Sociology 101: Study Circle Review on Consumerism, Liberty, and Class

This Sociology 101 study circle review delves into the concepts of consumerism and liberty, examining James Kunstler's arguments about car culture and its impact on society. The review identifies key ideas such as the perceived liberation offered by cars, the price of independence, and the inequalities perpetuated by car ownership. It reflects on personal experiences related to consumer needs and connects the reading to sociological concepts from the Practical Skeptic Textbook, particularly focusing on how individual needs and priorities shape consumer behavior and contribute to social stratification. The assignment highlights the importance of understanding consumer psychology and the influence of societal factors on individual choices, providing a comprehensive analysis of the assigned readings.

STUDY CIRCLE REVIEW FORM
Sociology 101
Name: ___________________________ Week#_________ Assigned Readings: __________________________________________
* Fill out and bring form with you to class.
1. Briefly describe three main ideas the author wants you to know (“What is the author trying to convince me to believe?)
a. The concept of liberty as per the preferences and needs of the people (more specifically the consumers)
b. The independent culture that is trending in the world assists that there is a price to be paid for the liberty
c. The conditions that are faced by the customers without the utilization of a car of their choice
2. Write your reactions to 5 ideas that you think are significant from the reading (“What are my thoughts about the author’s ideas?”)
What I read (quote, pg.#,
paragraph)
My reaction to the passage is…
James Kunstler, author
of Geography of
Nowhere, claims that the
car promises “Liberation
from the daily bondage
of place” (76,2)
I believe that the concept of liberation has helped in identifying the needs of the consumers and the manner in which the
consumers perceive liberty.
As one young woman
declared just weeks after
getting her license, “You
feel kind of liberated”
(75,3)
I believe that the concept of liberation as per the consumers is based on the lifestyle beyond any social bondages and the
manner in which the person can undertake activities in support of the person’s likeness
The all important
I understood that the proper functioning of the systems of the business is dependent on the identification of the specific needs
of the people living in the society and the manner in which they agrees to pay the price of the proper functioning of the

independence, so valued
by the youth is as much a
symptom as it is a cause
of splintering
communities… (78,4)
systems of the operations.
In many ways, car
ownership patterns
parallels the much
lamented “ digital
divide” since they
reproduce the very class
inequalities they reflect,
revealing and amplifying
the fault lines between
the “haves” and the
“Have nots” (82,4)
I identified that the different aspects of the consumer behavior and buying patterns are based on the identification of the
different relevant psychological concepts of belongingness, which is related to what they actually have and what they are
desiring to get. the difference between the two constrains helps in the identification of the different concepts of the change in
the systems of marketing.
A small number of kids
enjoy the freedom and
mobility that comes with
a car, no strings
attached. (85,1)
The context has helped me in identifying that there are less number of kids who gets the privilege of owning a car and thereby
the proper functioning of the systems of the management are based on the liberty and independence that they enjoy through
the utilization of the privileges.
3. Discuss how this article connects to something you have experienced in your own life (What does this article have to do with me?)
The article has helped me in identifying the manner in which the consumer behavior is based on the needs and the preferences of the
people, which seems to differ ass per the priorities. The priorities for the product that is set by the consumers helps in the
identification of the more needed commodities and the manner in which they can gain more utility through the implementation of the

processes. The different responses that are gathered as a part of the report has helped me in identifying the different needs of the
customers as per the priorities. I could relate to my needs of a car when I passed high school due to the long distance I was required
to cover for getting to the university. The priority was set as per the needs I felt when I had to travel long weary roads to my
university.
4. How does this article relate to what you read in the Practical Skeptic Textbook this week? (Include at least one Soc. Concept)
The sociological concept that could be related to the study was based on the identification of the needs of the people based on the different
needs of the same while choosing from among the different alternatives that were made available to them. The concept of the identification of
the needs of the people and the manner in which they can be anticipated has helped me in understanding the different manner in which th
demand can be analyzed. The study has also helped me in identifying the different types of priorities as per the circumstances that are faced
by the people.