This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Consumption and Sustainability

Code: 103688 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Sociology OT 4

Contact

Name:
Marc Barbeta Viņas
Email:
marc.barbeta@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There is not


Objectives and Contextualisation

1. Knowledge and visualization of the characteristics of the consumer society in Spain and Catalonia.

2. Understand the theoretical contributions of consumer behavior

3. Analyze the relationships between class, gender, life cycle and consumption

4. Understand the limits of the current consumption model: Sustainability

5. Contextualize, the alternative theoretical perspectives.

 

 

 

 


Competences

  • Analysing the problems arising from the implementation of public policies and conflict situations by recognising the complexity of the social phenomena and political decisions affecting democracy, human rights, social justice and sustainable development.
  • Applying the concepts and approaches of the sociological theory, specially the explanations of social inequalities between classes, between genders and between ethnic groups, to the implementation of public policies and to the resolution of conflict situations.
  • Assessing the contributions of sociological approaches to the study of culture, education, interaction between society and environment, social policy, and work.
  • Demonstrating a comprehension of the approaches of the sociological theory in its different aspects, interpretations and historical context.
  • Describing social phenomena in a theoretically relevant way, bearing in mind the complexity of the involved factors, its causes and its effects.
  • Developing critical thinking and reasoning and communicating them effectively both in your own and other languages.
  • Generating innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activity.
  • Students must be capable of assessing the quality of their own work.
  • Students must be capable of managing their own time, planning their own study, managing the relationship with their tutor or adviser, as well as setting and meeting deadlines for a work project.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Defining the interaction society-environment from these approaches.
  2. Defining the sociological concepts that interpret the interaction between society and the environment.
  3. Developing critical thinking and reasoning and communicating them effectively both in your own and other languages.
  4. Distinguishing the vision of society that these actors take for granted.
  5. Expressing the epistemological assumptions that led to this interaction.
  6. Generating innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activity.
  7. Relating the concepts methods and techniques of environmental sociology with general theoretical and methodological debates.
  8. Relating them with the debates about order, social change and capitalism.
  9. Relating these concepts and visions with the theoretical and methodological debates about society and environment.
  10. Students must be capable of assessing the quality of their own work.
  11. Students must be capable of managing their own time, planning their own study, managing the relationship with their tutor or adviser, as well as setting and meeting deadlines for a work project.
  12. Using their analysis to reflect the social and environmental reality of Spain and Catalonia.

Content

 

I. Introduction to consumption from a sociological perspective: consumption as a "total social phenomenon".
II. General theory of the consumer society: genesis and structure of consumer societies.
  1. The formation of the consumer capitalist market and archetypal consumer models.
    1.1. The background of the consumer society.
    1.2. Neoclassical economic theory of demand and basic concepts of consumption analysis.
    1.3. The real structure of the market and creation of the consumption norm: oligopolization and transformation in the demand / consumption process.
III. The consumer society in Catalonia and Spain.
  1. Process of historical configuration and development of the consumer society: phases and models of consumption.
  2. The role of brand / product images and advertising in consumer models.
IV. Theoretical paradigms for the social investigation of consumption and advertising communication.
  1. Criticism of the economic theory of demand: the social construction of needs.
  2. Behaviorism and consumption: the brand / product as a signal.
  3. Psychoanalysis and consumption: the brand / product as a symbol, and desire.
  4. Genetic-structural theory: consumption as a social symbol.
  5. Cultural studies and consumption: consumption as a material culture.
  6. Structural linguistics and semiology of consumption: the brand / product as sign and signifier.
  7. Postmodern theories of consumption: the identity construction through consumption.
V. Current debates in the sociology of consumption.
  1. The axes of structuring consumption and the context of economic crisis: class, gender and life cycle.
  2. Cultural consumption and the “omnivorism” debate.
  3. Sustainable consumption trends.
  4. Emotions in consumption.
VI. Investigating consumption: review of statistical sources on consumption and the use of social research techniques for the analysis of consumption.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master Lessons 42 1.68
Type: Supervised      
Tutoring students 3 0.12
Type: Autonomous      
Reading articles, team work, presentation in seminars, papers 105 4.2

The sessions will combine a) theoretical presentations of a theoretical nature and b) text discussion seminars.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Individual written test/esay 50% 0 0 10, 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 9, 7, 8, 12
Research project 30% 0 0 10, 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 9, 7, 8, 12
Short works linked to practical activities 20% 0 0 10, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12

 

