S/PS/39. Why Do We Shop?

The paper explores why people buy products (and hence what motivates them to seek to obtain products through shopping) by exploring what it is that consumers may get from objects themselves, with a focus on the hedonic and more abstract values of an object as opposed to its functional attributes. An exploration into what a person may gain from the actual experience of shopping follows, since a shoppers primary aim may not be to obtain products. A consideration of how preference for a particular mode of shopping (internet versus retail stores) may provide insight into shopping motives and finally, the pragmatic value of seeking to answer the question Ówhy do we shop?Ô is then briefly discussed.