Consumption and the meaning of life

Tian, Kelly and Belk, Russell 2006, Consumption and the meaning of life, in Research in consumer behavior, JAI Press, Oxford, U. K., pp.249-274.

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Title	Consumption and the meaning of life
Author(s)	Tian, Kelly Belk, Russell
Title of book	Research in consumer behavior
Editor(s)	Belk, Russell W.
Publication date	2006
Series	Research in consumer behavior; v. 10
Chapter number	10
Total chapters	10
Start page	249
End page	274
Total pages	26
Publisher	JAI Press
Place of Publication	Oxford, U. K.
Summary	Through an analysis of data from depth interviews with modern American consumers, we examine whether and how individuals quest for life’s meaning through consumption. Our analysis identifies three worldviews that are differently related to the experience of transcendence through consumption. A rationalist worldview is revealed as being unrelated to such a pursuit. It contrasts two magical worldviews held by most informants in which consumption objects are infused with supernatural and metaphysical beliefs that animate life’s meaning for them. Our discussion highlights how recognition of magical worldviews contributes to consumer theory, methods, and concepts of investigation.
ISBN	9780762313044 0762313048
ISSN	0885-2111
Language	eng
Field of Research	159999 - Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services not elsewhere classified
Socio Economic Objective	970115 - Expanding Knowledge in Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
HERDC Research category	B1.1 Book chapter
ERA Research output type	B Book chapter
Copyright notice	©2006, Elsevier Ltd.
Persistent URL	http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30042463

Document type:	Book Chapter
Collection:	School of Management and Marketing

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