This document provides an introduction to consumer behavior by defining it, outlining perspectives and processes, and discussing why marketers study it. Consumer behavior refers to how individuals make decisions to purchase, use, and dispose of products to satisfy needs. It involves pre-purchase issues like attitude formation, purchase issues like situational factors, and post-purchase issues like satisfaction. Marketers study consumer behavior to understand target markets, effective communication strategies, and how to retain customers. The development of marketing philosophies over time has led to greater recognition of consumer behavior as a discipline.