Conflicts of Consumerism
By: Ruchi Shah
Student ID: 2101252
Date: 5th August, 2021
Consumerism
Introduction: There is a huge debut between the pros and cons of consumerism. Some say
consumerism is harmful to humans in many ways causing environmental degradation, Higher
debt levels, mental health problems tec and other say consumerism is the reason the market
and economy of the world got better in recent years. I believe consumerism is a major conflict
not only in terms of environmental issues causing globalization but contrary to Alex Tabarrok
who argues “free trade and globalization are shaping our once-divided world into a community of
idea-sharing more healthy, happy and prosperous than anyone‘s predictions”, I believe consumerism
contributes only to the growth of the people who can afford the acquisition of consumer goods at
first place. Most people attempt to define consumerism by immediately and solely connecting
the phenomenon with the consumption of goods and products. However, consumerism is much
more than the act of purchasing things. Consumerism is also the promotion of consumer need,
which is usually done by companies that convince people they need a new product (Miles,
1998; Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2013). Today, need does not just include the necessities of
food, water, safety, and love, as indicated by Maslow’s (1943) hierarchy of needs. Need has
now come to include more extravagant items, such as electronics, fancy cars, and big houses.
As a result, Miles adopts the definition of consumerism as a sociological interest driven by a
common psychological perception that we need materialistic items to gain status.
