Social and religious dimensions of anxious consumption

Abstract

Individuals exposed to a growing number of visual, auditory, and subliminal messages daily are increasingly susceptible to adopting various behaviors, either voluntarily or unintentionally. Much of this behavior manifests in everyday life, often unconsciously or as a direct outcome of deliberate actions. Across daily life, people demonstrate diverse consumer behaviors driven by a range of both intrinsic needs and externally constructed demands—ranging from food and clothing to technology, addictive substances, cosmetics, and even self-consumption. These complex and multidimensional states of consumption can be better understood and explained by examining the underlying factors that compel individuals to consume. This study employs resource analysis methods to investigate the interplay between anxiety and consumption behavior, focusing on how perceptions of imminent danger and threat contribute to a cycle of consumption driven by worry and anxiety. Additionally, this article explores the religious dimensions of unsettling consumption practices, offering a nuanced perspective on the psychological and cultural influences that shape contemporary consumer behavior