Why Did I Buy That? The psychology of consumerism
Have you ever wondered why you keep buying things you don't truly need? Or why your consumer choices feel so tied to who you are?
Date & time
20 October 2026 | 19.00-20.30
Event format
Attend event in person
Event type
Talk / panel debate
Event topic
Business, finance & economics
Audience
Adults
Academic discipline
Economics management and business studies, Psychology
Venue
Sheffield Tap, Sheffield Station, 1b Sheaf Street, Sheffield S1 2BP
What's on offer?
Informal talk and discussion in a pub, exploring comsumerism
What's it about?
In this revelatory talk, Dr David Yates from the Management School looks at the psychological and structural forces that influence our shopping habits. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory and the concepts of desire, identity, ideology and the unconscious, Dr Yates explores the drivers of consumerism and the adaptability and persistence of neoliberal capitalism.
Come on down to the Sheffield Tap for a drink and discover why consumerism remains so resilient, how it shapes our everyday choices, and what it really means to be a consumer in today's world. Expect a lively discussion!
Who's leading the event?
Dr David Yates, Senior Lecturer in Accounting
Open to
Open to all
Of particular interest to
Anyone who has ever question their spending and shopping habits
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