The unintended consequences of the culture of consumption: An historical‐theoretical analysis of consumer misbehavior

The culture of consumption which characterizes the economically advanced societies in this century is historically unique and evolving. Widespread misbehavior by consumers is an intrinsic element of this culture, being unintentionally stimulated by the very marketing factors which stimulate legitimate consumption. The paper elucidates the culture of consumption and the known reasons for consumer misbehavior, shows the strong relationships among these, and then demonstrates the pervasiveness and variety of consumer misbehavior in North America today.