Consumerism & Altruism

Many nations' material standard of living is now higher than ever.

Production of material things has skyrocketed but is still a way
behind consumption, and further still behind demand. Does
consumerism make people happier?
The citizens of the so-called 'developed nations' consume more products,
live in bigger houses, use more consumer durables than those of the rest
of the world. They have a higher material standard of living. However,
social indicators such as family structure, suicide and crime levels tell a
different story. Family breakdown, stress, loneliness and depression are
much higher in the developed countries. This is both a result of and a
cause of increased economic activity, for many reasons. One of the main
ones is that depressed people are encouraged to cheer themselves up by
consuming.
In the past recreation was spent mainly in non-consumptive activities,
such as appreciating nature or visitingfriends, but this is harder in a
deterioriating social and natural environment. Isolation is reinforced by
industries that have sprung up to encourage indulgence in selfish
consumption - whether of food, drugs, digital culture or other means
of escapism. A paradox of our system of economics is that although this
tendency is disasterous for the individuals concerned it is great for
economic 'progress'.
In extreme cases such as suicide, such pathological consumption may
harm rather help the economy. However, although such counterproductive
consumption constitutes a downward spiral for the individuals involved, it
represents a virtuous cycle for the economy, which benefits from
increased levels of consumption and hence work from those concerned.
Shopping is the USAs most popular recreational activity.
Altruistic actions (almost by definition) boost well-being and
happiness and so decrease depression and the associated habits of
pathological consumption. Moreover, activity done out of love is
often given away and so is part of the unseen economy, substituting
for regular spending and reducing the size of the official economy.
Obesity is an obvious symptom of over-consumption. By 2000, two thirds
of Americans were overweight1 - a proportion which is still rising. One can
only speculate how this affects the self-esteem of those affected, in this

world in which millions of people are literally starving. Overeating is widely

known to be unhealthy, so one can see the obesity epidemic as evidence
of how adept large organisations (i.e. companies) have become at
manipulating individuals against their long term interests. Self-destructive
overconsumption applies to many aspects of society, especially in
'developed' countries. In USA, most people devote hours every day
consuming digital culture while families no longer spend time together in
conversation2. Many countries are following this model, in spite of the
unprecedented damage to family and community life3.
Organisations exploit the vulnerable by encouraging them to see
themselves as consumers. This has lead to negative social cycles of
selfish over-consumption, followed by depression and further
stress. Adopting an attitude of altruism is a positive way to resist
consumerism. Improvingrelationships with others helps people feel
positive about themselves as people.

Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a
desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with
criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen. Veblen's subject of examination, the newly
emergent middle class arising at the turn of the twentieth century, comes to full fruition by the end of the
twentieth century through the process of globalization.[1]
The term "consumerism" is also used to refer to the consumerist movement, consumer
protection or consumer activism, which seeks to protect and inform consumers by requiring such
practices as honest packaging and advertising, product guarantees, and improved safety standards. In
this sense it is a movement or a set of policies aimed at regulating the products, services, methods, and
standards of manufacturers, sellers, and advertisers in the interests of the buyer. [2]
In economics, consumerism refers to economic policies placing emphasis on consumption. In an abstract
sense, it is the belief that the free choice of consumers should dictate the economic structure of a society
(cf. Producerism, especially in the British sense of the term).[3]
The term "consumerism" was first used in 1915 to refer to "advocacy of the rights and interests of
consumers" (Oxford English Dictionary) but in this article the term "consumerism" refers to the sense first
used in 1960, "emphasis on or preoccupation with the acquisition of consumer goods" (Oxford English
Dictionary).