Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[[Latin]] conspicuus  visible, conspicuous, equiv. to conspic  

[[Latin]] conspicuus  visible, conspicuous, equiv. to conspic  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1545]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1545]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1. easily seen or noticed; readily visible or [[observable]]: a conspicuous [[error]].

*1. easily seen or noticed; readily visible or [[observable]]: a conspicuous [[error]].

'''Conspicuous''' consumption is a term used to describe the lavish spending on [[goods]] and services acquired mainly for the [[purpose]] of displaying income or [[wealth]]. In the [[mind]] of a conspicuous consumer, such display serves as a means of [[attaining]] or maintaining [[social status]]. A very similar but more colloquial term is "keeping up with the Joneses". Invidious consumption, a more specialized term, refers to consumption deliberately [[intended]] to cause [[envy]].

'''Conspicuous''' consumption is a term used to describe the lavish spending on [[goods]] and services acquired mainly for the [[purpose]] of displaying income or [[wealth]]. In the [[mind]] of a conspicuous consumer, such display serves as a means of [[attaining]] or maintaining [[social status]]. A very similar but more colloquial term is "keeping up with the Joneses". Invidious consumption, a more specialized term, refers to consumption deliberately [[intended]] to cause [[envy]].

''Conspicuous consumption'' is one [[explanation]] for the [[mechanics]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_society consumer societies], and the massive [[growth]] of goods and services considered [[necessary]] by people living in developed economies. Other [[explanation]]s for consumerism can be found in the work of cultural theorist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard Jean Baudrillard] and evolutionary psychologist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Miller_(evolutionary_psychologist)#Evolutionary_psychology_of_consumerism Geoffrey Miller]. [[Concepts]] central to cultural studies such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism postmodernism] and [[discussions]] around taste offer alternative views, whilst the [[ideas]] of sociologist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bourdieu#Bourdieu.27s_theory_of_class_distinction Pierre Bourdieu] provide a [[differing]] if [[complementary]] [[explanation]].

''Conspicuous consumption'' is one [[explanation]] for the [[mechanics]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_society consumer societies], and the massive [[growth]] of goods and services considered [[necessary]] by people living in developed economies. Other [[explanation]]s for consumerism can be found in the work of cultural theorist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard Jean Baudrillard] and evolutionary psychologist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Miller_(evolutionary_psychologist)#Evolutionary_psychology_of_consumerism Geoffrey Miller]. [[Concepts]] central to cultural studies such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism postmodernism] and [[discussions]] around taste offer alternative views, whilst the [[ideas]] of sociologist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bourdieu#Bourdieu.27s_theory_of_class_distinction Pierre Bourdieu] provide a [[differing]] if [[complementary]] [[explanation]].

Some [[theorists]] posit that 'conspicuous consumption' was the main [[reason]] for consumer [[behaviour]] in the time period that Veblen coined the phrase, but in [[intervening]] years other [[motivations]] have become a better [[explanation]] of peoples consumption [[activity]]; for example consumption as a [[method]] of displaying [[social]] [[identity]], or the prevalence of advertising]. (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_functionalism Structural functionalism])

Some [[theorists]] posit that 'conspicuous consumption' was the main [[reason]] for consumer [[behaviour]] in the time period that Veblen coined the phrase, but in [[intervening]] years other [[motivations]] have become a better [[explanation]] of peoples consumption [[activity]]; for example consumption as a [[method]] of displaying [[social]] [[identity]], or the prevalence of advertising]. (see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_functionalism Structural functionalism])

==See also==

==See also==

*[http://metanoia-films.org/humanresources.php Human Resources], an excellent documentary [[film]] about the [[mechanization]] of [[human]] [[behavior]]

*[https://metanoia-films.org/humanresources.php Human Resources], an excellent documentary [[film]] about the [[mechanization]] of [[human]] [[behavior]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]