Three Interpretive Layers Of Overconsumption And Misconsumption

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According to Princen, there are “three interpretive layers” of consumption: background consumption, overconsumption, and misconsumption. Background consumption “refers to the normal, biological function of all organisms, humans included”. More simply, it is what people must consume in order to survive. Overconsumption is the type of “consumption that undermines a species’ own life-support system”. We have choices in what we consume, and we often consumer more than what we really need. Finally, misconsumption is concerned with individual behavior. We consume “in a way that undermines [our] own well-being even if there are no aggregate effect on the population or species”. People consume, just to consume.

Given these three layers, of background consumption, …show more content…

When it comes to background consumption, Leonard points out that “everyone needs to consume to live”. As human beings, we need basic things, such as food, shelter, medicine, and clothing, in order to live successfully. However when it comes to overconsumption and misconsumption its no longer about those basic needs. Overconsumption, as Princen said, is when we have choices in consuming and essentially over step the boundaries set by nature. Leonard points to this idea, when she mentions Black Friday. Here consumerism becomes “about excess, about losing sight of what’s important in the quest for Stuff”. People literally camp outside business as early as Thanksgiving day, simply so they acquire more “stuff” they don't really need. Then there is misconsumption, which equates to our individual behavior of consumption. Here people simply consume not in a rational or sensible way. Leonard gives examples of this is the ideas like seductive advertising. When it comes to

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