What is the Experiential Society and how it is changing the world

What is a Experiential Society

This is a society where people buyA. WITH. Suvalko. Emotional Capitalism: The Commercialization of Feelings things not to demonstrate their status or solve some problem, but to get emotions. For example, people buy an SUV not for convenience or an expensive brand, but because they enjoy driving a big car.

If in consumer society it is more important to show others prosperity and success, then in a society of experiences it is much more valuable to live to the fullest. As a result, people strive to receive vivid emotions and begin to focus more on themselves and their views, rather than other people's standards.

Experiential Society occurs when people have satisfied their basic needs and are able to think about more complex and personal desires. Therefore, it is distributed unevenly and depends on the quality of life in a particular country. So, in the developed world, the society of experiences appeared at the end of the 20th century, while in Russia it was just beginning to take shape.

Is it better than the consumer society

A society of consumption and experiences are natural stages in the development of mankind, which do not exclude each other. Although the first took shape before the second, both continue D. Payne, D. X. Gilmour. Economy of impressions. Work is theater, and every business is a stage develop and, most likely, one will not be able to completely replace the other.

On the one hand, the Experiential Society got rid of some of the shortcomings of its predecessor. For example, in the behavior of people has become less demonstrativeness. It is no longer so important to look “expensive”, and an interesting and eventful life becomes more important than a career, wealth or status.

On the other hand, excessive consumption itself, as well as all its inherent disadvantages, such as harm to nature or social inequality, have not gone away. For example, if earlier a cool car was needed for status, now it is to “get emotions from driving”.

Therefore, one should not think that the society of experiences is worse or better than the society of consumption - it is simply different.

How the Experiential Society is Changing the World

It makes life brighter, but also creates new problems.

People don't buy things, they buy emotions

Members of the Experiential Society usually have no shortage of material goods. In fact, they can afford everything. There is a coffee machine for coffee, a trendy training uniform for sports, a subscription to a streaming service for music and dance.

A coffee machine is unlikely to do its job much worse than a barista, exercises with dumbbells are as effective as exercises on a simulator, and you can dance perfectly at home. But the apartment does not have the atmosphere of a cafe, personal trainer or club fun. People want experiences and they go after them.Kolody N. A. Culture as a resource for the economy of sensations / Bulletin of the Tomsk State University. Philosophy. Sociology. Political science to a fitness center, coffee shop, nightclub, museum, festival, concert, marathon run etc. The price or quality is not as important as the experience received.

Companies and corporations seek to sell experiences

Companies are also adapting to the new world. Just creating a quality product is no longer enoughA. WITH. Suvalko. Emotional Capitalism: The Commercialization of Feelings - it is necessary to interest the buyer, to evoke pleasant emotions in him. This is how the experience economy is born.

Advertising does not sell products, but images and sensory experiences. For example, a happy family enjoying their favorite melted cheese. Or a confident businessman in a fancy car. In pursuit of customers, companies are trying toKolody N. A. Culture as a resource for the economy of sensations / Bulletin of the Tomsk State University. Philosophy. Sociology. Political science meet their values ​​and interests. For example, they speak out on social issues, support charitable initiatives, create products that do not contain animal ingredients. Everything to meet the expectations and desires of the consumer.

New problems and new opportunities for self-realization appear

If in a consumer society there are trends, images of success and stereotypes, then in a society of experiences people have to focus only on themselves. Therefore, it is much more difficult for themA. WITH. Suvalko. Emotional Capitalism: The Commercialization of Feelings understand what they want and whether they got what they wanted.

This problem opens up a new niche for influencer leaders opinions. Writers, journalists, critics, columnists and bloggers become a kind of "curators" who explain to us our own experiences. Such people share advice on the Internet, create courses on mindfulness, write books on psychology.

How to organically fit into the society of experiences

You don't need to sign up anymore. In contrast to the consumer society, where status played a significant role, in the experience society people attach less and less importance to the opinions of others. Now it is important to find yourself, and not to adapt to the requirements created by someone. That is, live the way you want.

For example, leaving a job you hate to dedicate yourself to protecting wildlife. Or stop saving for a new car and start going to concerts and festivals to get the emotions of a lifetime.