Consumer More? The

Interplay of Ethics and Beliefs that Governs Consumerism Across Cultures.

Journal of Business Ethics, 93(4), 567-581. doi:10.1007/s10551-009-0240-8.

Lorenzen, J. A. (2012). Going Green: The Process of Lifestyle Change. Sociological

Forum, 27(1), 94-116. doi:10.1111/j.1573-7861.2011.01303.x

Manktelow, R. (2011). Community, consumerism and credit: the experience of an

urban community in North-West Ireland. Community, Work & Family, 14(3),

257-274, doi:10.1080/13668803.2010.520839

Mayank, B., & Amit J. Green Marketing: A study of consumer perception and

preferences in India. Electronic Green Journal, 1(36). ISSN 1076-7975.

Retrieved from http://escholarship.org/uc/item/5mc39217

Mont, O., & Plepys, A. (2008). Sustainable consumption progress: should we be

proud or alarmed?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16(4), 531-537. ISSN 0959-

6526, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.01.009.

Nguyen, L. T. (2003). Growing up in a material world: An investigation of the

development of materialism in children and adolescents. ProQuest

Dissertations and Theses, 190-190 p. Retrieved from


305330353?accountid=10901. (305330353).

25


Sanne, C. (2002). Willing consumers—or locked-in? Policies for a sustainable

consumption. Ecological Economics, 42(1–2), 273-287, ISSN 0921-8009,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00086-1.

(


1)

Terry, L. (2013). The Perils of Consumption and the Gift Economy as the Solution

Daniel Miller’s Consumption and Its Consequences. Electronic Green Journal,

1(35). Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/46x4z1td

Zukin, S., & Maguire, J. (2004). Consumers and Consumption. Annual Review of

Sociology, 30(1), 173-197. doi: 10.1146/annurev.soc.30.012703.110553

List of Figures

Figure 1

http://jonathanmoore.com/post/978060561/is-consumerism-killing-our-creativity

Appendix A

I. Introduction

Background

Purpose of Study

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00086-1

http://escholarship.org/uc/item/46x4z1td



26


Significance of Study

II. Literature Review

The basis of Consumerism

Negative characteristics of consumerism

Sustainable consumption approach

Concept

Sustainable consumption associated with social class

Sustainable consumption associate with culture

Relationships between consumerism and well-being of people

III. Conclusion

IV. List of References

V. Appendix A

Outline

VI. Appendix B

Annotated Bibliography

Appendix B

Annotated Bibliography

A. Initial Thesis Project Questions and Purpose

Central Question:

27


How may interior design affect the negative perception of consumerism in our

society today with a particular focus on the issues associated with a potential

conflict between consumerism and sustainability?

Subquestion 1: What are the bases of consumerism?

Subquestion 2: What are the current negative characteristics of

consumerism?

Subquestion 3: What is sustainable consumption?

Subquestion 4: Is sustainable consumption associated with a certain

population or culture?

Subquestion 5: Is there a relationship between materialism and the well-

being of people?

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this study is to identify the perceptions of

consumerism and how adopting a less materialistic lifestyle helps negate this

impulsive drive.

B. BOK

Categories I found in the Body of Knowledge:

Human Environment needs

Design

Products & Materials

Communication

28


C. Reading List

The following are some of the articles I have found using the FIU library.

Subquestion 1: What are the bases of consumerism?

1) Kruger, M. H. (2001). The influence of the 1960s countercultural

values of individualism, anti-materialism, and community on a

contemporary intentional community. ProQuest Dissertations and

Theses, 456-456. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.fiu.edu/login?

url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/304729737?

accountid=10901. (304729737).

Author Credentials: Mark H. Kruger accomplished s a Bachelor of Arts degree with

a major in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1970. He

also achieved a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University in 1973. Kruger has

practiced law since 1973 and has written and lectured on various legal issues. He

has taught courses at Saint Louis University in the Departments of American

Studies, Sociology and Criminal Justice at Washington University. He expects to

receive a Doctor of Philosophy degree in American Studies from Saint Louis

University in 2001.

Journal/Publisher: UMI University Microfilms International was founded in 1930s

by Eugene Power in Ann Arbor. UMI provides an economical alternative to graduate

students to offset printing as a means of meeting their doctoral publication

29


requirements. As of today, a vast number of educational institutions in the U.S.

publish their doctoral dissertations through UMI. By 1995, UMI starting offering

online availability to selected database at no cost, becoming the origins of was is

now known as ProQuest Online Information Service.

Intended Audience: Professionals/ Students

Objective Reasoning: The information presented in this study was fact and well-

researched. This information can be supported by historical documents and

literature. The ideas and arguments that were explained do advanced in line with

other works I have read on the same topic.

Methodology: This research used the Social Constructivist Worldview which beliefs

that meanings are negotiated socially and historically. This study is qualitative

because the author collected, analyzed and interpreted historical information and

he also conducted interviews. I think the paradigm and method is appropriate to the

topic because the author compiled rich, detailed historical data that contributed to

an in-depth understand of the context.

Coverage: This material uses primary sources which are published rules and

regulations, by law-s and other internal legislation. Also the author uses interviews

of approximately 75 current members of the East Wind community.

Writing Style: The main points of this study are clearly presented. However, I

thought that the information was repetitive. The information presented was easy to

read and the author was very thorough in the different aspects of the influence of

the 9160s countercultural values of individualism, anti-materialism and community.

Findings + Significances:

In the 1960s the United States went through significant changes in society,

politics, and culture.

30


This study analyzes the countercultural emphasis on individualism, anti-

materialism and the longing of the people to find a contemporary community.

The first community he mentions and analyzes is the East Wind Community

located in Ozark County, Missouri.

o This is a community that has proper for the past 27 years due to its

highly successful businesses and their continuous sustenance from the

operation of its farm.

o This community shares the profits of its businesses equally to the

members of the community and it is governed in a democratic way.

The author states that this community is much influenced by the behavioral

modification theory written by B.F. Skinner in his utopian novel ‘Walden Two’.

o This theory is an attempt to influence individual’s conduct by

controlling their environment. The author describes certain values that

have been attributed to the social movements happening in the 1960s.

Those values are:

1) “The concept of individualism insofar as it relates to the dignity of the

individual person and to his or her empowerment and participation in

decision-making which affects his or her life.” Page 4

2) “The concept of anti-materialism and the search for spiritual as opposed to

materialistic values.” Page 4

3) “The search for a sense of community in order to counteract the isolation of

the individual in everyday life.” Page 4

The author asserts during the 1960s students and young people were

responsible for much of the cultural and political change.

31


o During this period the Students for a Democratic Society movement

was created.

o They wrote a statement of philosophy. In this document called for the

treatment of people as important and empowered human beings and

to create a new sense of community where individuals are able to

interact in a meaningful way.

o They criticized the materialistic values, the lack of dignity and

empowerment of the individual in post-war America.

There is a concept of individualism by Steven Lukes where he describes it as

the opposition to authority and stressed the dignity, self-development and

autonomy of the individual.

According to this research, the concepts of individual dignity and

empowerment were also part of American Literature.

o For instance Walt Whitman thought that everyone was entitled to

dignity, no matter social class or race.

It is further explained that during the 19th century and the introduction of the

machine Transcendentalists of New England despised the results of

industrialization on the individual.

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau appeared in the picture

expressing their concerned with the new relationship people have with the

world and nature.

o They thought that the way to live a meaningful life is by experience

nature, reject material interest, and exercising independence from

social restraints.

32


o Emerson’s thoughts in his work “Self-Reliance” are so deep. He feels

that with the industrial age, man has become an unthinking money

making machine. Instead of growing spiritually society back in that

period was more concern in material values.

o Materialism distorted people’s nature and consequently creating their

own alienation of what was the essence of life.

o In the same manner, Thoreau despised the life of material society and

called Americans to stop seeking material possessions.

According to Thorstein Veblen materialist values and incentives have the

effect of dividing people from each other, destroying community, and

distorting human relationships, resulting in competitive and destructive

conduct.

Another point of view is stated by Frank Norris in ‘The Octopus’.

o He thought that the drives for wealth cause the destruction of the land

and the farmer’s lives to construct railroads.

Much of American literature reflected a refusal of the longing of accumulation

of wealth.

There were plenty of communities in the 1960s that wanted freedom from

the exploitation of themselves and others.

o They rejected hierarchy and sought to replace the materialistic values

with spiritual values.

Typology application: With this research in mind, I can create an educational

typology such as a museum where individuals could learn the history of

consumerism in regards to individualism, and materialism and communal values. I

could also develop a community for children where they are taught these values. I

33


need to create an environment that teaches to love one another and do good to

others developing a sense of community empowered by human beings.

Quotations:

1. “It also criticized the materialistic values it perceived as then existing in the

United States and called for a new sense of community, where people were

able to interact as human beings in a meaningful way instead of what is

viewed as the isolation of the individual in mass society.” Page 17

2. “The New England Transcendentalists abhorred the result of industrialism on

the individual. They rejected its intrusion on life and its demand for

conformity. It distorted the human psyche and made man and women into

things they naturally were not.” Page 31

3. “They felt that all things were connected or unified, and the way to know and

to live life was spiritually and not materially. Experiencing nature, rejecting

material interests, and exercising independence from social restraints were

keys to understanding and living a spiritually fulfilling and meaningful life.”

Page 31

4. “In the new industrial age, machines in America were controlling people;

people were not controlling machines. Materialism mastered human freedom

and nature.” Page 32

2) Zukin, S., & Maguire, J. (2004). Consumers and Consumption. Annual

Review of Sociology, 30(1), 173-197. doi:

10.1146/annurev.soc.30.012703.110553

34


Author Credentials: Sharon Zukin works in the Department of Sociology at

Brooklyn College and in the Graduate Center at the City University of New York.

Jennifer Smith Maguire works in the Department of Sociology at the University of

Leicester in the UK.

Journal: Annual Review of Sociology.


Objective Reasoning: The information is this research appears to be valid. The

information is opinion and facts taken from other sources. The language used by the

researchers is free of emotion-arousing word and bias.

Methodology: The methodology paradigm used is the Social Constructivist

Worldview because in this worldview meanings are negotiated socially and

historically, just like in this research. Meanings in this study were formed through

historical and cultural norms that operate in individuals lives.

Coverage: The coverage was research on consumer products, texts, and sites,

which locate consumption at the junction of changing social structures and cultural

practices; on the role of consumption in constructing both the consuming subject

and collective identity; and on historical transitions to a consumer society. The data

included ethnography, interviews, and historical analysis which shows a global

consumer culture fostered by media and marketing professionals yet subject to

different local interpretations.

Writing Style: The information in this article was organized logically and all its

main points clearly presented.


The authors study the role of consumption and its effect on societal changes

by viewing the process of consumption as an “institutional field”.

35


The review draws on the works by several noted sociologists to understand

the consumer culture and its evolution over time.

o The review begins by analyzing the material setting of the institutional

field in studies of development of consumption sites and social

construction of consumption.

The review then shifts its focus on the transition from state socialism to a

market economy.

The study ends by outlining an emerging sociological approach to studying

consumption as an institutional field through close, detailed research of

consumer products, texts, and sites, which locate consumption at the

junction of changing social structures and cultural practices

Results of the study reveal how consumption bridges economic and cultural

institutions, large-scale changes in social structure, and self-discourses.

Ethnography, interviews, and historical analysis show a global consumer

culture fostered by media and marketing professionals which are subject to

different local interpretations.

Typology application: This research showed me that from the industrial

revolution companies and the media have constantly manipulated the consumers’

minds to create visions and identities of the self that are not real. For this reason, I

think that an educational project is the best solution to the consumerism problem. I

want to be able to communicate through an environment a sense of community,

identity, and sustainable practices.

