DebtFreeGuru.com's - Tip of the Week - Monday, November 22, 2004
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The following is from Rev. Alcia-Leslie of Unity Church of Practical Christianity, League City, TX:
Midweek Thought ~ You and I ~ Unknowing Lab Rats?
A Blessed Day to You!
As I prepared to write today's Midweek Thought, I wanted to do a little online research. Although I had headed in one direction, my journey took me in another direction altogether! Through a process of clicking on one link, then another, then another, I found myself looking at the web site for The Society for Consumer Psychology web site. Wow! Who'd ever have thought there WAS such a thing!
This is how they define/describe themselves:
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The Society represents the interests of behavioral scientists in the fields of psychology, marketing, advertising, communication, consumer behavior, and other related areas.
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Some members of the Society are mainly interested in generating applied knowledge to solve specific marketing related problems, while others focus on generating basic knowledge to contribute to theoretical and conceptual foundations of consumer psychology.
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The Society encourages all members to share their knowledge and contribute to the discipline of consumer psychology as a whole through contributions in conferences, journal articles, and book chapters.
For me, this conjures up images of giant behavioral scientists peering down above a "mall-lab" at the little rats, i.e., you and me, as they jot down notes on their mammoth clipboards while we scamper into one store after another...sniffing. examining..."taking the bait" or not.
What is their goal? The first and third points of their self-description seems to point to pure curiosity. It is the second one that I find unsettling. Especially the words "to solve specific marketing related problems." Hmmm...what might a "marketing related problem" be? Could it be...product not selling?...Can't get your money into my pocket? Could be.
Could also be, "I have a great product that fills a great need for humankind, but they are just not seeming to notice." How can I spread the news so people will listen?" See, it is not what you've got but what you do with it that matters.
We are all consumers. Some of what we consume is healthy, or good for us, while other things we consume are not healthy, or good for us. We cannot stop being consumers any more than we can stop consuming food. BUT...we CAN exercise good judgment in our what we choose to "consume," or buy.
And here we are entering the "consumer frenzy" holiday season. Just yesterday I was talking with some folks about the "day after Thanksgiving holiday CRUSH" which merchandisers created (based on what? greed? Fear of lack? something else? Perhaps we should consult the Society!). Mind you, their purpose was not what was good for us, but for themselves. The earlier people start shopping, the more they will buy, the more they will spend.
So...what kind of a "lab rat" will you be this holiday season? Will you "follow the rat-pack" in the frenzy? Or will you be the one that makes the scientists scratch their heads in amazement because you think for yourself and practice inner discipline, not "dancing to their tune?"
You can start NOW. Before you go into any store or mall. Decide what you want to buy, how much you want to spend, who gets what and why. Oh...be sure to give yourself a SMALL allowance for little "impulse" purchases...but STICK TO IT.
An impulse is defined as "a force so communicated as to produce motion suddenly," and I would add...without forethought." This leaves our discerning process out of the equation.
Next Friday will be one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Closely in competition with one of the other highest...the day AFTER Christmas. Think about it! Where will you be? What will you be doing? What will those behavioral scientists be jotting down about you?
Happy shopping!
Rev Ali
DebtFreeGuru.com - Tip of the Week - Monday, November 22, 2004
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