Title: Consumer Behavior | Psychology Today
Headings: 
Contents
Why Consumer Behavior Matters
Why do marketers study consumer behavior?
How do politicians use marketing research in campaigns?
Why are people drawn to fads?
How is consumer behavior affected by natural disasters?
How does consumer behavior change during a recession?
Will the COVID-19 pandemic change consumer behavior?
The Psychology of Buying and Spending
Why does buying things feel good?
Does buying more things make you happy in the long run?
Why do I buy things I don’t need?
Why do I buy things that are bad for me?
How can I stop buying things that are bad for me?
How does anxiety affect what we buy?
What causes panic buying?
What motivates impulse purchases?
How Advertising and Marketing Work
How does marketing influence what we buy?
Do marketers take advantage of how the human brain works?
Why do some ads succeed while others fail?
Why are “limited time offers” so appealing?
Why are so many ads sexual?
Do sexual ads really work?
How to Appeal to Consumers
How can I persuade people to buy my product?
How can I make my marketing campaign more effective?
How can I introduce a new product or idea?
How can marketers sell products ethically?

Content: The study of why people make such purchases—which are often irrational—is closely related to the field of behavioral economics, which examines why people deviate from the most rational choice available. Behavioral economists, marketing professionals, and psychologists have concluded that extraneous purchases may be driven by a need to display one’s social status, or in response to an emotion like sadness or boredom. In other instances, retailers may successfully manipulate the desire for a “good deal” by making an unneeded item seem especially affordable or portraying it as being in limited supply. Learning how to recognize common manipulation tactics may help individuals and families save money—and stress —in the long term. Why does buying things feel good? Created with Sketch. Many human behaviors are driven by reward. Purchasing a new gadget or item of clothing triggers a surge of dopamine, which creates pleasurable feelings. Though the glow of a new purchase may not last long, the desire to once again be rewarded with a burst of dopamine drives us to buy more. Does buying more things make you happy in the long run?