Quotations:

1. “Contemporary studies of consumer products and sites date from the 1970s

and early 1980s – the very period when the more developed economies of

36


the world were shifting from manufacturing to “postindustrial” production,

and consumption was becoming a more visible factor in both the creative

destruction of the landscape (Zukin 1991) and the conscious reshaping of the

self (Featherstone 1991).” Page 176

2. “To the extent that it is theorized, this work strongly suggests that mass

consumption was produced by manipulating consumers’ desires to be well

dressed, good looking, and beloved; to surround themselves with visions of

beauty; and to surrender common sense and sobriety to individual dreams of

self-enhancement.” Page 176

3. “Parr (1999) documents how, from the 1930s to the 1950s, companies

changed refrigerator models every year and copied automobile styling down

to the last detail; they planned both the products’ physical obsolescence and

their “emotional obsolescence” in consumers’ eyes (see also Ewen 1999).”

Page 179

4. “Historical content analyses of advertising in the early twentieth century note

an increasing emphasis on self-realization (Lears 1983), the importance of

first impressions (Marchand 1985), and the viability of improving oneself

through consumption.” Page 181

3) Damme, I. V., & Vermoesen, R. (2009). Second-hand consumption as

a way of life: Public auctions in the surroundings of alost in the late

eighteenth century. Continuity and Change, 24(2), 275-305. doi:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0268416009007188

37


Author Credentials: Ilja Van Damme and Reinoud Vermoesen. Both from the

Centre for Urban History, University of Antwerp.

Journal: Continuity and Change 24 (2), 2009, 275-305. Cambridge University Press

2009.


Objective Reasoning: The information covered was facts. The authors go back in

history to make a research of pre-industrial reuse habits related to public auctions

in the countryside of the southern Netherlands. Thus, the information appears to be

well-researched and supported by evidence. This article presents arguments that

are undistorted by emotion related to second hand consumption and I think the

author’s point of view was objective and impartial.

Methodology: The methodology paradigm used is the Post-Positivist Worldview.

Postpositivists begin with a theory and then collect the data that makes them come

to some understanding of how people used to construct and maintain the

perception of the world back in those days. This study is using a combined method.

It shows some numerical data in regards to the specific years in which a village

engaged in public actions activities and how much percent it would increase or

decrease according to certain categories. It is also a qualitative study in that they

are examining the relationship among variables measured on instruments.

Coverage: The researchers did an empirical structured case study, isolated in

space and time. They based their study from data collected and apply it to a village

of the eighteen century in Erembodegen, Europe. “Yet in placing the second-hand

consumption in this specific context, we demonstrate how the reuse of older

products was not confined to the poor and the weak.” Page 276 Counting on

historical facts adds credibility to the study. The data collected was from primary

38


sources. This study contains new information that gives a totally different

perspective to second hand consumption.

Writing Style: The text was easy to understand and the information was organized

in a logical manner with the main ideas clearly presented.


Studies of consumption tend to be only related to the acquisition of new

products and the risen patterns of novel consumption.

This study states that the reasons for second hand acquisition are drawn by

individual motives.

o Also individuals have goals of the household involved or they are

depended on a particular product like clothing.

Furthermore the authors speculate about the reasons for the activity of

buying and selling second hand objects.

o The authors state it could be as a survival strategy and/or as a

meaningful consumer strategy.

Under the context of their study, I learned that the people in the village

engage in activities such as public actions where they would sell deceased’s

possessions, furniture, kitchen goods, clothing and so on.

It is interesting to know that everybody was free to buy in the public actions.

o There was no specific social class associated with it because all social

classes would engage in this activity.

Auctioned objects moved between homes of the same social status and

different social status as well.

By the end of the eighteen century second hand consumption became a sign

of poverty.

39


o As a consequence individuals from lower social classes desired goods

from higher social classes; it was a pattern that looked to imitate

higher social economic status.

To conclude the authors indicate that reuse is seen as a reaction to the

modern day abundance of good. I could use this reaction and transform it

into something positive.

Typology application: This study opened up the possibilities to create a typology

related to retail. Centuries ago second hand consumption was not only devoted for

low class people. Individuals bought from other individuals goods that were needed

and that were in good shape. It would be interesting to create a retail store that

sells useful goods that were made from recyclable material or create an

environment where people can come and exchange their goods for something else

they need.

Quotations:

1. “Indeed, purchasing older belongings can be linked to notions of social

identity and status.” Page 290

2. “Buying older products of good quality, especially in an eighteenth-century

market with changing standards of product durability was a ‘clever

investment’”. Page 291-292

3. “Second-hand consumption was truly a way of life or, as Donald Woodward

noted in a pioneering work: ‘Few goods were lightly abandoned; fewer still

were left to rot by the roadside’.” Page 295

4. “Besides the importance of the objects purchased, there must also be

acknowledgement of the specific social and geographical background of the

buyers and sellers of older goods.” Page 297

40


4) Day, G. S., & Aaker, D. A. (1970). A Guide to Consumerism. Journal of

Marketing, 34(3), 12-19.

Author Credentials: George S. Day is an assistant professor of marketing in the

Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. Originally he obtained his PhD

at Columbia University. In addition he is the author of Buyer Attitudes and Brand

Choice Behavior and he has written several papers on attitude theory and

measurement. The other author is David Aaker. He is an assistant professor of

business administration at the University of California at Berkeley. He earned his MS

and PhD degrees at Stanford University. In addition he is a member of the editorial

board of the Journal of Marketing Research and he has also written papers.

Journal: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 34 (July, 1970), pp. 12-19


Objective Reasoning: The information covered in this article was based on factual

information. It appears to be valid information explaining what consumerism, where

did it come from is and its future. The ideas and arguments do advanced in line with

other works on the same topic. I think the authors of this article have an impartial

point of view. Personally I think that the authors uses words throughout the article

that show facts.

Methodology: This article used a non-qualitative approach to reach its conclusions.

The authors do point out surveys, statistics and opinion from other people in the

field. The vocabulary they used is explanatory and formal. Authors used a Post-

41


positivist Worldview because they began explaining an issue collecting the data that

supported this argument. In addition, they assessed the causes of consumerism.

Coverage: This article is written in July 1970, which means that it doesn’t update

other sources. However it allowed me to learn about the basis of consumerism. In

addition this article is secondary material in nature.

Writing Style: I think the publication is organized logically because is presented

starting with the history then it describes the concerns and issues, the causes and

the findings. All the points are clearly presented. Personally, I think that it was an

easy writing style that allowed me to understand the author’s point of view.


It starts describing consumerism using the words of one of the earliest

adopters of the term, Vance Packard.

o He “linked consumerism with strategies for persuading consumers to

quickly expand their needs and wants by making them voracious,

compulsive (and wasteful)” (Day, 1970, p13).

This article describes the right of consumers which are:

o Protection against clear-cut abuses.

o Provision of adequate information.

o The protection of consumers against themselves and other consumers.

This article later explains that the underlying causes of consumerisms are a

discontented consumer and the activist consumer.

o Discontented consumers exit because there are problems in the

marketplace, problems in the social fabric.

Business and marketing companies distinguish these sources of

discontent so they can create products and advertisement.

42


o On the other hand the activist consumers are individuals who are able

to identify and make those problems public.

The article further explains that there is a changing in the political and legal

scene because there are government agencies that protect consumers and

the Congress itself is reactive to the economic interest of consumers.

Finally the article states the future of consumerism stating that the ultimate

challenge of consumerism is to solve the problems of a society.

Typology application: This article made me realize that I need to create an

environment that helps to solve at least one the problems of a society like pollution

or malnutrition. Also the authors explained that one of the sources of discontent in

the marketplace is the confusion with products that are bought infrequently with

makes me think I need to create a design that is simple, recognizable but thorough

at the same time that fits all social classes. As a typology it would be interesting to

create something that merges educational and retail.

Quotations:

1. “Vance Packard, one of the earliest adopters of the term, linked consumerism

with strategies for persuading consumers to quickly expand their needs and

wants by making them “voracious, compulsive (and wasteful).” Page 12

2. “There is a high probability that the scope of consumerism will eventually

subsume, or be subsumed by two other areas of social concern; distortions

and inequities in the economic environment and the declining quality of the

physical environment.” Page 14

3. “…the vastly increased number of consumer products and the misleading,

deceptive and generally uninformative aspects of advertising and packaging,

43


the consumer simply lacks the information necessary to enable him to buy

wisely.” Page 15

4. “…sophisticated consumers are demanding more personal relationships and

security in their purchases.” Page 16

5) Goss, J. (2006). Geographies of consumption: the work of

consumption. Progress in Human Geography, 30(2), 237-249.

doi:10.1191/0309132506ph604pr

Author Credentials: John Gross works in the Department of Geography at the

University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

Journal: Progress in Human Geography Journal.


Objective Reasoning: The information is mostly opinion. The arguments advanced

in line with other works I have read on the same topic so I think that the information

is valid.

Methodology: This study uses the Social Constructivist Worldview because the

researcher analyzed social and historical aspects of the geographies of

consumption. This study was a qualitative.

Coverage: This work marginally covers my topic. However it clearly substantiates

other materials I have read. The material is secondary in nature.

Writing Style: I think this article was easy to read and all the information was

arranged in a logical manner.


44


This study points out the different cultures of consumption showing how

global brands customize their products to accommodate to deceiving needs

of consumers.

According to this research globalization impacts consumerism making

approximately 1.1 billion ‘new consumers’ pursuing the so dream western

lifestyle; thus increasing consumption of cars, meat and electricity.

It is mentioned also that even furniture and fashion commodity chains

manipulate the fashion of furniture to accelerate the lifecycle of products.

o For instance in Denmark, exterior spaces express social status and

interiors declare love of family.

This study argues that individuals are disillusioned with the mall idea, and

that an open-air ‘neo-village’ will be the new trend that liberates shopping.

In addition, it is stated in this research that individuals shop because we are

no longer connected to nature or even worse we don’t make good ourselves.

The author concludes that we need more spiritual education and critically

judge mass media so we can discover the hidden intentions of companies.

Typology application: I want to create an educational/hospitality typology where

individuals go back to their roots, back to nature, and where they learn to adopt an

anti-consumerist behavior.

Quotations:

1. “Now consumers too are disillusioned with the mall and, according to

Underhill (2004:211), for basically the same reason: that malls are built by

real-estate developers not retailers, let alone community planners. For him,

only mixed-use open-air ‘neo-villages’ will ‘liberate shopping and keep it

real’.” Page 243-244

45


2. “Zukin (2004:8) argues, however, that, ultimately, we shop because we are

no longer connected to nature or make goods ourselves and it is one of the

few means left of creating value, pursuing meaning, and for fashioning ideal

self and society. We shop to ‘fill the gap’ between a perfect self and

imperfections of reality, ‘between flawed thighs or hips and a physical ideal’

(Zukin, 2004:92) and to realize ideals of social virtue no longer available in

religion, work or politics (see also Poster, 2004; Samuelson, 2004).” Page 244

3. “Beaudoin (2003: xiii, 106; see also Atkin, 2004) argues that consumers are

‘soulfully hungry persons’ and that there is an ‘authentic spiritual impulse at

the heart of our branding economy’ based on a desire to be recognized by

others under the sign of a power greater than ourselves.” Page 245

4. “Beaudoin (2003) similarly calls for scriptural education and collective

contemplation of mass media, together with research on the economic

relationships that contemporary brands obscure: he describes as a kind of

pilgrimage his own attempts to search out the origins of the brand-name

products in his personal wardrobe.” Page 246

Subquestion 2: What are the current negative characteristics of

consumerism?

1) Sanne, C. (2002). Willing consumers—or locked-in? Policies for a

sustainable consumption. Ecological Economics, 42(1–2), 273-287,

ISSN 0921-8009, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00086-1.

46



Author Credentials: Christer Sanne works at Urban Studies in the Royal Institute

of Techonology (KTH) in Sweden.

Journal: Ecological Economics Journal. This journal is concerned with extending and

integrating the study of ecology and economics.


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is fact and opinion. The

information appears to be valid and well researched. The researcher uses different

sources to bring valid point from the historical, economic and social perspective.

Methodology: The methodology paradigm used is the Pragmatic Worldview. This

worldview is concerned with applications and solutions to the problems and that is

what I thought the researcher was doing in this study. Additionally, the study is

qualitative because this is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning

individuals or a society attributes to a social problem, in this case consumerism.

