No Stupid Questions 22. Why Do We Buy Things We’ll Never Use?
Oct 11, 2020
Dive into the intriguing world of consumer behavior, where unused purchases like exercise gear reflect deeper societal influences. Discover the humorous side of aspirational consumerism and how our buying habits mirror desired identities. Explore the dual nature of social media, weighing its potential for connection against its mental health impacts, especially among adolescents. Plus, learn about the historical secrets of childbirth tools and the hidden costs of knowledge in health, underscoring the complexities of our digital age.
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Aspirational Quinoa
- Stephen Dubner repeatedly buys quinoa despite rarely using it.
- He connects this behavior to a childhood memory from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, where poor children poured out coffee as a symbolic taste of luxury.
Identity-Driven Consumption
- James March suggests that repeated behaviors like Dubner's quinoa purchases can be explained by identity thinking.
- People act based on what's appropriate for their perceived identity in a given situation.
Closing the Gap
- Optimism can drive aspirational purchases, hoping for future change.
- Bridge the gap between aspiration and reality through small, achievable steps, like actually cooking the quinoa.
