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Book part
Publication date: 7 June 2007

Carolyn Costley, Lorraine Friend, Emily Meese, Carl Ebbers and Li-Jen Wang

Does having things make people happy; does buying, consuming, or giving bring happiness? In an increasingly materialistic era, it seems that people might believe so. Despite our…

Abstract

Does having things make people happy; does buying, consuming, or giving bring happiness? In an increasingly materialistic era, it seems that people might believe so. Despite our consumption culture, research tells us that the desire for material possessions relates more to unhappiness than to happiness (Belk, 1985; Burroughs & Rindfleisch, 2002; Csikszentmihalyi, 2000; La Barbera & Gürhan, 1997; Mick, 1996; Richins, 1987; Sirgy et al., 1998). Economists find that subjective well-being increases, then levels off as national levels of discretionary income increase (Csikszentmihalyi, 1999; Diener, 2000; Meyers, 2000). Furthermore, many economists cite correspondence between happiness and relative income (Blanchflower & Oswald, 2004; Solnick & Hemenway, 1998; Stutzer, 2003) to explain the stagnation of average happiness despite rises in national incomes. Increasing one person's income relative to others decreases the others’ happiness so that pursuing money to achieve happiness becomes a zero-sum affair; average national happiness does not change (Lee, 2006).

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Consumer Culture Theory
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84855-984-4

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Book part
Publication date: 7 June 2007

Abstract

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Consumer Culture Theory
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84855-984-4

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Book part
Publication date: 15 May 2018

Crystal Abidin

Abstract

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Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame Online
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78756-079-6

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Book part
Publication date: 18 June 2021

Suneel Jethani

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The Politics and Possibilities of Self-Tracking Technology
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80043-338-0

Book part
Publication date: 15 May 2018

Crystal Abidin

Abstract

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Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame Online
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78756-079-6

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