Consumerism is defined as “the theory that increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable” (“consumerism”). Its main motivation is the idea that if one does not have everything that money can buy, then one cannot be happy. This school of thought has become an integral part of modern society, not only in the United States, but also internationally. Although the exact source of this term and ideology is debatable, it is now certain that consumerism is here to stay, intertwined with every aspect of American culture.1. OriginsAccording to Alyson Dickerman of Ouachita Baptist University, consumerism "is as old as the first civilizations." People have purchased goods and materials beyond their basic needs since the days of ancient Rome. However, a big boom occurred during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, producing new products that citizens sought to obtain. New methods of mass production have overtaken factories, increasing efficiency and output while simultaneously reducing manufacturing costs. Lower prices and higher availability meant that almost anyone could buy these items, like the Model T automobile and Henry Ford's refrigerators. The era of consumerism had begun. One of the first major developments that spread consumerism to the masses was the "Buy Now, Pay Later" concept introduced by the General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) in 1919 for the purpose of providing loans to individuals. wishing to purchase automobiles. This credit system was quickly adopted by many other businesses and became the standard for economic transactions ("History of American Consumerism"). When General Motors began introducing annual models of its cars, the so-called "Keep up with the Joneses" mentality took over...... middle of paper ......p with the Kardashians", or all another rich and famous idol that consumers attach themselves to. What's worse is that it's not just adults who have to deal with advertising, but now companies are spending more than 17 billion. dollars per year just for marketing to children (“Kids and Commercialism”) In 2004, children watched an average of 25,600 television commercials, a total of 7.4 days. one of the countries that spends the most on unnecessary products in the world, and statistics show that this is not expected to change Consumerism is not always a negative problem However, when a person's identity revolves around. 'material objects and is constantly torn between what to buy next, there is a serious problem. Many movements are taking steps to raise awareness about consumerism, but as things stand, Americans must confront the culture we inherited: consumer culture..