Coverage: The coverage includes the data from the consumption patterns of three

types of people named People, Business and The Political Class, where people

represent consumers, business as sellers and political class as political influence

and control of power. A triangular scheme is developed to formally model the

interaction between the three sets of people. Thus, this scheme provides an

accurate representation of the de-facto consumer classes and a near accurate

representation of the interactions therein.

Writing Style: The article had all the main points presented clearly and the

information was organized in a logical manner.


47



The author presents a perspective argument on the consumer approach

towards sustainable consumption.

The study proposes an alternative hypothesis to postmodern explanations of

consumer behavior which attribute social and psychological factors, also

structural issues like work-and-spend lifestyle to the status quo by suggesting

the consumers may be a victim of the circumstances.

Results of the study shows that consumers may be a captive of

circumstances and may not been keen in following such a mundane lifestyle.

The study proposes legal and political intervention to assist the citizens to

promote a change of behavior.

Results of the study offer a possible solution in terms of reduced working

hours to enhance sustainability.

The study suggests that shorter working hours would give double dividends

by allowing people to live more lightly while enjoying more leisure.

The paper further discusses solutions in the form of policy actions that might

help to unlock consumers from a pattern of consumption driven by the

market forces.

Typology application: This article opened up the possibility of creating a

hospitality project. I can create an eco-village where people assist to workshops for

a certain amount of time and where they could learn how to adopt a more

sustainable lifestyle. This eco-village will be an example of a sustainable hotel.

Quotations:

48


1. “Moving towards a sustainable consumption may in the end be a task for the

individual but the debate about this must also acknowledge the structural

factors that surround her.” (p. 274)

2. “Ours is a ‘consumer culture’ where every human wish tends to be

transformed into a commercial object or service” (p. 279)

3. “Everyone has the same needs and that society’s goal should be to maximise

happiness for all.” (p. 284)

4. “A socially well-knit society with a large social capital may not only reduce

the quest for consumption but also increase the acceptability of policy

measures against overconsumption.” (p. 285)

2) Hill, J. A. (2011). Endangered childhoods: How consumerism is

impacting child and youth identity. Media, Culture &

Society, 33, 347-362. doi:10.1177/0163443710393387

Author Credentials: Jennifer Ann Hill from the University of British Columbia,

Canada.

Journal: Media, Culture & Society 2011 33:347

Intended Audience: Professionals/ Students/General audience

Objective Reasoning: The information covered were facts from well researched

sources. The ideas and arguments are related to consumerism in children and it is

in line with what I’m researching. The author’s point of view is objective using a

language in her written that was free from emotion-arousing words.

49


Methodology: The methodology paradigm used was the Pragmatic Worldview. The

author focus the attention on the research problem in social science research and

then arrived to the conclusion using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Coverage: This research substantiates other sources and added new information in

that it points out the several negative effects consumerism have on children’s

mental and physical health. This article covered my topic in a more narrow way

because it was focus on children. This study uses primary and secondary sources to

obtain the variety of viewpoints.

Writing Style: The information is organized logically and all the main points were

presented clearly. The information is easy to read. She provided plenty of sources to

make her work credible and more understandable.


This study points out how the pervasive media, technology and a culture of

consumption are affecting the structure of childhood.

Modern children are being affected from a significant physical, emotional and

social deficit that can be blamed on consumerism.

Although technology has helped education immensely it has also generated

an anti-social behavior in children reinforcing pattern like racism and sexism.

Influential corporations and media have been able to infiltrate past

differences of class, ethnicity and gender.

Children are being deprived of the series of childhood experiences that

would have had if it was not for consumers.

The power of media is responsible for the drive towards the materialism and

over consumption that is constantly destabilizing children’s identity.

50


This research reveals that play has become professionalized and tainted with

adult cues, imaginations and expectations.

o This finding makes me realized that I need to create an interior

environment that strengthens and actives the creative mind of a child.

o A new positive realm for today’s children is much needed; a realm that

cancels out perversity, dishonor, confusion and consumerism.

It is very interesting to note that children’s play is no longer an expression of

joy with no specific purpose but rather it has become an activity that is

controlled by companies looking desperately to make profits at whatever

cost.

o As a consequence the capacity for play automatically erodes.

According to this research there is a social phenomenon called the “tween”

which is an unmistakable example of consumerism.

o This phenomenon occurs as a result of media seducing children to

adopt an identity older than their developmental age.

It is mentioned in this research that marketing companies are hiring child

psychologists to maximize their understanding of the segments and nuances

of the youth market.

o All the pervasive media creates issues of identity in children that are

directly linked to negative health indicators such as addictions. .

o Children that have an addiction problem have previously internalized

an identity that justifies this type of behavior.

Marketing companies sell an identity with their goods that children will crave

to adopt.

51


o In other words, consumerism is guilty of creating a culture that

tolerates the negation of a positive self-image.

The authors reveal that the statistics of children’s health point to a disturbing

trend that children are being robbed of their childhood at an emotional and

physical level.

o Serious problems of early obesity, drug abuse, alcohol use, depression

and suicide rates are linked in some way or the other to the

consequences of consumerism.

o These findings urge me to create an environment that creates a

culture of love and acceptance of the self and others.

Children have a cognitive capacity and through television children are being

exposed to powerful messaging, shaping attitudes, motivation, behavior and

lastly, one’s identity.

o Unfortunately, brand loyalty is sought from the cradle.

Children’s play is so important in their early years because they are able to

express themselves and gain a sense of control over their world.

Consumerism through the advertisement of technological products for

children is jeopardizing an environment that allows creativity and critical

thinking.

o As a result, identity suffers because children learn at an early stage

that happiness is based on material goods that define them.

We are all constantly manipulated to think that we can find happiness

through consumption and as a result we are blindfolded dreaming the same

consumerist dream.

52


Marketing companies are working hard to exploit children’s aspirations for a

certain physical or mental attitude/ characteristic.

o I want on the other hand to create an environment that exploits

children creativity, critical thinking and that creates a connection to

nature.

This research states that more than half of the brand used in childhood

continue to be used in adulthood, and that children starting at 3 years can be

avid consumers.

o This definitely helps me to set up the target market for my design

Typology application: I want to design an environment for children that will

positively influence them at an early age and that what they have perceived and

learned stay deep their conscious in their adulthoods. It is said in this article that

brand can essentially perform two main roles for consumer’s identity. The first one

is an emotional role by creating means of identification and the second is a social

role that means that what you owe is who you are. Equally I want my design to

perform an emotional role by creating a means of identification with sustainability

and a social role so children that what they create in terms of creativity is who they

are. Research has shown that children tend to adopt certain negative behavior and

attitudes when are exposed to ads and programming so I will create an

environment for children where they can adopt positive, loving attitudes about

themselves, where they create a connection to nature, where they learn that

happiness if not about the goods that you own, where their creativity is aroused. An

environment that does not professes the acquisition of goods, wealth, but the

acquisition of knowledge and love and the transformation of used goods to

something creative. I want create an environment that negates consumerism and

53


possible solved the anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and psychosomatic symptoms

that comes along with it. This could be an eco-village that mixes hospitality with

educational typology. It could also be a sustainable design school where students

are able to live in mixing educational and residential typologies.

Quotations:

1. “Statistics on children’s health point to a disturbing trend – children are being

robbed of their childhoods not only at an emotional level, but physically as

well.” Page 350

2. “To put it further in perspective, based on surveys of what type of television

programming children watch, the average child sees about 12,000 violent

acts, 14,000 sexual references and innuendos and 20,000 advertisements

annually (Bar-on, 2000, emphasis added).” Page 351

3. “Despite decades of research, what is clear is that the effects of

consumerism, in which advertising plays an important role, are

psychologically and psychologically and physically harmful (Dittmar, 2007;

Kasser et al., 2007; Kramer, 2006; Linn, 2004; Schor, 2004).” Page 352

4. “Consequently, children learn at an early age that conformity, defining self-

worth by what you worn, and seeking happiness through acquisition of

material goods are traits towards which to aspire. These are antithetical to

creativity, characterized by originality and the capacity for critical thinking.”

Page 352

3) Nguyen, L. T. (2003). Growing up in a material world: An

investigation of the development of materialism in children and

54


adolescents. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 190-190 p.

Retrieved from


305330353?accountid=10901. (305330353).

Author Credentials: Lan T. Nguyen seeking a degree of Doctor of Philosophy in

the University of Minnesota.

Journal: UMI University Microfilms International was founded in 1930s by Eugene

Power in Ann Arbor. UMI provides an economical alternative to graduate students to

offset printing as a means of meeting their doctoral publication requirements. As of

today, a vast number of educational institutions in the U.S. publish their doctoral

dissertations through UMI. By 1995, UMI starting offering online availability to

selected database at no cost, becoming the origins of was is now known as

ProQuest Online


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is fact and opinion. I think the

information is valid and well-research and the ideas stated in this study advanced in

line with the same topic of my research.

Methodology: This study uses the Social Constructivist Worldview because the

meanings are constructed by human beings as they engage with the world they are

interpreting. Also this worldview states that the basic generation of meaning is

always social, so is this study. In addition, this research is qualitative.

Coverage: The coverage for this study is divided into three sets of samples, each

for an essay analyzing the evolution of a child’s social concepts. In two studies with

8-18 year olds, they look at age differences in number and sophistication of self-

55


brand connections as evidence to a more complex self-concept as well as an

increased appreciation for the social-symbolic functions of inanimate features of

one’s world such as brand names. Essay #1 considers fifty-six participants recruited

from an elementary school in the Midwest and a summer camp in the Northeastern

United States. Subjects from three grade levels were included: 21 3rd graders (8-9

year olds), 20 7th/8th graders (12-13 year olds), and 15 11th/ 12th graders (16-18

year olds) to capture changes in self-brand connections among different age

groups. Thirty-six children were recruited from an elementary school in the Midwest:

18 3rd graders (8-9 year olds) and 18 7th/8th graders (12-13 year olds). Parental

consent and participant assent were obtained for each child prior to beginning the

study. In Essay #2, children and adolescents ages 8-18 were considered to view

materialism as a byproduct of the child’s developing sense of self. In Essay #3,

“Materialism in Children and Adolescents: The Role of Parental is studied by means

of two studies. In the first study, One hundred and fifty participants were recruited

from several summer camps in the Midwestern United States. Participants from

three age groups were included: fifty 3rd//4th graders (8-9 year-olds), fifty 7th/8th

graders (12-13 year olds), and fifty 1 l th/12th graders (16-18 year-olds). An equal

number of boys and girls were recruited per age group. In the second study, One

hundred and fifty participants were recruited from several summer camps in the

Midwestern United States. Participants from three age groups were included: fifty

3rd//4th graders (8-9 year olds), fifty 7th/8th graders (12-13 year olds), and fifty

11th/12th graders (16-18 year olds). An equal number of boys and girls was

recruited (i.e., 25 boys and 25 girls per age group). We also recruited parents of

participants by having them fill out a survey when they signed their children up for

the study, enabling us to have a 100% response rate from parents of all youth

56


participants. Since the majority of children arrived with their mothers to sign up for

the study, our parental data consists of mothers’ responses. This sampling

technique enabled proper representation of the population and added credibility to

the study. The data set was thus, qualitative and quantitative.

Writing Style: The information in this article was easy to read and had all its main

points presented clearly.


The author investigates the relationship between a child’s socio-cognitive

development and the concept of materialism.

The study incorporates several ways of studying materialism using both

quantitative scales and new qualitative methods and study analyzes the

materialistic inclination of the child by examining the evolution of self-

concepts from childhood to adolescence.

The author develops a new method to measure materialism among children

and adolescents that does not rely on rating scales or in depth verbalizations

so that it allows even young children to get across what it is important to

them, including material possessions while maintaining flexibility in

measuring specific dimensions of the self-concept, such as the self-brand

connections of interest.

The paper further suggests that self-esteem mediates the relationship

between family structure and materialism and finally proposes a

development sequence for the emergence of self-brand connections—

associations between the self and brands—in children and adolescents.

57


The findings are then presented in form of a new technique to measure

components of the self-concept and the observations are discussed in three

essays which document this transition.

Results of the study show that children and adolescents develop this

materialistic hobby as a result of their ever changing self-concepts, from

perceptive features to symbolic appreciation.

