The World of GoodsFirst published in 1979, this volume introduces a cultural factor to theories of consumption. The World of Goods goes beyond standard economic analyses, which rely on theories of individual psychology. Douglas studies how consumers use goods to fulfil their intentions in regard to one another. The World of Goods insists that goods are wanted for social purposes, for sharing and giving, more than for the private enjoyment that is the pivot of utilitarian explanations. This book offers a completely original way of thinking about consumption as a series of rituals. |
Contents
Section 1 | |
Section 2 | |
Section 3 | |
Section 4 | |
Section 5 | |
Section 6 | |
Section 7 | |
Section 8 | |
Section 9 | |
Section 10 | |
Section 11 | |
Section 12 | |
Section 13 | |
Section 14 | |
Section 15 | |
Section 16 | |
Other editions - View all
The World of Goods: Towards an Anthropology of Consumption Mary Douglas,Baron C. Isherwood Limited preview - 1996 |
Common terms and phrases
analysis andthe anthropologist atthe bequest motive bythe canbe capital choice commodities competitive consumer consumer behavior Consumer Theory consumer’s consumption activities consumption behavior consumption classes consumption patterns consumption rituals culture defined demand developed distribution drink Duesenberry earnings Econometrica economic Economic Anthropology economists environment ethnographic exchange expenditure frequency Friedman fromthe h a p t e r Henry James’s highfrequency household human individual industry inthe isan isnot isthe itis Kroeber largescale linkage London luxuries marking services markingservices marriage marry Mary Douglas means objects ofconsumption ofthe onthe ownership percent periodicity constraints permanent income political poor potlatch poverty problem production proportion rank rational rich Routledge savings scale social classes social environment society spending sphere standardized structure telephone tertiary sector thatthe theory of consumption theoryof thereare thereis thesame tobe tothe transactions University wealth withthe Yurok