15
LIFE STYLES & CONSUMPTION STYLES Imelda Cárdenas Sierra Sustainable Development Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo

Life styles and consumption styles

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Life styles and consumption styles

LIFE STYLES & CONSUMPTION

STYLESImelda Cárdenas Sierra

Sustainable Development

Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo

Page 2: Life styles and consumption styles

The Consumption Perspective in Environmental Research

For a very long time social science research on the environment was more oriented towards the production process. It was not before the emergence of a critical discourse with regard to negative environmental effects of the (global) consumer society that concept of lifestyles and the domain of consumption have attracted more and more attention, especially after the Rio summit in 1992.

Page 3: Life styles and consumption styles

The Lifestyle Perspective Lifestyles are group specific forms of how individuals live and interpret their lives in a social context. Lifestyles link social structure to attitudes and behavior. In order to describe a lifestyle (group) three core dimensions have to be combined: social status, attitudes and preferences, behavior.

Social status Attitudes &

preferences Behavior or praxis

Page 4: Life styles and consumption styles

Consumerism vs ConsumptionCONSUMERISM

Is a type of social arrangement that exists when our wants, desires and longings for consumer goods drive what happens in society and when they are primarily responsible for shaping the social system in which we exist..

CONSUMPTIONIn the simplest sense of the word, consumption refers to the taking in or using up of resources. Simply breathing air or drinking a glass of water are forms of consumption, and in this sense, we need to consume to survive.

Page 5: Life styles and consumption styles

Consumerism and lifestyleConsumerism shapes our wants, desires, and longings in such a way that we want not simply to acquire goods because they are useful, but more so, because of what they say about us.In a society of consumers, consumerism is fueled by planned obsolescence, and premised not only on the acquisition of goods, but also on their disposal. Consumerism both functions upon and reproduces an insatiability of desires and needs.

Page 6: Life styles and consumption styles

Planned obsolescencePlanned obsolescence is a business strategy in which the obsolescence (the process of becoming obsolete—that is, unfashionable or no longer usable) of a product is planned and built into it from its conception. This is done so that in future the consumer feels a need to purchase new products and services that the manufacturer brings out as replacements for the old ones.

Page 7: Life styles and consumption styles

The society of consumers thrives on the inability of the system of mass production and consumption to meet our desires and needs.  Rather than cultivating happiness, consumerism is fueled by and cultivates fear -- fear of not fitting in, of not having the right stuff, of not being the right kind of person. Consumerism is defined by perpetual non-satisfaction.

Non-satisfaction

Page 8: Life styles and consumption styles

This leads to

Obtained from http://www.internationalpaper.com/apps/hpedp/more.html

Page 9: Life styles and consumption styles

Environmental impacts of consumption

Obtained from UNEP Priority Products and Materials report

Page 10: Life styles and consumption styles

Obtained from UNEP Priority Products and Materials report

Page 11: Life styles and consumption styles

Indirect drivers that influence of economic activities

• Lifestyle• Demography

• Monetary wealth

Page 12: Life styles and consumption styles

Social change

Market preferences

Reflexive preferencesPolicy

preferences

“I want to buy this”

“I would like to want something else”

“I would like the government to do

X”

Choosing a lifestyle can generate social change

Page 13: Life styles and consumption styles

How to achieve sustainable development?Sustainable development cannot be achieved by technological solutions, political regulation or financial instruments alone. We need to change the way we think and act. This requires quality education and learning for sustainable development at all levels and in all social contexts.

Page 14: Life styles and consumption styles

Tips for sustainable living• Only purchase what you do really need.• Try to repair an old item, instead of buying a new one.• Buy used and/or recycled products (including textbooks) whenever possible.• Refill reusable water bottles and store them in a refrigerator instead of buying

new disposable bottles of water.• Wash only full loads of laundry.• Take the bus, walk or bike to your destination.• Take only what you will and choose fresh, less-processed snacks instead of

processed items with excessive packaging.• Unplug your electronic devices when they’re not in use.• When you leave the room, turn off the light. And many more!

Page 15: Life styles and consumption styles

ReferencesBarnhart, J. K. (1999). Teaching the ugly side of consumerism. The Technology Teacher, 59(2), 27. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.millenium.itesm.mx/docview/235285224?accountid=41938

Cole, N. What does 'Consumerism' means? Retrieved from About Education Web site: http://sociology.about.com/od/C_Index/fl/Consumerism.htm

Dietz, T., Rosa, E.A. 1997. Environmental Impacts of Population and Consumption. In: Stern et al. 1997: 92-99.

Reusswig, F., Lotze-Campen, H., & Gerlinger, K. (n.d.). Changing Global Lifestyle and Consumption Patterns:. Retrieved from Center for International Earth Science Information Network : http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/repository/pern/papers/Lotze-Campen_Reusswig_Paper.pdf

Planned obsolescence. (n.d.). Retrieved fromThe Economist Web site: http://www.economist.com/node/13354332