Typology application: This article helped to understand that an educational

project is an indisputable solution to change a consumerist behavior. Knowing that

children with fragile and changing self-esteem tend to acquire more material

possessions as a tool to maintain or enhance their self-esteem thus portraying a

desired image and connect to others made me realize that I need to create an

educational typology that not only teaches children about a sustainable lifestyle but

also teaches them how to love themselves and be secure about who they are.

Quotations:

1. “Individuals express themselves through consumption and use products to

convey their sense of self. ” Page 39

2. “As children move into adolescence, they become increasingly self-conscious

and, unfortunately, tend to have lower self-esteem as a result of being more

critical about themselves. This lower self-esteem is met by a natural desire to

enhance one’s self-image.” Page 102

3. “We know from previous research that children and adolescents who have

higher self-esteem rely less on material possessions to enhance their concept

of self (Nguyen and John 2003).” Page 130

4. “Parents have also been identified as a guilty party, viewed as spoiling their

children to make up for the lack of time spent with their offspring, to compete

58


with their spouses for their children’s affections when parents are divorced,

and to bolster their own self-images among cohorts.” Page 137

4) Terry, L. (2013). The Perils of Consumption and the Gift Economy as

the Solution Daniel Miller’s Consumption and Its

Consequences. Electronic Green Journal, 1(35). Retrieved from:


Author Credentials: Leahy, Terry from the University of Newcastle, Australia. He

is a senior lecturer in the Discipline of Sociology and Anthropology, School of

Humanities and Social Science.

Journal: Electronic Green Journal, 1(35)


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is opinion. The researcher uses

arguments from other people in the field, specifically David Miller. All the arguments

appear to be valid. It is supported by evidence because he states a study done to

people in the UK, and Trinidad. The ideas in this study are related to my main topic

of consumerism. The author’s point of view is objective and impartial.

Methodology: This study used the Pragmatic Worldview paradigm because the

author is concerned with applications and solutions to problems. The issues the

author mentions occur in a social, political and economic context. Author uses a

qualitative strategy because there are no numerical measurements or statistical

analysis.


59


Coverage: This study updates and substantiates other sources because it gives

another solution to the problem and pointed out another cause of consumerism that

other sources didn’t specify. The material is secondary in nature.

Writing Style: The information was well organized with all the main points clearly

presented. The text used economic terms which made it challenging for someone

who haven’t taken an economic class.


This research argues that consumerism is driven by false needs.

The way to solve the problem of consumerism and stop endangering the

environment is to make regulations at the production stage.

Daniel Miller argues that we need an economy based upon voluntary

collectives that allows people to produce and distribute their work as gifts.

The researcher states that it is pointless to try to make people change their

consumption behavior. That were the answer is in the production end of

things.

Some of the solutions David Millers suggest to implement as regulations are:

o We could have a ban on gas guzzlers that will restrict engines to 1.6

litres.

o We could specify maximum food miles

o We could abolish bottle water and set air conditioning to 23 degrees.

o We could specify specific plastic bags that biodegrade.

o We could change the industrial processes of things.

The government and companies need to make massive investment in

alternative energy and in new transport infrastructure if we want to cut down

by 50% our CO2 emissions by 2050.

60


This study states that people express themselves through consumption in

trying to seek expression and social connection because they don’t get

expression or social connection at work.

o Then, what people produce at work is distributed by the people who

own the business.

David Miller states that consumerism is the compensation for alienated work.

o Alienated work is a place where we are not able to express ourselves

and where we do not have control over the distribution our production.

Typology application: This article made me realize that people have many

conscious or unconscious reasons to engage in consumerist practices. However, no

matter from what side of the causes of consumerism I see, I find that humans are

craving for human connection and expression of their being. As an interior designer,

I envision a space where social connections happen. I envision a space that involves

learning, creative expression, social connection. This could be an educational/

hospitality or a workplace typology.

Quotations:

1. “What is needed is a new kind of economic structure, an economy based

upon voluntary collectives that allows people to produce and distribute their

work as gifts. This would abolish alienated labour.” Page 1

2. “It is pointless to try to urge people to make different consumer choices. This

is wrong end of the problem to be tackling. We should tackle the production

end of things.” Page 2

3. “People seek compensation for a life of labour done under the control of

others. They seek expression and social connection through their

consumption because they get little of either at work.” Page 5

61


4. “To be more precise, we are alienated in our work because we do not express

in our work and because we do not have any control over the distribution of

the things we produce. We have to get money through alienated work to

live.” Page 5

5) Manktelow, R. (2011). Community, consumerism and credit: the

experience of an urban community in North-West Ireland.

Community, Work & Family, 14(3), 257-274,

doi:10.1080/13668803.2010.520839

Author Credentials: Roger Manktelow from the School of Sociology and Applied

Social Studies, University of Ulster at Magee, Derry, UK.

Journal: Community, Work & Family Journal.


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is opinion and fact. The author

uses different references and develops a research in local community which

indicates that the information in this article is valid and well researched. The ideas

and arguments in this article advanced in line with other works I have read on the

same topic.

Methodology: The study is qualitative because the research was not amenable to

numerical measurement and statistical analysis. The methodology paradigm used is

the pragmatic worldview because this worldview arises out of actions, situations

and consequences rather than antecedent conditions. In this case, the impact of

62


debt and consumerism in a community in North West Ireland was investigated to

show that they go through financial struggles that jeopardize their well-being.

Coverage: The study covered an urban public housing community located in the

Derry City council area. This location is selected based on its economic history and

depravity.

Writing Style: The information in this article is organized logically and all the main

points were clearly presented.


The study focuses on the debt problems and consumerism, how international

monetary system and consumerism are impacting small local communities.

This study was conducted in a public housing estate which is a relatively

deprived urban estate in the Derry city, Northern Ireland.

The study found that the community is experiencing isolation, strain, guilt

and powerlessness because of consumerist pressures that is ultimately

resulting in financial struggles and threatening communities’ well-being.

From the study I learnt that conspicuous consumption was especially high

during ceremonial celebrations like first Holy Communion, Christmas,

Halloween, St.Patrick’s day.

The study also suggested that local community action can tackle the

consumerism’s global powerful forces effectively.

o I learnt that media literacy, financial education, debt advice services

and management, anti-consumerist consciousness raising workshops,

political action agenda and personal development programs are such

community actions that can be employed.

63


Typology application: This article helped me to understand that community

action is a way for entities to cope with negative feelings associated with debt and

consumerism. It is a clever idea to implement anti-consumerist raising workshops in

a possible educational/hospitality typology. I can create an Art School that offers a

gathering space for workshops and lectures regarding sustainable matters.

Quotations:

1. “The constituent groups of the local community reported a diverse

experience of strain, isolation, powerlessness and guilt. Their experience of

consumerism was age-differentiated and their choice of contemporary status

markers was made within the cultural context of the local community.” Page

257

2. “Credit is the driver of consumerism and economic growth and credit cards

give people the opportunity to undertake consumption that otherwise would

not take place (Ritzer, 1995).” Page 259

3. “Such an intervention might include education on financial and media

literacy, money management and debt advice services, consciousness-raising

anti-consumerist workshops, programmes of personal development and an

agenda for political action.” Page 257

4. “Community action holds open the possibility of change. It can build on the

identified strengths of indigenous skills and group solidarities. However, its

effectiveness is necessarily limited by policy and global practices of the

international financial system and also by the social shame of debt which

reduces the potential for group action and policy and global.” Page 272

64


6) Lee, M., Pant, A., & Ali, A. (2010). Does the Individualist Consumer

More? The Interplay of Ethics and Beliefs that Governs Consumerism

Across Cultures. Journal of Business Ethics, 93(4), 567-581.

doi:10.1007/s10551-009-0240-8.

Author Credentials: Monte Lee and Anurag Pant are from the Indiana University

South Bend, IN. Abbas Ali from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA.

Journal: Journal of Business Ethics.


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is fact. The information is well

researched and it is supported by the evidence from the survey the researcher

develops.

Methodology: The researcher used a Pragmatic Worldview paradigm because

conclusions are drawn from quantitative and qualitative assumptions. There is a

survey developed by the researcher as well a numerical analysis.

Coverage: The coverage includes the data collection from two nations : USA and

Taiwan. The two-nation comparison also provides an insight into the differences in

beliefs in consumerism as a boon for the society. The questionnaire was

administered to business students attending the business schools at two Taiwanese

universities and two Midwestern universities. Questionnaires were administered by

graduate assistants and participating instructors during graduate business classes

and took about 15 min to complete. Four hundred ninety-four questionnaires were

collected, including 248 Taiwanese, 196 American and 50 other nationalities. This

convenience sample was diverse in many respects: 53% of the sample was female.

64% of the sample was in age category 18–29 years, 19% of the sample was in age

65


category 30–39 years, 12% was in age category 40–49 years, with the rest of the

sample being in the age category 50 years and over. Sixty nine percent of the

sample was single, and 29% was married. Seventeen percent of the sample was

employed or had been employed in public or state owned businesses, 48% in

private businesses and 12% in mixed sectors. Twenty-eight percent of the sample

classified themselves as managers in their current or last jobs, while 45% worked or

had worked in a non-supervisory capacity. The American sample was 87%

Caucasian, 4% Hispanic and 4% African–American. The sample data set was diverse

and of high quality, albeit small. The sample size has to increase to other countries

to verify the accuracy of the model as a truly global model.

Writing Style: This publication is organized logically with all its main points clearly

presented.


The author presents an argument against the seemingly positive relationship

between individualism and consumerism by showing that an individual’s

ethical values can produce a similar effect.

It is proposed that the need for being materialistic can be tempered by the

individualist’s ethical values.

o Specifically, it is suggested that a person’s work ethic positively

influences her/his consumer ethicality and that higher work ethic of

individualists should lead to higher consumer ethics, which in turn

should negatively influence their consumerism.

The study also analyzes the cross-cultural comparison of the relationship

between individual values and consumerism-related beliefs.

66


Results of the study support this argument as it shows a strong relationship

between work ethics and consumer ethics.

o This, in turn leads to negative consumerism by making a person more

self-reliant. The study is however, limited in scale and reach.

The model has to be extended to other countries to verify its findings for USA

and Taiwan in order it to be a truly global model.

Typology application: This article helped me out understand that I need to create

an environment where people would love to work in. Consequently, this will lead to

higher consumer ethics which may negatively influence their consumerism

behavior. I want to create an environment where good morals and values can be

learned. This in turn will lead to more ethical behaviors like helping others. I can

create an educational typology, a Green Art school for children.

Quotations:

1. “Modern marketing is commonly assumed to be responsible for this

consumerist society with its hedonistic lifestyle (every night on television you

see many commercials promoting phones, cameras, cars, cruises, casinos,

etc.) and for undermining other cultural values.” (p. 567)

2. “Consumerism was fired up in the west when people demanded greater

responsiveness from their organizations and when they sought personal

growth and fulfillment beyond simple economic needs in return for their hard

work (Ali et al., 1995)” (p. 568)

3. “Individualists show less concern for their in-group members and stay more

distant from their in-groups than collectivists who receive quantitatively and

qualitatively better support than the individualists (Triandis et al., 1988)” (p.

569)

67


4. “Given the same work, persons who have a stronger work ethic can be

expected to be less pressured and dissatisfied, and should demonstrate

fewer unethical behaviors than those with a weaker work ethic” (p. 569)

Subquestion 3: What is sustainable consumption?

1) Banbury, C., & Stinerock, R., & Subrahmanyan, S. (2011).

Sustainable consumption: Introspecting across multiple lived

cultures. Journal of Business Research, 65(4), 497-503, ISSN 0148-

2963, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.02.028.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014829631100061

0)

Author Credentials: Catherine Banbury and Saroja Subrahmanyan are faculty

members at Saint Mary’s College of California. Robert Stinerock is a faculty member

at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Economia.

