Notes

1. Conditioning explains the excessive materialism in our culture. Operant conditioning is a technique used in marketing efforts to convince customers that the goods they now hold are insufficient and that they need to buy new or extra things. This is clear when the topic of obsolescence is brought up in the video. Because of marketing efforts and the criticism they face for defying trends, people are conditioned to keep purchasing. This applies to perceived obsolescence more so than to purposeful obsolescence. New items are introduced often, but most of the time they don't provide anything novel that would make them worthwhile purchases, even if people still buy them to keep up with the latest fashions. Them continue to acquire the newest technology because positive social reinforcement of consumerism motivates people to make larger and larger purchases. The movie discusses how this conditioning was done on purpose to encourage you to keep making more purchases because large corporations and the government want your money. Observational learning also affects consumption because people copy what they see others doing. The textbook defines a reinforcer as something that increases the likelihood that something will be bought frequently.

2. The fact that we are constantly exposed to commercials on TV, YouTube, social media, and radio leads me to assume that advertising does affect my purchasing decisions. However, I might not first recognize the impact of those advertisements. When I buy something, then only I understand the advertisements were successful. Given that we are unintentionally shopping, this may potentially have an impact on my budget. The lesson states that credit cards are another source of expenditure in addition to article advertising. Credit cards are important when it comes to shopping since many individuals use them carelessly and without considering the long-term effects.

3. I usually don't spend much money because I am a high school student and am financially dependent but once I go to college I will get a high paying jobs so I can spend money at ease.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/ulterior-motives/201008/what-does-advertising-do
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unconscious-branding/201410/how-your-brain-forces-you-watch-ads