Maladaptive Consumption: Definition, Theoretical Framework, and Research Propositions

Martin Reimann and Shailendra Pratap Jain

Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2021, vol. 6, issue 3, 307 - 314

Abstract: Maladaptive consumption represents potentially uncontrollable and self- and others-harming consumer choices to fulfill a desire for rewarding substances and behaviors. More recently, maladaptive consumption has emerged as a pivotal interest within consumer research, and a deliberation of current developments regarding consumers’ misuse of substances and their repetitive engagement in certain behaviors highlights its acute importance. After summarizing both long-standing and emerging types of maladaptive consumption, we review mounting evidence and provide a working definition and an integrative theoretical framework for understanding antecedents, types, explanations, and consequences of maladaptive consumption. Finally, we close with a limited identification of propositions and research themes that suggest avenues for future research.

Date: 2021
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/714822 (application/pdf)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/714822 (text/html)
Access to the online full text or PDF requires a subscription.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucp:jacres:doi:10.1086/714822

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of the Association for Consumer Research from University of Chicago Press
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Journals Division ().