Publisher + Journal: Elsevier, Journal of Business Research. According to the

Journal of Business Research they apply theory established from business research

to actual business circumstances. Intended Audience: Professionals/ Students

Objective Reasoning: The information covered in this article is purely opinion

based. The information appears to be in valid in the sense that the researchers are

collecting data from their personal experience as consumers within a context which

allowed them to retrieve a holistic perspective on consumption patterns. Taking in

68


consideration that the researchers used interactive introspection for this study

there is emotions arousing words when they are describing their lives.

Methodology: The authors used a qualitative approach as their methodology. They

used a method of interactive personal introspection to uncover several dimensions

of the issue. The method of introspection allows them to analyze how their efforts to

consume sustainably have transform through different times, cultures and societies.

In addition using this method means that the subject/informant are the same person

and that there are no other subjects/informants.

Coverage: The coverage was the three authors that wrote the article. Two live in

the suburbs where living a sustainable lifestyle represents an everyday challenge

and the other one lives in New York City where it is much convenient to have a

sustainable lifestyle. This work does substantiate other materials I have read

because I was able to perceive their perspective in regards to how sustainable or

not their lifestyles are.

Writing Style: The narrative and information given by the researcher were

organized logically. The three researchers doing the narrative pointed out their

main points clearly in an easy to read manner.


This study looks into what factors enable and discourage sustainable

consumption practices.

Terms like voluntary simplicity, use of green products, reducing the use of

natural resources, toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants are

among the numerous definitions of sustainable consumption.

There were three introspective narratives expressing different points of view

according to what they have lived.

69


One of the participants that was born and raised in Australia and when she

came to the US she noticed the hyper choice of consumerism that Americans

have.

o She realized over the years that the US society has an individualistic

view.

o She had to interiorize the neo-classical belief that an individual is the

only one in charge of his well-being and felt that in this country she is

on her own.

o Being an educated person in the business field she attended a seminar

where she learned how a capitalist economy devastates communities

and the natural environment.

o This lady and her husband had the opportunity to experience a training

program inside an eco-village in Findhorn, Scotland.

Approximately the three hundred people that live in this village

engage in sustainable practices like growing their own food,

using solar and wind energy and walking everywhere they need

to instead of using cars.

She expresses how she felt a profound sense of belonging to a

community where everybody cares for the well-being of each

other.

The other narrative was insightful in that the participant states that

international travel is the best way to learn, compare and understand our

lifestyle, culture and country of origin in a way we never had.

Their narratives made them come to the conclusion that sustainable

consumption meant for them the impact of the consumption on the ecology.

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One of the participants came to the understanding of the interdependencies

of the natural environment and the well-being of an individual/society.

Another conclusion they reached is that the education system is the key

instrument in awakening society to an ecological consciousness.

The second important point they reached is that as a consumer we seek to

shape ourselves to represent a particular lifestyle.

The final point is that to have a supportive environmental infrastructure is of

critical importance. Our consumption behavior is shaped by the

place/city/country we live in.

Typology application: The narratives of the researchers serve me as guidance, a

push to create a multi-cultural communal environment where the people who enter

immediately becomes aware of the physical and natural environment creating a link

between the elements of their consumption behavior and sustainable practices. This

could be a mix of hospitality and educational typology.

Quotations:

1. “A working definition of sustainable consumption proposed by the 1994 Oslo

Symposium on Sustainable Consumption hosted by the Norwegian

government involving NGOs and inter-governmental organization is: The use

of goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality

of life, while minimizing the use of natural resources toxic materials and

emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardize

the needs of future generations.” Page 497

2. “Now I see that I had internalized the neo-classical belief that one’s well-

being rests solely upon the individual and realize that in this country you are

on your own.” Page 499

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3. “The loneliness and isolation, and associated anxiety, that plagues me in my

life is the U.S. were completely absent. I was supported and secure, and I felt

rich with life. I was fulfilled.” Page 499

4. “From our collective experiences we argue that our education system needs

to be instrumental in awakening us to our shared destiny with the earth – to

ecological consciousness.” Page 502

2) Mont, O., & Plepys, A. (2008). Sustainable consumption progress:

should we be proud or alarmed?. Journal of Cleaner Production,

16(4), 531-537. ISSN 0959-6526,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.01.009.


Author Credentials: Oksana Mont, Andrius Plepys from IIIEE, Lund University,

Sweden and Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands.

Journal: Journal of Cleaner Production 16 (2008) 531-537


Objective Reasoning: The information covered was fact later used these facts to

create an opinion based conclusion. The information appears to be valid and well

research. They showed diagrams and tables that served as evidence for their

argument. The ideas do advanced with the line of other works I have read,

especially in defining the social, economic, and psychological perspective of

sustainability.


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Methodology: This study states that the data was primarily collected via literature

analysis and interviews with relevant participants. They used a combined

qualitative, quantitative method for this research. Knowledge was unfolded from

developed information (qualitative). They examined the relationships among GNP

and ISEW index and showed statistics as well. I think this research used the

Pragmatic Worldview because the study was not so much based on history but on

actual issues considering applications and solutions to the problems

Coverage: This work substantiates and updates other materials I have read. It

updates other material because other materials have reached to the conclusion

consumerism is a problem of society and that we as consumers can make the

change. This research however, points out that the government needs to take

action changing institutional and economic frameworks.

Writing Style: The publication is organized logically. The main points are

presented clearly. The text was more challenging than other studies I have read

because the authors used more of an economic/business language.


According to this research there is still no specific definition of sustainable

consumption.

o Some will treat consumption as production issue and they claim that

this issue can be solve if the industry sector implements eco-efficient

improvements in the production process.

o Others will argue that sustainable consumption is the implementation

of green products in the market.

o Others with a more radical perspective will argue that the consumption

levels in developed countries need to be simplified.

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If individuals living in developed countries want to engage in this new vision

of sustainable consumption they should acquire more green products and

also find happiness in a less materialistic lifestyle.

When referring to sustainability there are different views according to the

different disciples of economics, social studies, psychology.

o Economic studies focus on how economic forces shape consumer

levels and patterns.

o Sociological studies focus on the influence of social culture, social class

and family, ethnic and religious groups.

o The psychological studies focus on how emotions and habits influence

consumer’s purchasing decisions.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs plays an important role in the scene because the

act of consumption usually deals with a certain satisfaction level since its

fulfilling a material, social or moral need.

Individuals can agree that economic grow and material accumulation in

monetary terms such as the GDP per capita is what determines the level of

happiness in an individual’s life.

However, the sociologist Max-Neef argues that the relationship between GDP

and the level of happiness is highly non-linear.

Additionally this research states that when issues of sustainable consumption

and production are addressed by consumers and manufacturers, then

administrative or regulatory instruments like product standards are created.

o This is a positive finding because as consumers we do have a strong

position in creating a more sustainable world.

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This research concludes declaring that the answer to the issue of

consumerism is creating socio-economic systems that ensure high quality of

life and that sustain the environment’s current needs.

o As a designer this should be also our contemporary societal goal.

Typology application: In my design I will strive to achieve an environment that

ensures a high quality of life, that supports community and that creates an

atmosphere of support enhancing creativity and critical thinking. I can create a

community of professionals working in a sustainable environment that enables

them to use their intellect, creativity and share it with others. I think that we as

designers and business people need to think of different ways to create a service

that has never been created before and that goes hand to hand with sustainable

goals. If the government doesn’t act due to economic reasons, then we need to

show them that it is possible to create economic growth out of business offering

sustainable services. In this way, we will inspire less developed countries and the

rest of the world. The typology could be a workplace and educational at the same

time.

Quotations:

1. “The notion of sustainable consumption is often used as an umbrella term for

issues related to human needs, equity, quality of life, resource efficiency,

waste minimization, life cycle thinking, consumer health and safety,

consumer sovereignty, etc.” Page 532

2. “In the field of psychological studies, it has been found that consumer’s

purchasing decisions are influenced by emotions and habits, which in turn are

formed by personal attitudes and motivations. An important component is the

feeling of satisfaction, which, according to Maslow’s hierarchy, is achieved by

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fulfilling a wide range of needs, spanning from material to social and moral

needs.” Page 534

3. “Currently, the ultimate measure of happiness is economic growth and

material wealth measured in monetary terms such as gross domestic product

(GDP) per capita. However, sociologists (e.g. Max-Neef) agree that the

relationship between GDP and the level of happiness is highly non-linear.”

Page 534

4. “To provide a fruitful ground for sufficiency strategies, governments need to

change the institutional frameworks in society and create conditions in which

less materialistic aspirations prevail, supported by producers delivering less

resource-intensive products and services.” Page 536

3) Briceno, T., & Stagl, S. (2006). The role of social processes for

sustainable consumption, Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(17),

1541-1551. ISSN 0959-6526,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.01.027.


Author Credentials: Tania Briceno from the School of Earth and Environment and

Sigrid Stagl from University of Leeds

Journal: Journal of Cleaner Production. This journal serves as an international forum

for the exchange of information and research concepts, policies and technologies

that are created to help in the progress of making societies more sustainable.


76



Objective Reasoning: The information covered is mostly opinion. The researchers

use other sources to back up their arguments. The information appears to be valid

and it is supported by evidence. In addition the author’s point of view is objective

and impartial.

Methodology: This study uses the Pragmatic Worldview which draws conclusions

from both quantitative and qualitative methods. This worldview is concerned with

applications and solutions to problems and this research discussed social and

environmental frameworks as solutions to the consumerism problem.

Coverage: The coverage included 50 responses from organizers and participants in

UK from 27 different schemes. The survey covered a total of 17 questions looking at

the existence of social capital and its benefits to the system and members; the

amount of sharing, leasing, and collective activities that take place; the perception,

attitudes, and engagement of people in the programmes; their effectiveness at

satisfying needs in innovative ways; and the dynamics of green social networks

inside LETS. There were three forms of responses: online through a website (60% or

30 respondents); as an attachment on e-mails (14% or 7 respondents); and through

telephone interviews (26% or 13 respondents). Therefore the data collected was

both quantitative and qualitative.

Writing Style: I did not find the text easy to read due to the economic terms and

language used. I do think that the publication was organized logically.


The authors review the concept of sustainable consumption for individual

well-being and societal development.

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The paper draws on different theoretical frameworks to illuminate effective

methods of implementation and dynamics for sustainable consumption

programmes.

o In particular, they examine the framework for Product Service Systems

and compare it with the popular community-centric based LETS which

employ PSS-style initiatives.

The paper highlights the benefits of sharing resources for a transition to a

more sustainable consumption pattern and the importance of social

processes involved in consumption as well as the multiple aspects of human

needs which form the essential components of sustainable consumption

programmes.,

Results of the study shows that PSS and LETS, despite being limited in reach

an appeal, offer valuable insight into development of favorable consumption

patterns that enhance social capital and integrate more participatory

strategies.

o This can be achieved by adopting a more holistic approach towards the

formulation of sustainable consumption programmes which goes

beyond utility and includes the social, environmental and psychological

functions of consumption.

Typology application: I want to create an educational typology that guides

children and inspire others to a collective constructed vision of a sustainable future.

Quotations:

1. “It had been shown that the lack of satisfaction of the need for emotional

and physical communication gives rise to strong drives for power,

domination, violence and possession, and consumption of goods.” Page 1544

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2. “For consumers/citizens/workers, more participatory initiatives can increase

their market knowledge, their corresponding responsibilities, and the

satisfaction extracted from different stages of the consumption process”

Page 1550

3. “The growing separation between producers and consumers, the lack of

social satisfiers, and the compromising of social welfare to economic

performance have been major obstacles for achieving sustainability goals.”

Page 1550

4) Buenstorf, G., & Cordes, C. (2008). Can sustainable consumption be

learned? A model of cultural evolution. Ecological Economics, 67(4),

646-657, ISSN 0921-8009,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.01.028.


Author Credentials: Guido Buenstorf, Christian Cordes from Max Planck Institute

of Economics, Evolutionary Economics Group.

Journal: Ecological Economics Journal.


Objective Reasoning: There is some factual information but most of it opinion. I

think the information appears to be valid and the researchers support their

argument by creating a mathematical model. The ideas presented in this study

advanced in line with other works I have read on the same topic.


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Methodology: This research uses a quantitative and qualitative method.

