Analysis of Conspicuous and Symbolic Consumption of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University Faculty of Financial Sciences Students

Veblen describes conspicuous consumption as an effort by individuals to demonstrate their membership in a higher social class. This phenomenon can essentially be defined as an attempt to exaggerate the goods they possess. Individuals showcase their purchasing power through the goods they own, thereby creating the impression that they belong to a wealthier class than others. Symbolic consumption emerges as a distinct form of consumption that reflects identity. It involves the presentation, protection, and acquisition of an identity that has been maintained throughout existence. Individuals, especially young people, can more readily express their conspicuous and symbolic consumption through social media, often altering their consumption patterns to align with those of different social classes. Consumption driven by these motives acts as a mechanism that stimulates one another and continues to escalate. The objective of this article is to examine the recent criticisms of the liberal system's consumption frenzy through an analysis of consumption. Consequently, the attitudes of the young population toward conspicuous and symbolic consumption were analyzed in the article. The scales utilized were adapted to Turkish in 2022 and were employed in a research study for the first time in their adapted form. The analysis revealed differences in students' consumption tendencies based on department, gender, class, and income.