Capitalism, while it may have its merits, can often seem downright absurd. We live in a world where profits are very often put over people, and the pursuit of endless growth is prioritized over sustainability. Not to mention little things like companies using manipulative advertising tactics to convince us to buy things we don’t need, the prevalence of unpaid internships and so on.
So let’s take a moment to reflect on the absurdities of capitalism with some examples of what this economic and political system is actually like in our day-to-day lives. For this article, we’ve collected some of the best posts shared by the Instagram page “Humans of Capitalism”, documenting the most extreme and dystopian instances of corporate power. Scroll down to see what we mean.
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If you liked this list and are interested in exploring further, you can take a look at Bored Panda‘s previous articles here and here.
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Nowadays, people’s purchasing decisions can reflect their identity. That includes their personality, hobbies, and even profession. Actually, one can learn a lot about someone by examining their shopping bag.
Capitalism has created a society that is consumer-based. It has made consumption become a fundamental element of today’s world, particularly in Western countries. Heading to a supermarket to buy a carton of milk? Don’t worry, you will have an abundance of options to choose from. While it’s great to have a variety of choices, at times it can become excessive and absurd.
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However, the vast amount of choices available leads to the constant introduction of new trends. That results in overconsumption habits.
The desire to purchase things in order to increase self-worth is not uncommon in today’s society. People may engage in conspicuous consumption in order to signal their status and wealth to others. This type of behavior, however, can be motivated by deeper psychological needs, such as a desire for validation, acceptance, or a sense of control.
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The urge to earn and buy more has led to a variety of societal and environmental issues. People tend to work longer and harder to make more money so that they can buy more goods. Consuming more means producing more, which ultimately leads to increased pollution, deforestation, and depletion of natural resources.
A study, “Consumers’ Pursuit Of Material And Experiential Purchases” by Thomas Gilovich and Iñigo Gallo in 2019, has shown that consumers are more satisfied and happy with experiential consumption (travel and purchases that contribute to their well-being) than with material things. The same results were found in many other similar studies.
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While these images might make us laugh, it’s important to address the issues here. Recognizing the underlying motivations behind our consumption habits can help us make more conscious choices about what we buy and why. It can also help us focus on personal growth, relationships, and contributing to the well-being of others and the world around us. Let’s not forget that happiness can be found in little things as well!
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