Quantitative because it has numerical measurement and statistical analysis and

qualitative in that the premises and hypothesis emerges from interpreted data. I

think that this study uses the Pragmatic Worldview Paradigm because the

researchers agree that there is an evolution of consumption behavior and they are

only providing findings that help substantiate the assumptions of such evolution.

Pragmatists think that truth is what works at the time and that research occurs in

social, historical, political and other context.

Coverage: This work updates other sources in that it points out that the new

learned sustainable behaviors cannot stay permanently in our conscious unless the

characteristics of the new learn behavior/product creates a connection with an

existing activity/good/want that we previously learned. This article does not cover

extensively my topic; it rather demonstrates a more specific aspect regarding

sustainable consumption. The material is primary because of the mathematical

model they build, and secondary they used information based on primary sources.

Writing Style: The information is organized logically and the main points are

presented clearly. However, this study used more an economic language that made

it challenging to read.


Since the economic activity depends upon consumers, then consumers play a

crucial role in the evolution to a more sustainable economy.

o Consumers need to lower their level of consumption and/or change the

goods they consume to more sustainable ones.

o Have an increase in income does play with the idea of consuming

more.

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This research states that cultural transmission is biased and that is easier for

some individuals adopt certain behaviors than others.

Environmental conscious consumption behaviors can be adopted through

social leaning.

o The research model developed showed that these new learned

patterns cannot be permanent because they are not self-reinforced.

o An important force in the learning process is social observation.

By observing role models and adopting their successful

behavior.

This study refers to a theory called Leaning Theory of Consumption (LTC).

o This theory suggests that human wants are fulfilled by the act of

consumption that can be basic physiological or psychic need.

o Other wants in humans can be acquired unconsciously in a

conditioning through reinforcement society.

o Also another motivating role is social recognition.

Exposure to stimuli and the interaction with others affects the associative

want learning process.

The available information for individuals to process is more likely to stay in

their conscious if this new information relates to an existing activity or want

they have.

o Through an innate want an individual is able to form a complex chain

of wants. A want for the consumption of green products can then be

formed.

o It’s ideal that a green product has sensory perceptible characteristics

that can be associated with an innate or a previously acquired want. Or

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that the sustainable product is consumed together with other

satisfying goods and activities.

A rewarding sensory experience offered by the new “green” product is not

enough to create the associate learning. The good needs to depend on on

features that are unconnected to the good’s environmental impact for the

associate learning process to take place.

o In addition, knowledge about the additional benefits the green product

has to offer in contrast with its substitute positively affects the

attractiveness of the ‘green’ product.

Human psychology shapes what we appreciate, learn, and propagate.

Typology application: A hospitality typology could serve as a way to create

something that provides sufficient sensory experience and that it is associated with

a previously acquire want. In addition this hospitality project can be ‘consumed’ or

used jointly with another satisfying activity.

Quotations:

1. “As all economic activity is ultimately aimed at satisfying the needs of

consumers, consumer behavior has an essential role to play in any transition

toward a more sustainable economy (e.g., Arrow et al., 2004; Brennan, 2006;

Wagner, 2006; van den Bergh, submitted for publication).” Page 646

2. “Depending on their individual learning history shaped by the specificities of

their exposure to stimuli and interaction with other agents, associative want

learning enables humans to acquire highly idiosyncratic chains of learned

wants.” Page 647

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3. “Human attention to stimuli is selective, and available information is more

likely to be consciously processed if it relates to activities for which a want

already exists.” Page 647

4. “As outlined above, humans are able to form complex chains of wants

through associative learning starting from innate wants. In this way, wants

for the consumption of “green” products can be formed.” Page 648

5) Lorenzen, J. A. (2012). Going Green: The Process of Lifestyle

Change. Sociological Forum, 27(1), 94-116. doi:10.1111/j.1573-

7861.2011.01303.x

Author Credentials: Janet A. Lorenzen from the Department of Sociology at

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

Journal: Sociological Forum, Vol. 27, No. 1, March 2012

Intended Audience: Professionals/ Students/general audience

Objective Reasoning: The information covered is opinion with some references

from other authors/studies. The researcher did 40 in depth interviews that appear to

be a valid argument of the process of the interviewers in adopting a green lifestyle.

The evidence itself is the people she interviewed. The ideas in this study advanced

with the line with other works I have read. This research perspective tends to be

biased since the researcher uses people for the interviews that have changed their

consumption behavior in spite of all the challenges.

Methodology: The methodology paradigm used is the Pragmatic Worldview. This

worldview arises out of actions, situations, and consequences rather than

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antecedent conditions. The researcher used interviews as a technique. The study is

qualitative in that is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning of

individuals to a social or human problem.

Coverage: The researcher developed 40 in depth interviews to examine three

groups of people that limited their consumption in different ways. These interviews

were semi-structured and lasted approximately 60 minutes. The researchers try to

focus on the lived experience of going green and the changes/challenges they had

to undergo daily. The three groups were voluntary simplifiers (13 interviews),

religious environmentalists (14 interviews), and green home owners (13 interviews).

Writing Style: The information is organized logically and the researcher’s main

points are clearly presented. The text was easy to read.


One way to change a lifestyle is by changing an individual’s practices, and

the other way is to tell the story about those changes.

The author interviewed 40 individuals and found that there are similarities on

how they starting adopting and acting upon a more green lifestyle.

o Deliberation and habit was among those characteristics

Deliberation happens when current habits fail to solve a problem

or when there are other alternatives that individuals consider

and make a slow but clear choice with an intent that can be

verbalized.

Green lifestyle is then a pattern of living where one voluntarily eliminates

practices that have uncertain environmental impacts and tell a narrative that

makes that process purposeful.

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Participants in the interviews thought green practices are not isolated

decisions or actions but components of an evolved coherent project.

People adopting green lifestyles feel everybody can make a difference by

changing behaviors.

According to this research, products and the behavior we adopt as consumers

are part of an imperfect system of shared meaning that we consciously or

unconsciously integrated into our identity projects.

The things that we buy, buy less, or not buy at all do shape our identity

especially in the case of green lifestyles.

Green lifestyle means having taking decisions and actions that reduce the

consumption of goods, energy and water.

According to Horton, socialization through shared practices, networks,

spaces, and times can create positive changes and influence individuals to

adopt sustainable practices.

Taken from the article, the green practices shared by the interviewers were:

o People buy less and try to extend the life of what they have.

o They recycle (cans, plastic, glass, newspaper, junk mail)

o They use cloth bags, compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs.

o They avoid kitchen paper products.

o They keep their thermostats low in winter and rarely if ever use air

conditioners.

o They take short showers and run hot water heater on low.

o They use baking soda instead of commercial green cleaning products.

o They do large loads in the dishwasher and in the washing machine.

o They use clotheslines or drying racks.

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o They grow their own food, and cook from scratch buying local and

organic food.

o They avoid red meat or are vegetarians/vegans.

o They buy recycled toilet paper and tissues.

o They use restrictors on water faucets.

o They have rain barrels or rain gardens and they reuse gray water.

o They ride their bicycles to work or carpool.

o They shop at and donate to thrift stores/consignment shops or pick

things up off the curb.

o They have solar panels on their roofs or pay a premium for renewable

energy through their local provider.

o They use geothermal power to heat and cool their homes.

o They own a hybrid card.

This research shows that green practices are more likely to multiply if the

individual defines those practices as a meaningful part of a larger project.

At the beginning of the changing process decisions and actions are highly

deliberative but as actions develop they become automatic responses.

This research explains the idea of a new lifestyle do-yourself mechanism

called bricolage.

o It states that bricolage includes materials and practices from old

lifestyles and seeing them with a new perspective to recombine them

with newly adopted materials, practices, and environmental discourses

in order to form a new pattern.

This study states that a change in behavior follows a change in values.

86


Typology application: One important finding from this article, which was stating

that socialization from shared practices, networks, and spaces can create positive

changes and influence individuals in changing their current not sustainable

practices. This finding helped me to envision an eco-village or an art community

center for children and/or adults to learn about sustainable practices, with spaces to

create art, and spaces to discuss and share their green lifestyle and new green

ways to solve problems. This could be hospitality and educational/residential

typology.

Quotations:

1. “At the same time, what we do not buy, or buy less of, can shape our identity

as much as what we do buy, especially in the case of green lifestyles

(Chitewere, 2008; Horton, 2006).” Page 97

2. “Bricolage is a makeshift, do-it-yourself mechanism used to build, change, or

repair something – int the present case, a lifestyle. It involves the cobbling

together of resources at hand by nonexperts who figure things out as the

go.” Page 107

3. “Bricolage includes materials and practices from old lifestyles viewed in a

new light and recombines them with newly adopted materials, practices, and

environmental discourses to form a new pattern” Page 107

4. “A change in behavior can precede a change in values (Goldblatt, 2005), and

knowledge is built up over time after practices have started to change and is

used as a rationale for past and future changes.” Page 112

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6) Kellogg, C. (2005), Eco Imperative. Archit Design, 75, 100–102.

doi: 10.1002/ad.25

Author Credentials: Kellogg, C.

Journal: Architectural Design

Intended Audience: General audience

Objective Reasoning: The information covered is opinion. The information is valid

and the arguments toward creating a sustainable design are supported by the

evidence of what they constructed.

Methodology: One could argue that the author of the article engaged in the

Pragmatic Worldview. The architects and clients developing this project also used a

pragmatic worldview. The research method used by the journalist is qualitative,

since he prepared an interview to point out the nice features of this sustainable

project.

Coverage: This article substantiates other material I have read on the topic

because it explained the different sustainable materials used for the projects, some

of them that I have never heard of. This article marginally covers my topic but gave

me a perspective of a real sustainable design project.

Writing Style: The magazine article was easy to read with the information well

organized.


This article talks about the renovation that the Department of Environmental

Studies at Vassar College went through.

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o This department main goal is of healing the earth. It serves as a

gathering space for students and faculty member of different areas of

study as well.

The college’s main renovation goal was to minimize toxics and waste.

o However, the architect Dennis Wedlick thought that he should create a

design with a deep sense of permanence where users will not get tired

of it too quick and then throw it away.

o Architect decided that to enhance the sense of permanence he was

going to preserve the building’s structure, which was built in the late

19th century.

Some of characteristic of the design are:

o 90% of the materials were either recycled or renewable.

o The trims are from wood chips from managed forests.

o The upholstery fabric for some chairs was made from recycled plastic

bottles.

o The ceiling is covered with a fabric made of recycled cardboard, hemp

and silk stretched on a steel frame.

The College staff thinks that one of the goals of sustainable design is to raise

awareness.

Typology application: I could create an educational typology, a sustainable art

school for children. This article stated that the architect in charge of the renovation

for that department wanted to create a sense of permanence by preserving the

original building’s structure. In the same manner I think it would be interesting to

preserve and enhance the structure I possibly use for my project.

Quotations:

89


1. “To enhance the sense of permanence, the architect and his clients decided

that the architecture should preserve the building and ‘speak to its history’.”

Page 101

2. “We feel one of the goals for sustainable design is to raise awareness.” Page

102

Subquestion 4: Is sustainable consumption associated with a certain

population or culture?

1) Elliott, R. (2013). The taste for green: The possibilities and dynamics

of status differentiation through “green” consumption. Poetics,

41(3), 294-322. ISSN 0304-422X,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2013.03.003.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304422X13000272)

Author Credentials: Rebecca Elliott from the Department of Sociology in Berkeley,

CA.

Journal: Elsevier


Objective Reasoning: The information covered was fact. The information

appeared to be well researched. It is supported by evidence with the survey they

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developed. The arguments advanced in line with other works I have read about

consumerism.

Methodology: The researcher used a Pragmatic Worldview paradigm because

conclusions are drawn from quantitative and qualitative assumptions.

Coverage: The coverage was data from an adult survey conducted by ABC

News/Discovery Channel/Stanford University national (United States) fielded from

July 23 to July 28, 2008, N = 10005. The survey was based on dual frame design

where using random-digit dialing respondents were chosen and were first weighted

by Census region to their respective population proportions. Then this sample was

rim-weighted. This sampling technique enabled proper representation of the

population and added credibility to the study as the findings incorporated

probability weights for Census parameters such as sex, age, race and education.

