Luxury Beliefs Are Status Symbols

Participants

• Rob Henderson, writer, psychologist, and faculty fellow, University of Austin
• Rod Dreher, Visiting Fellow, Director of Network Project at the Danube Institute
• Wael Taji Miller, Visiting Fellow, Danube Institute, PhD Candidate in Behavioral Neuroscience, Semmelweis University
• Eric Hendriks, Visiting Fellow, Danube Institute

Description

Mr Henderson will speak about ‘Luxury Beliefs’, a phrase he coined a few years ago that has enjoyed widespread use among opinion formers throughout the English-speaking world. 

The idea derives from Thorsten Veblen’s observation that the affluent consumed and displayed luxury products as costly status symbols to demonstrate their economic capital and social rank.

However, economic capital is often converted into cultural capital, in which the struggle for distinction is expressed by opinions, knowledge, vocabulary, tastes, and habits.

He will share empirical research and theory from sociology, economics, and psychology, to suggest a novel approach to understanding social status: luxury beliefs, defined as ideas and opinions that confer status on the affluent, while often inflicting costs on the less fortunate.

Date: 12 May 2023, 5.30 p.m.

Venue: Lónyay-Hatvany Villa - 1. Csónak str., 1015 Budapest

Participation in the event is free, but registration is required, which can be done by email at events@danubeinstitute.hu or by clicking on the R.S.V.P. button.