Séré de Lanauze, Gilles
Understanding the image of the responsible consumer: From the ideal person to negative stereotype
- 2018.
64
As a result of the environmental challenges of the beginning of the twenty-first century, the responsible consumer is now presented as an “ideal model” and the study of their profile, practices, and motivations is a new marketing research trend. Yet previous studies have highlighted numerous contradictions between generally positive attitudes toward responsible consumption and actual consumer behaviors. Based on a qualitative approach, this study aims to understand those contradictions through a comprehensive in-depth analysis of thirty-five interviews. Four stereotypes, namely “fundamentalist,” “hermit,” “killjoy,” and “snob” help us to understand the negative perceptions associated with the responsible consumer that are subsequently discussed.