Writing Style: The information is organized logically and all the main points

presented clearly.


The author studies the green consumption’s connection to social status

positioning that consumers can use it as an opportunity to conspicuously

signify their social status.

The author found that relatively well educated people find green consumption

practice more appealing however in green consumption social differentiation

implication does occur though in part and does depends on good’s symbolic

nature rather than its taste.

Results of his study showed that green consumption desirability is directly

related with increasing level of education, along with having children of 18

years old at home and being identifying them as environmentalist.

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Typology application: I could develop a retail typology. It would be interesting to

create a sustainable restaurant that offers a space for additional social activities

and connections. In this way, I’m bringing in those consumers that are only

interested in showing a false social status plus the consumers that are really in

sustainability.

Quotations:

1. “Green consumption has emerged as one strategy that individuals can use to

try to reduce their personal and household impacts in terms of waste

management and energy use.” Page 294

2. “Rather than—or not merely—reflecting an environmentalist ethos, perhaps

green/sustainable consumption acts as a vehicle for signaling social status,

and it appeals to people for this reason.” Page 295

3. “The results of the logistic regression show that saying you try to buy

environmentally friendly products is associated with particular social

attributes; in other words, the desirability of green consumption is socially

patterned, with the finding on education suggesting a relationship with social

status.” Page 306

4. “When consumers choose green products—these kinds of green household

goods— they ‘‘choose’’ in ways that conform to their current positions and

their social trajectories, to use Bourdieu’s term, their habitus. Thus, the social

differentiation reflected in and constitutive of consumption operates through

purchasing actions that are often undertaken with a minimum of reflection.”

Page 307

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2) Hofmeister-Tóth, Á., Kelemen, K., & Piskóti, M. (2011).

Environmentally conscious consumption patterns in Hungarian

households. Society and Economy, 33(1), 51-68.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/SocEc.33.2011.1.6

Author Credentials: Agnes Hofmesiter-Toth is a professor, Institute of Marketing

and Media, Corvinus University of Budapest.

Kata Kelemen is an assistant teacher, Institute of Marketing and Media, Corvinus

University of Budapest.

Marianna Piskoti is a PhD student, Institute of Marketing and Media, Corvinus

University of Budapest.

Journal: Society and Economy 33 (2011) 1, pp. 51-68


Objective Reasoning: The information in this study is valid and well research. It is

mostly opinion since the researchers developed a survey that leads to their

conclusions. It also included facts from other referenced articles.

Methodology: The researchers used the Pragmatic Worldview paradigm. This

worldview is concerned with applications and solutions to the problems and in this

study the researchers focused on the changes in environment-related consumer

behavior patterns. They wanted to determine the most significant factors that

influence consumers to adopt a pro-environmental behavior. This study was

qualitative; the researchers used a qualitative survey.

Coverage: The survey covered three regions in Hungary – Budapest, Miskolc and

Gyor with a total of 20 respondents, 5, 5 and 10 respondents respectively.

Respondents were 18 years of age with at least secondary school education and

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positive to neutral attitude towards sustainable consumption. Small sample and

non-representative survey is suitable for qualitative survey.

Writing Style: This publication is organized logically. The authors used a language

that was easy to read.


The article presents a comprehensive literature review on the sustainable

consumption’s theoretical aspects.

The author conducted a survey to study the environmentally conscious

patterns of consumption in Hungary and how sustainable consumption can be

encouraged by increasing the awareness and providing appropriate

information about sustainable consumption.

The authors found that in Hungary knowledge of respondents regarding

environmentally conscious behavior is limited and reinforced that there are

appropriate alternate activities to increase the awareness and consumption

of sustainable products.

This research is significant in understanding what motivates individuals to

consume sustainably and what factors create barriers to sustainable

consumption.

o These factors can be used to change behavior of society members in

increasing awareness about sustainable consumption and make them

more environmentally conscious.

The studies found that people will adopt sustainable consumption if they

assume that it is for the benefit of their health rather than benefit for the

environment.

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The result of the study was positive in showing that environmental

consciousness can be raised by simplifying and breaking down the tasks the

individuals knew already this will make them more involved and more

confident.

This study also showed that not all regions have same environmental

problems and one message cannot raise the awareness but it has to be

customized and reinforced regularly to make change happen.

Typology application: The information in this article helped me to understand

that education plays a crucial role in adopting or not a more sustainable behavior.

As the author stated, ecological education was classified as a macro-level factor.

With this in mind, I think that creating an educational typology is of critical

importance. In addition, a mixed typology (hospitality) can be created by adding a

lounging space where conferences, lectures, workshops take place.

Quotations:

1. “A key element of the idea of sustainability is the rethinking of consumption.

The revelation that society’s current consumption habits may threaten the

satisfaction of future generations’ needs was formulated already in the

1970s.” Page 51

2. “According to Nemcsicsne Zsoka (2007), the first step towards sustainable

consumption is the individual’s environmental consciousness, the presence

and depth of his/her ecological knowledge, ecological values, ecological

attitudes, willingness to act and actual behavior.” Page 53

3. “Ecological education, which appeared in several stages of the qualitative

study, was classified as a macro-level factor. Respondents clearly expressed

the need to have an environmentally conscious way of thinking and behavior

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becomes an everyday norm and routine for future generations. This is a

common task for the state, media, families and communities, all of which can

initiate and support environmentally conscious education.” Page 63

4. “Providing easy-to-comprehend solutions to environmentally conscious

consumption might be an efficient form of communication capable of

inducing real changes. The difficulty here is that different regions might have

different problems and it may be difficult to address them in a single

message. Continuous feedback and reinforcement to the individual might

also be very useful in fostering change.” Page 67

3) Figueroa-Rosario, W. (2003). Exploration of the meaning and process

of wellness among families in Vieques: A qualitative study. ProQuest

Dissertations and Theses, 346-346. Retrieved from


288104798?accountid=10901. (288104798).

Author Credentials: Wanda Figueroa-Rosario seeking a Doctor of Philosophy

degree at the University of Denver.

Journal: UMI University Microfilms International was founded in 1930s by Eugene

Power in Ann Arbor. UMI provides an economical alternative to graduate students to

offset printing as a means of meeting their doctoral publication requirements. As of

today, a vast number of educational institutions in the U.S. publish their doctoral

dissertations through UMI. By 1995, UMI starting offering online availability to

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selected database at no cost, becoming the origins of was is now known as

ProQuest Online.


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is opinion. The information

appears to be valid and well researched because the author directly interviewed

families from this Island. She was completely immersed in the topic of research.

Methodology: The paradigm used was the Social Constructivist Worldview. This

worldview states that meanings are constructed by human beings as they engage in

the world they are interpreting. The researcher used some open-ended questions so

that the participants could share their views. Also individuals that participated in the

interviews were humans engage with their world and were making sense of it based

on their historical and social perspectives.

Coverage: The study covered four resilient families from the Vieques Island, 7 head

start parents, 3 civil disobedient camp and 2 people from community. Overall thirty

three residents from Vieques were selected for the study. The four families that

have been selected lived in Vieques over their lifetime and based on their abilities

and strength to deal successfully with day to day stressful life. People in close

proximity to these families were also interviewed for the study. Thus for the study a

purposive sample was selected and is appropriate for qualitative case study

analysis.

Writing Style: All the main points in this study were clearly presented and the text

was easy to read.


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The author studies the values that determine and shape the wellness concept

and processes that are responsible for maintenance and development of

wellness among four Vieques island’s four resilient families.

The author found three primary values vital for relational wellness

development and maintenance for the community members and families

from Vieques, which include family unity, patriotism and community support.

o Open communication among family members, flexible and equitable

home rules, moral concepts teaching, sense of cooperation for the

entire family good and family celebrations and activities that involve

all family members develop family unity.

The author found that in Vieques the value of community support is instilled

across generations, and it promotes social justice, sense of unity,

collaboration, respect for others and caring.

For the Vieques community strongest support is provided by informal social

networks.

o Resources from outer systems incorporated into family systems also

support wellness of the children in the family.

Community involvement during the civil disobedience movement against US

also promoted community and personal growth and love for Vieques also

promotes community wellness.

The author found in his study that wellness promotion depends upon the

values established not only by one’s family system but also the values

established within the community and these values should guide the process

toward a wellness state and work in concert and complement each other,

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they should not be coerced or compete each other and must promote both

collective and personal wellness.

This study is significant in understanding which values promote wellness

among families and communities.

Typology application: Possible hospitality/ educational project. An educational

project is much needed where children and rest of the staff teach and practice

values of self-determination, kindness, cooperation, respect and self-sufficiency.

These are some of the values that families in the island of Vieque possess.

Quotations:

1. “When families incorporate people from outer contexts or systems into their

microsystem or family context, they create opportunities for children to

interact meaningfully with new attachment figures, thus expanding the

nucleus of support whereby children build resilient characteristics.” Page 261

2. “The determination, self-confidence, goal-orientation, work ethic, coping

strategies, internal locus of control, and problem-solving skills possessed by

these women have been documented extensively in resiliency literature

(Brooks & Goldstein, 2001; Garmezy, 1983; Luthar & Zigler, 1991; Werner &

Smith, 1982).

3. “Community networks have proven to be a strength for the community of

Vieques. Taking that into consideration, as well as the families’ preference for

using informal sources or ecological niches to promote and sustain their

wellness, action plans should focus on the utilization of formal systems.

Formal systems can be used to strengthen informal systems.” Page 270

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4) Mayank, B., & Amit J. Green Marketing: A study of consumer

perception and preferences in India. Electronic Green Journal, 1(36).

ISSN 1076-7975. Retrieved from

http://escholarship.org/uc/item/5mc39217

Author Credentials: Bhatia, Mayank, Ahmedabad Institute of Technology Affiliated

to Gujurat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. She has 6 years of

experience in the industry and 4 years in academic.

Jain, Amit is an Associate Professor in the Marketing Area in JK Lakshmipat

University. Dr. Jain has several publications to his credit. He has also worked in

research papers at national and international conferences organized by institutes in

different countries.

Journal: Electronic Green Journal, 1(36)


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is opinion. The information

appears to be valid and well-researched. The ideas and arguments do advanced

more or less in line with other works I have read on the topic.

Methodology: I think this study uses the Advocacy and Participatory

(emancipatory) Worldview. This worldview is typically seen with qualitative

research, and that’s what this study is: qualitative. Also this worldview holds that

research inquiry needs to be intertwined with politics and a political agenda and the

authors of this study state that green marketing calls upon businesses to follow

ethical and green practices while dealing with customers, dealers, suppliers,

employees. They also mentioned the Public Sector Units and the state

governments.

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Coverage: The survey covered 106 respondents. 10 consumers were selected for

pretesting the questionnaire designed for the survey; this has ensured that

questionnaire has high level of content validity. The sample was selected based on

convenience. As the sample size was very small it cannot be said that it is

representative of the entire population and credibility of the study is questionable.

Writing Style: The publication is organized logically and the text was easy to read.

In addition, all the main points were clearly presented.


The authors study the concept of Green marketing’s importance in Indian

market, perception and preferences of Indian consumers as there was little

research conducted on this subject in India.

The authors found that among the Indian consumers there exists a high level

of awareness about green products and practices and other environmental

issues.

The research also suggests that managers must communicate green

products’ high green value to consumers using well designed marketing

communication campaigns.

As marketing companies’ campaigns regarding green products have a

positive significant impact on increasing the awareness and perception about

green products and practices and are useful in persuading consumers to

prefer and buy green products.

This study mentioned that the following are some characteristics of products

to be recognized as green:

o Energy efficient (both in use and in production).

o Water efficient (both in use and production).

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o Low emitting (low on hazardous emissions).

o Safe and/or healthy products.

o Recyclable and/or with recycled content.

o Durable (long-lasting).

o Biodegradable.

o Renewable.

o Reused products.

o Third party certified to public or transport standard (e.g., organic,

certified wood).

o Locally produced.

Typology application: This research has opened up the possibilities to do an

educational typology. I find a need with educating more people about sustainable

products and lifestyle because it will probably be the only chance to change their

mentalities. Education takes people out of the ignorance and start making them

aware of sustainable issues.

