Exceptions? Confessions, Concession, Compromise, and Conflict

This chapter is an exploration of the occasions on which subjects were unwilling or unable to engage in ethical consumption. Included is a discussion of the oft-repeated occurrences during which interviewees would begin with a detailed confession of all of their ethical consumption transgressions. There is also an exploration of what this phenomenon reveals and what patterns can be extrapolated. Next is an overview those areas in which respondents noted a sense of inner conflict about a particular issue or consumer good and those times they either abandoned or ignored the ethical consumption “rules” they had set for themselves. These instances are often related to unexpected or extraordinary circumstances faced by the respondent, like having an unforeseen need, encountering unanticipated reduced resources (like time or money), or feeling compelled to accommodate the needs of others. This includes a discussion of those areas identified as not being considered part of their ethical consumption, as well. The findings include instances of role conflict and role strain and how respondents handle these situations. There is also an investigation into the ways interview subjects employ compromise, often in an effort to maintain a sense of personal integrity, while balancing this with the demands of their lives.