Scenario 6-3 "Consumerism Is a Pattern of Behavior That Helps to Destroy

question 41

Multiple Choice

Scenario 6-3
"Consumerism is a pattern of behavior that helps to destroy our environment, personal financial health, the common good of individuals and human institutions" begins the first page on a World Wide website entitled "Overcoming Consumerism." It continues, "This site details ways that you can help defeat consumerism, save money, work less and lead a more satisfying and environmentally benign life while helping to restore the self-sufficiency of your community." (http://www.verdant.net/)
As one travels from page to page in the site, advertising is often implicated as a source of the movement toward consumerism. Many of the same criticisms of advertising found in the site were outlined in the textbook.
-(Scenario 6-3) The writers of "Overcoming Consumerism" believe that as consumerism grows, people will buy anything and everything. This reduces the incentive for companies to manufacture quality, long-lasting products. On the other hand, according to the textbook, a proponent of advertising might argue that

• A) the need for long-lasting, high-quality products no longer exists in today's fast-paced world.
• B) research has shown that personal happiness increases along with consumption.
• C) advertising is not creating a materialistic culture; it is a manifestation of that culture
• D) this wrongly assumes that America is a highly consumption-oriented culture.