Ch. Noble et Ba. Walker, EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG LIMINAL TRANSITIONS, SYMBOLIC CONSUMPTION, AND THE EXTENDED SELF, Psychology & marketing, 14(1), 1997, pp. 29-47
Integrating Belk's (1988) notion of the ''extended self'' with van Gen
nep's (1960) framework of ''liminal transitions,'' a model of symbolic
consumption activities and psychological phenomena that occur during
major life transitions is developed. In an initial investigation, the
transition from high school to college is used to explore the nature o
f the liminal experience, the role that symbolic consumption assumes i
n the process, and the effects of both on consumers' psychological sta
tes. The results suggest that certain negative psychological consequen
ces are indicative of existence in a liminal state. Further, consumers
in transition appear to rely on possessions that symbolize the past,
as well as those that represent the new role, to help facilitate a maj
or life transition. Directions for future research are offered. (C) 19
97 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.