This book approaches consumer psychology from a unique perspective, covering the entire lifespan, from birth to old age. Childhood and youth are not discussed as areas that are special, different or remote from the rest of consumer research but are integrated into our development as humans. Consumption is viewed as a process by groups and individuals, with the cycle continuing through to disposal or ownership and possession. The author discusses how stages in the natural lifespan influences relationships with the things we own, how preferences are developed from childhood and how motivations for purchases change from childhood to old age. This book brings together the most recent findings and theories on child and youth consumption, including children's understandings of advertising and marketing, and teen and youth identities and consumption tastes. Moving through Erikson's life stages, chapters explore adulthood, the mid-life 'crisis' and possessions and ownership in older consumers. This interdisciplinary work will be of interest to scholars across the fields of psychology, business and marketing, as well as to the more general consumer--back cover.;1. Definitions and Visions of Consumption -- 2. Concepts and Themes -- 3. How Consumers' Minds Work: An Introduction to the Basics -- 4. How We Process Information: A Look at Embodied Cognition and Priming -- 5. One Mind or Two? An Introduction to Dual Process Theories -- 6. Development Through the Lifespan: Is It a Viable Approach? -- 7. Erikson's Stages of Life: Can We Bridge the Gap? -- 8. Childhood and Younger Children: The Gaze from Developmental Psychology -- 9. The Older Child: Becoming a Serious Consumer -- 10. Children, Ownership and Possessions: The Origins -- 11. Ownership and Possessions: The Adult Perspective and into the Future -- 12. And Now the End Is Near... -- Index.