Ritual Behavior and Consumer Symbolism

Abstract

Ritual behavior is proposed as a useful conceptual vehicle for interpreting consumers' psychosocial symbolic behavior. The domain of ritual behavior is identified, and ritual practices among animal species, and in various religious and aesthetic, civic, family, and personal contexts are elaborated. The diverse literatures that discuss ritual phenomena are critically reviewed and integrated. Finally, some relationships between individuals' ritual involvements and their "consumer behaviors" are suggested. CN - 6434146