Sociological Analysis of Consumption Patterns Among People of Tehran

The economic needs of contemporary social formation had changed from production to consumption. This transformation, in addition to cultural turn in sociology and circulation of interest in symbolic processes of social action led to change the consumption into one of the most focal subject matter in contemporary sociology. Current research had been done to identify consumption patterns among resident of Tehran and study the effective factors on these patterns. In the theoretical section along with adoption a macro level and studying historical perspectives, the micro level theories which are based on individual actor’s behaviors and practices, had been studied, too. Methodologically, this is a survey research in which multistage cluster sampling had been used for selection of samples. The data have been collected through questionnaire among 410 citizens of Tehran between ages of 15 to 45. The findings of research are indicative of class distribution of consumption patterns and corresponding of these patterns to individual’s position in social hierarchy. So, it seems that we cannot speak of studying the stratification and social distinctions based on consumption and lifestyle instead of structural and class processes. Because consumption patterns and lifestyles are themselves the manifestations of class position.