October 6th, 2023, 12:00 – 1:30 PM (on Zoom)
Et Tu, Brute? Unraveling The Puzzle of Deception and Broken Trust in Close Relationships
Kent Grayson, Northwestern University
In this presentation, Kent will discuss a theoretical article he recently co-authored (with David Shulman) on deception in close relationships. The article provides a constructively critical perspective on two sociological theories: embeddedness theory and relational work theory. During the presentation, Kent will introduce and summarize these two theories, and will run through his article’s main points. He is also hoping to brainstorm with those attending about how (or if) any of the article’s ideas could be applied in more of a consumer-behavior context.
December 1st, 2023, 12:00 – 1:30 PM
The Cultural Negotiation of Practice Categories: The Case of Self-Care Rituals
Ela Veresiu, York University
Certain practice categories have clearly defined cultural scripts that specify their associated network of culturally accepted consumption practices. What happens when consumers have multiple, competing cultural scripts available to choose from when engaging with a practice category? An analysis of self-care consumption reveals that consumers’ choice of self-care practices is market-mediated and influenced by four competing cultural scripts: the hygienic, productive, holistic, and indulgent. These self-care consumption scripts often conflict, and based on the diverse social roles consumer take on, create tensions between the enacted and culturally scripted self. To counter these tensions and protect themselves from external judgement, consumers either denounce the personal self-care rituals of others, position their personal self-care rituals in relation to the others, or integrate the personal self-care rituals of others into their own. Each of these options may influence whether particular self-care consumption practices are considered within the boundaries of a practice category. These findings advance work on consumption practices and rituals by specifying how consumers negotiate the boundaries of market-mediated practice categories when competing cultural scripts exist.
This project is with Rachel Hochstein and Colleen Harmeling
Ela was selected as our annual “fly-in” speaker–someone who does not live within driving distance of Chicago and whose travel expenses are paid by our generous sponsors. As is true every year, nominations and voting for the “fly in” speaker were open to everyone on the C4 mailing list. Thanks to all who participated!
October 6th, 2023, 12:00 – 1:30 PM (on Zoom)
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