Students must submit the following evidence:
1) Individual written test. At the beginning of the course, guidelines for carrying out a written test on the topics covered during the course will be provided. It will be a test to be completed at the end of the course. The test will critically address, and review the literature, some of the classic and/or current debates in the sociology of consumption and the issue of environmental sustainability.
2) Group work: students must carry out -in groups- a brief empirical research on a phenomenon or object/brand of consumption. The work will be submitted at the end of the course. At the beginning of the course, the teacher will provide specific guidelines for the work, giving a choice between some options: challenge-based work, conventional work.
3) Short assignments/presentations linked to practical class activities: students must submit the practical activities linked to the discussion of texts on consumption and advertising that will be provided during the course.
Assessable activities that do not exceed the minimum of a 5 will have to be repeated to pass the subject. Students who request it will be attended to individually in the office or virtually, in order to provide the relevant explanations for the correction of the tests and guide possible recovery.
Definition of non-assessable: The student who has not completed all the assessment evidence will be qualified as "non-assessable"
Plagiarism in any assessment test will lead to the immediate suspension of the test in question. In the event of a second irregularity, the subject will be suspended.
Single assessment: students who wish to enroll must notify the teacher during the first 2 weeks of the course that they wish to enroll in the single assessment.
This assessment system will consist of two assessment activities: a) a final test on the course syllabus; b) carrying out an individual research project on one of the topics developed during the course, having agreed on the topic with the teacher. In this case, the weight of each activity will be 60% the written test and 40% the work on the final grade.
 Use of artificial intelligence (AI): Model 1 - Prohibited use: "In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not allowed in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated with AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or serious sanctions in cases."
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bibliography

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ALONSO L. E. (1989), ‘Proceso de trabajo y objeto de consumo. Apuntes para un análisis de su evolución conjunta’, Sociología del Trabajo, 8, pp.59-80 .

ALONSO L .E. (2009),  Prácticas económicas y economía de las        prácticas. Crítica del posmodernismo liberal, Madrid, Ed        Catarata

ALONSO L.E (2005) La era del consumo. Madrid SIglo XXI.

ALONSO L. E., CONDE F. (1994), Historia del consumo en España: Una aproximación a sus orígenes y primer desarrollo, Madrid, Debate.

ALONSO L. E., CALLEJO J. (1994) “ Consumo e individualismo metodológico: Una perspectiva crítica” a Política y Sociedad, 16 pp111-134.

ALONSO L. E.; FERNANDEZ C.; (2013) “Consumo y sociedad líquida en la     obra de Zygmunt Bauman: una recapitulación crítica” en Alonso L.E.; Fernández C. Los discursos del presente. Un análisis de los imaginarios sociales contemporáneos. Madrid, Siglo XXI.

ALONSO, L. E., FERNANDEZ, C. IBÁÑEZ, R. (coord.) (2020) Estudios sociales sobre el consumo. Madrid: CIS.

ALONSO L.E. PÉREZ L.(2003) ‘Problemas actuales en el estudio de la jubilación y la edades del trabajo: la perspectiva sociológica’ Revista del ministerio de trabajo y asuntos sociales. nºExtra Seguridad social.

ANDRES ORIZO F. (1977), Las bases sociales del consumo en   España, Madrid, Confed. Española de Cajas de Ahorro.

 

 BARBETA-VIÑAS, M. (2021). Más allá del amor y la muerte: relaciones entre sociología del consumo y psicoanálisis. A: Alonos, L.E. Fernandez Rodriguez, C. i Ibáñez, R. Estudios sociales sobre el consumo. Madrid: CIS.

 

 BARBETA-VIÑAS, M. (2020). La marca de consumo como “totalidad en marcha”: la perspectiva histórica, sociológica y libidinal del consumo de marcas en Alfosno Ortí. A: Luque, I. i Gómez-Benito,  C. En trono a Alfono Ortí: la sociología crítica como sociohistoria. Madrid: UNED.

BAUDRILLARD J. (1969), El sistema de los objetos, Madrid, Siglo XXI.

BAUDRILLARD J. (1987), Crítica de la economía política del signo, Madrid, Siglo XXI.

BOCOCK R. (1993), El consumo, Madrid, Talasa Ediciones.

BORRÀS CATALÀ V. (1998) El consumo, un análisis sociologico.         Barcelona, Cedecs.

BORRAS V. (2007), “Las desigualdades en el consumo a traves del género” RES nº8 pp139-156.

BAUMAN Z. (2007), Vida de consumo, Madrid, Fondo de Cultura       Económica

BOURDIEU P. (1991), La distinción. Criterio y bases   sociales del gusto,. Altea,   Taurus Humanidades.

