Which phrase refers to the origins or social roots of consumerism?

• A. Consumerism
• B. Target market
• C. Social roots of consumerism
• D. Style (fashion) obsolescence

Answer: (C)

The origins or social roots of consumerism are about how broader social forces shape why people buy and how a culture comes to value consumption. The phrase that matches this idea directly is the one that names those origins in society: “Social roots of consumerism.” It signals that consumer behavior is driven by factors like advertising, media influence, credit systems, social status, and cultural norms, not just individual choice.

Think of consumerism as the outcome of a web of social forces. The general term for the phenomenon—consumerism—describes what happens, but not where it comes from. A target market is about identifying who you’re selling to, not why people end up buying in the first place. Style obsolescence describes how fashion cycles push people to replace items, which is a mechanism within consumerism, not its origins.