Marketing has influenced consumer behavior of families by changing perceptions of what is normal and necessary to own. Popular media exposes people to new products, creating a sense that they must be purchased. This can make it difficult for families to budget as children may feel deprived if they lack items owned by others. Common marketing targets include children to influence parents' purchasing, though some argue this is unethical. The document also provides questions for a proposed study by Walt Disney on how families make vacation decisions, including which family members to interview and how to assess each member's influence.

1. Femily decision making – marketing consumer behavior
PART 1:Since popular media (i.e.TV in the 1950’s, internet/digital/social media now) has
become more accessible, it has changed the way people view what is normal and what
people “need” to have. For example, many times we don’t know something exists until we
see it on TV or the internet, and suddenly we HAVE to have it. A young kid thinks they are
poor because EVERYONE else has certain shoes, phones, etc.1. How do you feel marketing
has influenced the consumer behavior of families? Is this making it harder for families to
keep their heads above water?2. What are a few product examples that are associated with
the poor, the working class, and the rich?3. Do you feel it is ethical for marketers to target
children so they influence their parents to buy products – why or why not?PART 2:You have
been retained by the Walt Disney Company as a marketing consultant to design a study
investigating how families make vacation decisions.1. Among the family members, whom
would you interview? What kind of questions would you ask?2. How would you assess the
relative power of each family member in making vacation-related decisions?PS: Consider
the material attached in Power Point on “family decision making” in your answer.