Treadmill Of Consumption Analysis

SOCS 325 – Environmental Sociology
DeVry University Online

Week 3 Written Action Assignment

Interlocking Treadmills of Production and Consumption to Schoolwork and the Pressure to Get a Degree and an Advanced Degree

September 18, 2014

School work and the pressure of getting a degree and an advanced degree

Introduction For this assignment about applying theories I have chosen the theory of the interlocking treadmills of production and consumption to school work and the pressure to get a degree. In today’s economy I know personally that education is key attribute to a person’s success. Having the training, tools and education will be beneficial to someone’s success. One’s personal goal that portrays a successful individual
in an organization needs to follow certain guidelines. I often imply that a person needs to have an ethically sound foundation which is treating each other fairly and honestly. It is often that the treadmill of success and opportunities comes from the basic foundations of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Maslow argues that some needs have to be satisfied before we will direct our efforts toward others and that these are therefore the most basic rules. Bell, M. (2009)

Case Summary In this instance the treadmill of consumption refers to the consumption of earning an additional degree or which it is called the material goods.
Bell, M (2009) In this case would be a diploma, educational training then a degree or an advanced degree. Individuals think they will become happier just by acquiring more degrees or a better paying career opportunity. Today’s expenditures are past everyone’s means of living and no one is ever satisfied with what they have. Under the treadmill of consumption people become very complacent in their jobs or careers and they become stagnant at what they are trying to achieve. They become competitive as well as greedy and have the need to over consume in order to feel happier. Studies have shown that self-preservation is beneficial to longevity to opportunities. It is not always the fact that getting a degree will make a person change or at least seek employment elsewhere. It is the self-esteem issue from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs that a person indirectly needs. People want respect from others, self-confidence to deal with others and feel like they achieved a goal. As people accrue more and more material goods (degrees) they usually become happier and content but also would rather raise the bar for a better life through their consumption. It is often happiness is not achieved just because the treadmill has put you in that circumstance. One day they will realize that all their means have been satisfied and happiness has still not been attained. Moreover consumption has increased domestically due to the growing industries and population. The treadmill of consumption has lead companies to respond to a higher standard and consumer demand. This is because more consumer goods are being produced and companies are recognizing that better pay comes along with better education. This has helped companies become more profitable by keeping the materials plentiful for the needful consumers. Subsequently the environment has
suffered in many ways because more and more resources are being obtained from the earth in order to keep up with the consumer output. This is especially true in the energy industry because more energy requires more natural resources which are not infinite. This theory of the treadmill scenario is that we strive for the higher education or degree because of the higher standards and demands of our economy. Personally I have noticed companies today seek individuals who have obtained a higher education in order to be considered for employment. Recently in the past people may have not felt the pressure for the need to obtain a higher education because it was easier finding employment unlike in today’s influential job market. Again it is often individuals that are never content or pleased of where we are today and keep looking on how to become better than our peers. We feel that we need to push ourselves to our higher limits by over consuming in loans and evaluating our own personal time to challenge ourselves just keep up with the ever turning evolution of education and growing job market challenges. This can have an emotional and psychological effect on a person because of the issues of paying bills and supporting our families. This is considered a higher demand when we challenge ourselves to raise the bar of excellence in order to gain happiness and to live in a motivated world. A majority of people are always looking to be in that higher pay bracket and or just to be content at their current job. Students go back to school as I am because in today’s economic environment you need the basics as companies standards have been raised for job applicants. I came to realize that a higher education was critical and I would not have any chance without at least a bachelor’s degree. Many students go even further and they are inspirations to me as well as others.

Analysis and Conclusion

In conclusion people over extend themselves with more than they need and more than they can perceive to handle. During the theory of the treadmill process people relate to the more compensation, better opportunities and materialistic goods in correlation to a higher education or higher paying career they have. It is often incurred that someone with a higher education will be paid more but this is not always the matter. However it is proven that education pays it forward in whatever field you may choose. One thing you can never take away is a higher education as it has been an overall benefit to have.

References Cited

Bell, M. (2009) an Invitation to Environmental Sociology, Third Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Pine Forge Press Chapter #2 PG37

Bell, M. (2009) an Invitation to Environmental Sociology, Third Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Pine Forge Press Chapter #2 PG53