The paradigm theory of lifestyle: A theoretical study

Authors : Abdullah Kurshid Abdullah, Shahlaa Wali Jabbar

Pages : 577-591

Doi:10.21600/ijoks.454573

View : 17 | Download : 13

Publication Date : 2018-08-25

Article Type : Research

Abstract :This paper tries to investigate the paradigm theories of lifestyle. Most researchers in the last two centuries argue that the concept of the lifestyle has replaced the concept of the social class; their evidence is that the ability of the vertical class to analyze behavior, values and perspective is less than lifestyle of individuals. That doesn’t mean that classes are erased, but it makes question the ability of analysis in this concept, and their proof of that is the existence of some links between the individuals and their difference social status, we can no longer have a true picture of our social reality through the social class. In such a circumstance, the concept of lifestyle is structure, because unlike the class concept it doesn’t define the logic and the concept of lifestyle. Rather, this concept shows some activities, gains (income) which interact with each other and enable the social researcher to manifest its forms. The concept of lifestyle is not a substitute for the concept of class, but it pares the way for social sciences to conduct research on the experiences of daily life and how individuals consume and invest, and that identity derived from the experience as well as conducting research on the characteristics of the individual and group. Through this concept, social researches are able to observe the creative role of characters better than before and avoid the use of concept of social status and class, which has scattered meanings.
Keywords : Lifestyle, Social Class, Social Status, Consumption, Social Identity