Abstract

As an important feature in modern American society, consumerism first came into being in the late 19th century due to various factors such as the development of economy and scientific technology. It has great impact on the American society, both naturally and socially. Firstly, it brings a flourishing market, which boosts the development of economy. However，it also plants the seeds of crisis in economy. Secondly，it affects people’s values on beauty, social relationship and success. People become material-oriented. Lastly, excessive consumption brings the phenomenon of wasting and polluting. Therefore，it is indispensable to form the habit of rational consumption, which is especially true of China which is in a period of drastic social reform.

Key words: consumerism, American society, values, economy, environment
 
摘要

消费主义是当今美国社会的一个重要特征，在经济、科技等多重因素的促进下，它产生于十九世纪末二十世纪初的美国。它对美国的自然社会和人文社会带来了深刻的影响。首先，它促进了美国市场的繁荣，带来了经济的飞速发展；但同时它又给美国乃至世界经济埋下了祸根。其次，它深刻地改变了人们的价值观，使人们变得“唯物是图”。这主要体现在人们对美、人际关系、成功的认识变化。再次，由于过度消费它不仅造成了资源的浪费还污染了生态环境。在这样的情况下，人们有必要养成理性的消费习惯，尤其对正处于社会重大变革时期的中国来说显得尤为重要。

关键词： 消费主义，美国社会，价值观，经济，环境

1.    Introduction
  When referring to American people’s life, we may easily recall what is displayed in American TV series: on one block, most of the houses are bought with loans. In the morning, husbands drive their car to their work places and children grab a bite and hurry to their school bus, leaving the housewives alone at home. Then everything calms down and housewives drive their cars, which were bought with loans, to supermarkets or department stores. After a long time of purchase, they pay their bill with credit cards. Back home, these housewives would get together and talk leisurely over a cup of coffee or browse a fashion magazine. In our Chinese people’s mind, the economy of America is grounded on consumption rather than savings. We might think it silly to travel or buy luxuries with borrowed money while the Americans regard it as a very common thing. From the everyday increasing bills to the overdrawn credit cards, from the ever-growing department stores to the expanding factories, all this tells how the Americans are addicted to purchase. In this sense, American culture is characterized by consumerism. Since 1920s, the American society has entered an age of consumption as a result of several intertwined factors. In such an age, goods are not only used for physical purposes but also for mental purposes. People’s social status and identities are realized through purchase. Such a new trend brings great changes to American economy, social life, values as well as natural environment. On the whole, such a cultural trend brings more harm than benefits to the overall development of the American society.