Why I chose this question:
Consumerism is such a prominent dilemma faced within our modern day society; controlling aspects ranging from what we buy, and how we go about purchasing items. Throughout my research on this Inquiry project, I had the opportunity to discover more about the cycle of consumerism, how consumerism is embedded throughout the roots of our intellect, and the repercussions associated with the subject matter. Amazon, Walmart, and Apple are just a few big name corporations that all share the same goal; to make as much profit as possible. Understanding the significance these companies play within our society is crucial and ultimately a starting point in terms of learning more about the psychological aspects regarding consumerism. Throughout the three rounds of research I conducted, I was able to successfully identify the role citizens play in this dilemma, and a few ways to diminish the urgency with constantly consuming products.
What challenges did you overcome throughout this Inquiry project? How did you go about overcoming these challenges?
Over the course of the semester, I was forced to overcome the challenge of finding the pros and cons regarding economic growth vs. sustainability of consumerism to ensure that my blog posts were informative, viewing the topic with both components in mind. This was a difficult process as I had to filter through numerous websites in order to find the most accurate and reliable evidence. Another challenge I faced throughout my research was discovering how advertisements are shaped to psychologically manipulate consumers; a strategy used to guarantee that a substantial amount of profit is received by corporations. I had to sort through a variety of sources to make sure that all of the information online was factual, and in mutual agreement in comparison to others.
I overcame this challenge by spending a little bit more time sifting through all of the websites available, and finding data from multiple different sources that were similar in order to acquire the most precise details.
How did this Inquiry change the way you think?
This Inquiry project has been extremely educational; providing me with valuable information regarding this topic. Before I started doing my research about this topic, I rarely thought twice before purchasing an item I liked. However, after learning more about consumerism, I now understand how to separate my wants from needs, always taking this into consideration before making big purchases. In addition, whenever I view advertisements, whether that be through social media or television, I can slowly comprehend a few psychological elements behind it. As I develop a better understanding, I have decreased my sense of urgency to buy products based solely on advertisement metrics. There is a substantial amount of benefits I have learned from this project, useful within every aspect of my life.
How did this investigation impact your future decisions?
This investigation opened my perspective into viewing consumerism as a complex topic where the general population plays a huge role within the issue. The Inquiry has already impacted and will continue to impact the decisions I make moving forward in regards to purchases. I have saved money since learning more about consumerism, and have reduced a few environmental complications due to sustainably finding alternatives to past flawed habits. The cycle of consumerism is global, so it will take determination and action to spread the word on ways to decrease overconsumption. As a student, I can take initiative by doing my part, and spreading the word to my family and friends in hopes of positively impacting their future decisions as well. Once we put our words into actions, a better future is within reach.
What impact will this investigation have on others locally and/or globally?
This investigation will have a positive impact on others locally and globally. The impact will be positive as it is very beneficial to know about all of the repercussions regarding consumerism and understanding how we collectively, as a society, can put an effort into dismantling the cycle of consumerism. Overall, learning about this Inquiry has made me look toward the art of simplicity, and how less is more in terms of materialistic goods. My goal is for my peers locally to understand that there is only so much to accumulating products. The feelings that are most desirable within our world is peace and happiness. I hope that if not now, one day, people will come to realize that it’s not material goods that will spark such feelings, but rather friends and family; loved ones.
“You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.” – Vernon Howard
Thank you very much for reading. I hope you learned something new!
-Vanessa Vukovic
