WHY YUPPIES

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WHY YUPPIES?

• By Amy Henderson

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INFORMATION ABOUTCONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION
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BACK IN TIME

• COMMONERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO EMULATE THE RULING
  CLASS
• SUMPTARY LAWS PASSED TO ENSURE EMULATION DIDNT
  OCCUR
• EXAMPLES OF SUMPTARY LAWS IN INDIA
• SANDALS FORBIDDEN
• HAIR CUTS WERE ALSO PROHIBITED
• CLOTHES COULDNT BE HIGHER THAN HIP OR LOWER THAN
  KNEES

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MODERN DAY SOCIETY

• TODAY WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO
• BUY PRECIOSITIES IF WE CAN AFFORD THEM
• INDULGE OUR EMULATIVE INCLINATIONS

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VEBLEN EMULATION

• Emulation is second to survival as an economic
  motive
• Emulation became a major force when the
  hereditary power decreased
• Our crave for prestige has led to conspicuous
  consumption

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HARRIS EMULATION

• Emerging elitists do not want to replace existing
  elitists
• Instead they merely want to join them
• In order to join them, they must model their
  standards of consumption after the current
  elitists.

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NOW WE ASK

• WHAT ARE YUPPIES?

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YUPPIE CHARACTERISTICS

• Harris contends they are the most voracious and
  predatory consumers the world has ever seen
• They consume for success not emulation
• Success has been defined by those already at the
  top
• Success is dependant on mass consumption

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YUPPIES

• PROVE THEMSELVES AS LOYAL CONSUMERS, THUS THEY
  ARE ADMITTED INTO THE HIGER CIRCLES OF SOCIETY.

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JUSTIFICATION FOR ACTIONS

• YUPPIES TEND TO BELIEVE
• YOU CANT MEET THE RIGHT PEOPLE
• AND/OR
• YOU CANT GET THE RIGHT JOB
• WITHOUT THOSE HIGHER UPS!

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YUPPIES AND CULTURAL MATERIALISM VIEWS
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HARRIS (MATERIALISTIC) VIEW

• Mind is formed by environmental challenges
• These challenges require evaluation of costs and
  benefits
• The cost/benefit factors will determine the level
  of change

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YUPPIES AND CULTURAL MATERIALISM

• Heavy emphasis is placed on the cost/benefit
  factors
• Cost/benefit factors lead to exploiting the
  environment to meet our biopsychological needs
• Biopsychological needs include love and affection

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COST/BENEFIT FACTORS FOR YUPPIES

• Substantial debt
• Postponement of marriage
• Postponement of children
• Insignificant amount of money saved
• Love and affection weighs in as a benefit for
  yuppies

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YUPPIES AND THE SOCIOCULTURAL SYSTEM
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YUPPIES EFFECT ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE

• INCREASE IN CONSUMERISM LEADS TO
• INCREASE IN PRODUCTION LEADS
• TO
• INCREASE IN POPULATION
• THUS
• RESULTING IN INTENSIFICATION AND STRUCTURAL
  CHANGES

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CHANGING THE DYNAMICS OF THE STRUCTURE COMPONENT

• PRIMARY GROUPS
• MORE CHILDLESS COUPLES
• LESS TIME SPENT WITH THIS GROUP
• LESS IMPORTANCE PLACED ON THIS GROUP

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CHANGING THE DYNAMICS OF THE STRUCTURE COMPONENT

• SECONDARY GROUPS
• GROUP BECOMES LARGER
• GROUP IS MORE IMPORTANT
• MORE TIME IS SPENT IN THIS GROUP
• INCREASE IN BEAUCRATIZATION
• AND IF ONE COMPONENT CHANGES.

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THE SUPERSTRUCTURE IS CHANGING AS WELL

• CONSUMERISM INCREASES
• IDEAS AND BELIEFS ARE FORMED MORE BY SECONDARY
  GROUP
• STANDARD OF LIVING INCREASES
• THUS, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS FACING CHANGES