CASTILLO CASTILLO J. (1987), Sociedad de consumo a la española, Madrid, Eudema Actualidad

CASTILLO CASTILLO J. (1988), ‘La singular sociología de Thorstein Veblen: el caso de la condición femenina’, REIS, 43, pp. 7-22.

CORTINA A. (2002) Por una ética del consumo. Madrid, Taurus.

CRUZ j. (2014) “El buen tono y la cultura del consumo” en Cruz J. El surgimiento de la cultura burguesa, Madrid, Siglo XXI.

FEATHERSTONE M. (1992), Consumer Culture and Postmodernism, London, Sage.

FERNANDEZ C. J.; HEIKKILÄ R. (2011) “El debate sobre el Omnivorismo Cultural. Un aproximación a nuevas tendencias en sociología del consumo” Revista Internacional de Sociología Vol 69 nº 3 pp 585-605

FREIXENET M.(coord) (2011) Sostenibilitas, Polítiques públiques des de el feminisme i l’ecologisme. Barcelona, ICPS.

GALBRAITH J. K. (1992), La Sociedad Opulenta, Barcelona, Ariel.

GRANDE I. (2002) El consumo de la tercera edad. Madrid. Esic.

GRIGNON C. PASERON J.P.(1992) Lo culto y lo popular. Miserabilismo y populismo en socilogía y en literatura, Madrid, La piqueta.

DURAN Mª A. (1988), De puertas adentro. Madrid, Instituto de la Mujer.

IBAÑEZ j. (2012) “ Publicidad la tercera palabra de dios” en Ibañez J. Por una sociología de la vida cotidiana” Madrid, Siglo XXI

KLEIN N (2001) No Logo, el poder de las marcas. Barcelona, Paidos.

KÖHN, J.; GOWDY, J.; HINTERBERGER, F.; STRAATEN, J.van der (1999) Sustainability in Question. The Search for a Conceptual Framework. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

LEONINI L. (1990-91), ‘A che servono le cose? A proposito di due contributi sui consumi’, Quaderni diSociologia, 29, pp. 168-178.

LATOUCHE S. (2006) La apuesta por el decrecimiento. Barcelona, Icaria.

LIPOVETSKY G. (1986), La era del vacío, Barcelona, Anagrama.

LIPOVETSKY G. (1990), El imperio de lo efímero, Barcelona, Anagrama.

MARAFIOTI R. (1988), Los significantes del consumo. Semiología, medios masivos y publicidad, Buenos Aires, Biblos.

MINISTERIO DE SANIDAD Y CONSUMO (2000). La tercera edad y el consumo. Madrid. INC.

PRADES, A.; HORLICK-JONES, T.;BARNETT, J.; CONSTANTIN, M.; ENANDER, A.; ESPLUGA, J.; KONRAD, W.; POUMADÈRE, M.; ROSENHEAD, J. (2013) “Shining a light on sustainability: making visible, and promoting policy reflection upon, knowledge about citizen’s everyday environment-related behaviours”. A:  A. Martinuzzi and M. Sedlacko (eds.) Knowledge Brokerage for a Sustainable Europe. Innovative tools for enhancing the connectivity of research and policy making on sustainable development issues.(Springer book series Interdisciplinary Studies in Economics and Management).

PRETECEILLE E. (1975), ‘Besoins sociauxet socialisation de la consommation’, La pensée, 180, pp. 22-60.

PRETECEILLE E., TERRAIL, J. P. (1985), Capitalism,         consumption and needs, Oxford, Basil Blackwell.

PAHL J.(1990), ‘Housedold speeding, personal speeding and the control of money in marriage’, Sociology, 24, 1, pp. 119-138

REQUENA M. ‘Juventud y dependencia familiar en España’. Estudios de juventud. nº58/2.

SCHWART R. (2011) “La ‘revolución industrial’ en el hogar: tecnología          doméstica y cambio social en el sxx” en Carrasco C.; Borderias T.;          Torns T.; El trabajo de cuidados. Historia, teoría y políticas, Madrid          Ed Catarata.

TAYLOR-GOOBY P. (1985), ‘Personal Consumption and Gender’, Sociology, 19, 2, pp. 273-284.

TERRAIL J-P (1975), ‘Production des besoins et besoins de la production’, La pensée, 180, pp. 6-21.

VEBLEN T. (1944), Teoría de la clase ociosa, Mexico, Fondo de Cultura Económica.

 

 


Software

None in particular.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 51 Catalan second semester afternoon
(TE) Theory 51 Catalan second semester afternoon