Quotations:

1. “Research has given good insights for marketers of the green products and

suggests the need of designing the marketing communication campaigns

promoting green products due to high green value among the consumers.”

Page 1

2. “Thus using green marketing by the organizations not only provides an

opportunity to meet consumer expectations and address their environmental

concerns, but also to gain a competitive advantage and a strong consumer

base.” Page 1-2

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3. “Green marketing is also termed as environmental marketing or ecological

marketing. According to American Marketing Association, marketing of

products that are presumed to be environmentally safe is called as Green

Marketing.” Page 2

4. “Consumers’ agreement regarding environmental degradation was high and

may prefer green products over conventional products to protect the

environment. Marketers can come up with new green products and

communicate the benefits to the consumers.” Page 8

Subquestion 5: Is there a relationship between materialism and the well-

being of people?

1) Bauer M.A., Wilkie J.E.B., Kim J.K., & Bodenhausen G.V. (2012).

Cuing Consumerism: Situational Materialism Undermines Personal

and Social Well-Being. Psychological Science, 23 (5), 517-523.

Author Credentials: Monika A. Bauer, James E.B. Wilkie, Jung K. Kim, andGalen V.

Bodenhausen from Northwestern University.

Journal: Psychological Science 23(5) 517-523


Objective Reasoning: The information covered is opinion, conclusions that the

researchers arrived after their experiments. The information appears to be valid.

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Methodology: They used qualitative and quantitative strategies. It is quantitative

because the researchers developed a table with numerical values about the effects

of consumer cues on participants’ responses from the experiments 1 to 4 that they

generated. It is qualitative in the sense that premises and hypotheses emerge from

interpreted data. Additionally, the study uses the Pragmatic Worldview. This

worldview is concerned with applications and solutions to problems.

Coverage: This work substantiates other sources. There were four experiments the

researchers developed. The first one was done with fifty undergraduates (28

females, 22 male; average age 18.84 years). The second experiment used fifty-

eight undergraduates (37 females, 21 male; average age 19.7 years). The third

experiment involved sixty-six undergraduates (42 female, 24 male; average age 19

years). The fourth experiment used seventy-seven individuals (43 female, 34 male;

average age 32 years). Their experiments brought more light to the issue of

consumerism.

Writing Style: The text was easy to read and all the information was organized in

a logical manner.


Individuals living a materialistic lifestyle tend to feel more anxiety,

unhappiness and lower quality of social relationships.

o In other words, materialistic individuals tend to experience low levels

of well-being.

This study points out that money brings a self-sufficiency orientation where

people prefer to have greater distance from others, and to help others less.

This study also asserts that when we invest in efforts to improve a

community we find happiness, health and life satisfaction.

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Researchers state that a wide variety of correlational studies indicates that

individuals who score higher in materialism values have lower levels of

mental and physical well-being.

Typology application: I can create a hospitality typology, an ecovillage or spiritual

retreat. This study clearly shows how materialistic individuals tend to experience

lower levels of well-being. So creating a sustainable space that contributes to an

individual peace of mind, happiness, and relaxation can indirectly have a positive

effect in a person’s mind creating a link between sustainability and happiness.

Quotations:

1. “More materialistic values also predict high levels of anxiety and unhappiness

(Kasser&Ahuvia, 2002) and are associated with lower-quality social

relationships (Kasser&Ryan, 1993, 2001).” Page 517

2. “Vohs et al. argued that “money brings about a self-sufficiency orientation in

which people prefer to be free of dependency and dependents” (p.1154).”

Page 522

3. “Our findings corroborate the view that individuals and societies pay a high

price for adopting a ubiquitously consumerist orientation that may undermine

social cohesion.” Page 522

4. “After all, it is by investing in efforts to connect with and benefit their

communities that individuals often find personal happiness, health, and life

satisfaction (Helliwell & Putnam, 2004).” Page 522

2) Kasser, T., Rosenblum, K. L., Sameroff, A. J., Deci, E. L., Niemiec, C.

P., Ryan, R. M., ... & Hawks, S. (2013). Changes in materialism,

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changes in psychological well-being: Evidence from three

longitudinal studies and an intervention experiment. Motivation and

Emotion, 38(1), 1-22.

Author Credentials:

T. Kasser from the Department of Psychology, Knox College, Galesburg

K.K.Rosenblum from the Center for Human Growth and Development, University of

Michigan

A.J. Sameroff from the Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

E.L. Deci, C.P. Niemiec , R.M Ryan from the Department of Clinical and Social

Psychology, University of Rochester, NY

O.Amadottir, R. Bond, H. Dittmar from the Department of Psychology, University of

Sussex

N. Dungan, S. Hawks from ShareSaveSpend, Minneapolis, MN.

Journal: Motivation and Emotion Journal (2014) 38:1-22


Objective Reasoning: The information covered was fact. The information appears

to be well-researched. The arguments they present are well supported by the

evidence of the 3 studies they developed to examine how changes in materialistic

aspirations relate to changes in well-being.

Methodology: The researchers used the Pragmatic Worldview Paradigm. This

worldview aims in solving problems as they exists right now, and a that’s what they

researchers were trying to find; they wanted to examined how changes in

materialism relate to changes in well-being. The researchers used a qualitative and

quantitative strategy for the study, so mixed methods. There is numerical

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measurement material and well as construction of a reality that cannot be isolated

from contextual factors.

Coverage: They conducted four studies to longitudinally examine individuals and

their hypothesis. The samples were US young adults and Icelandic adults.

Writing Style: The ideas were organized logically. The text was easy to read, I

found all the main points clearly presented.


This research points out that there are two cross-cultural studies that have

empirically supported the claim that corporate capitalist economic

organizations maintenance depends upon individuals to setting a high priority

on materialistic goals.

Countries where individuals set materialistic values showed a lower score on

an index of child- well being developed by UNICEF.

A solution to the issue could be that psychologists develop means of

promoting resilience to materialistic messages.

An attempt should be made to promote values that promote materialism.

Per the results of this research, there is a possibility that an individual

increases his self-esteem if he decreases his materialistic goals.

The results of the first Study they did showed that to the degree individuals

placed less importance on financial success goals between ages of 18 and 30,

their mental health improved.

Messages that come from parent, peers, and commercial television play a

crucial role in the relative importance that people place on materialistic aims.

Researchers state that an attempt should be made to promote values that

oppose materialism.

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o For instance, self-transcendent values and intrinsic goals (personal

goals of growth and freedom, have close relationships with loved ones,

and benefiting the wider world) would be consider as values that

oppose extrinsic goals for money, status and wealth.

Typology application: I could design a spiritual retreat combined with a school

that teaches children to love themselves and to improve their self-esteem. Thanks

to this research I know that it is possible to intervene in adolescents’ lives so they

can decrease the values they place on materialistic values. – Hospitality mixed with

Educational would be they typology.

Quotations:

1. “Starting in the mid-1980s and early 1990s (Blek 1985; Kasser and Ryan

1993; Richins and Dawson 1992), empirical evidence began to accumulate

showing that the more that people prioritized values and goals for money and

possessions, relative to toher aims in life, the lower they scored on outcomes

such as life satisfaction, happiness, vitality, and self-actualization, and the

higher they scored on outcomes such as depression, anxiety, behavior

disorders, and a host of other types of psychopathology (see Kasser 202, for

a review).” Page 1-2

2. “Such results are consistent with the theoretical proposition that when people

become less focused on attaining money and possessions, they feel more

autonomous, competent, and related to others, and these experiences of

psychological need satisfaction are associated with improved well-being,

whereas an increased orientation towards materialistic aims is associated

with declines in need satisfaction, and declines in well-being.” Page 8

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3. “First, the results showed that it is possible to intervene in adolescents’ lives

so as to decrease the priority they place on materialistic goals.” Page 17

4. “Further, recent research (Maio et al. 2009) suggests that merely activating

self-transcendent, intrinsic aims might suppress the extent to which people

prioritize materialistic aims, at least in the short term.” Page 20

3) Chancellor, J., & Lyubomirsky, L. (2012). Money for Happiness: The

Hedonic Benefits of

Thrift. Consumer’s dilemma: The search for well-being in the material

world. New York: Springer.

Author Credentials: Joseph Chancellor, Sonja Lyubomirsky, from the University of

California, Riverside


Objective Reasoning: The information is valid and well researched. The

information covered is opinion.

Methodology: Qualitative strategy, and a Social Constructivist Worldview. This

worldview indicates that meanings are constructed by human beings as they

engage in the world they are interpreting. These meanings are negotiated socially

and historically.

Coverage: The study covered a broad literature on emotions, economics, well-

being, and consumer psychology to suggest 10 ways to increase happiness with

less spending. They have covered more than 300 journal articles, reports and books

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and online articles to support their arguments and suggest sound practices that can

lessen money spending. Such broad coverage improves credibility of the study.

Writing Style: The information in this article was easy to read and all the main

ideas were well presented.


The authors highlight the benefits associated with being thrift when

materialism, consumerism and overconsumption are being blamed for many

social and economic problems.

The authors study the relationship between happiness and money and claim

that happiness cannot be increased with more money because of three main

reasons, hedonic adaptation, affecting forecasting errors and chronic

overspending.

They suggest that that individuals can practice thrift by practicing 10 ways in

their daily lives that will result in spending and consuming less while making

the individual happier in the process.

From the study we learn that money matters and can buy some happiness

however more money does not mean more happiness and it eventually

erodes happiness and sometimes happiness does not require money.

Thus the authors suggest that thrift is a better alternative. The 10 ways they

suggested were “cure ills before seeking thrills, meet needs before indulging

desires, don’t borrow - buy it outright, postpone pleasure, learn the thrill of

saving, don’t impress- enjoy, don’t hoard - share, don’t have- do, don’t

forget-focus, don’t binge – savor” (p.13-39).

This study points out that many associate thrift with being stingy but that the

word actually comes from the term thrive.

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Research state that thrift has close associations with the virtues of generosity

(when we use one’s surplus to benefit others), temperance (when we

consume in moderation), and wisdom (when we are more conscious about

not wasting resources).

Research points out that about 2,500 years ago, Socrates saw his life mission

as persuading people to pay less attention to the pursuit of money,

reputation and honors and place more attention to seek truth, wisdom and

self-improvement. (Page 11)

Other historical facts:

o King Salomon, who was the richest man of his era, noticed that when

people love money too much they would lose sleep because they were

worried about losing their wealth, plus they were never satisfied with

their incomes.

o In Buddhist religion, monks would practice extreme thrift by squeezing

maximum utility out of their meager possessions, they would recycle

old robes into quilts, old quilts into covers, old covers into rugs, old

rugs into dusters, and lastly, old dusters into a mixture of clay and

cloth to repair monastery’s walls. (Page 12)

o Furthermore, in the North American culture, we can find evidence of

how communities would discourage wasteful and excess consumption;

such is the case of Puritan and Quaker communities.

George Bernard Shaw said that “Our necessities are few, but our want are

endless.”

Typology application: This study opened up the possibility to create a retail store.

I can create a space where children learn how to reuse recyclable materials to

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create new art or products. In addition there could be another space where second

hand goods are sold.

Quotations:

1. “In times of scarcity, thrift ensures physical survival. But even in times of

plenty, thrift aids in psychological survival, by helping individuals avoid

unfulfilling distractions and orient their lives toward need satisfying pursuits.”

Page 13

2. “The true source of cheerfulness,” wrote William Goodwin “is benevolence.”

Generosity can be both enjoyable and inexpensive. Prosocial behavior is

associated with a number of positive outcomes, such as well-being, life

satisfaction, and positive affect.” Page 30

3. “The virtue of thrift in particular holds special relevance to the modern era. In

a world of unlimited resources, the choice to consume or conserve might be

strictly philosophical. However, in an increasingly populated and

interconnected world, one’s lifestyle choices not only affect neighbors down

the street but also across the ocean.” Page 42

4. “Thrift can complement this endeavor by extending the meaning of

sustainability, ensuring that the collective can flourish as well as the

individual.” Page 42

D. Possible typologies

Educational

Hospitality

Retail

Art Center

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