What is LIFESTYLE? By its very definition, a lifestyle is the attitudes, interests, behaviors, and personal orientations of a person, group, or society. The word was first introduced by Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler in his popular book, The Case of Miss R. with the implied meaning of “a young person’s basic personality as established at a very young age”. In more recent years, LIFESTYLE has evolved to include elements from other areas of psychology and sociological study.
The LIFESTYLE framework can be seen in a multitude of places. In the field of research, many scholars have applied it to issues of family structure and child rearing. Adorno’s model is especially useful for those who wish to examine the effects of socialization on the formation of values and behaviors. For example, a parent whose values and beliefs are derived from a conservative culture may find herself unable to understand or even accept the desires and behaviors of her own children, even when these desires and behaviors are quite contrary to her core values. The framework allows one to see how contradictory impulses can lead to conflict within a family.
In addition, the LIFESTYLE framework is useful in understanding human interaction in the mass media. Adorno’s theory of mass media, which maintains that entertainment and advertising activities shape societal perceptions, can also shed light on the manner in which a person relates to their own lifestyle, as well as other people’s lifestyles. In particular, it can shed light on the ways in which a person creates and maintains relationships with others. The theory goes beyond just personal experiences and ideas about how people choose to live their lives, but goes deep into the realm of cultural values and beliefs. For instance, a vegan lifestyle might be the result of a person’s strong opposition to animal exploitation in the media, but they might also have strong beliefs about gender roles and the proper place of women in society. As Adorno further explains, there are two essential elements in modern life – the ‘totalizing’ elements of capitalism and the ‘deconstructive’ elements of socialism.
By examining LIFESTYLE and its influence on the way we think, talk and act, it becomes possible to appreciate how some lifestyles might appear to be contradictory to one’s overall principles and values, yet that very paradoxically serves to further the work of demonstrating the importance of the LIFESTYLE to a particular culture. Through this lens, it becomes possible to appreciate that the way a person acts, thinks and believes can actually contradict his or her overall LIFESTYLE principles and values. This insight is particularly important in the context of the many controversial lifestyle choices currently dominating much of the Western world.
One can say that the LIFESTYLE is most definitely a minimalist lifestyle in the truest sense of the word. Some would say that the LIFESTYLE is nothing more than a generic description of the lifestyle, and that people who practice it do not have a defined set of actions and behaviors. However, while this may be true in some regards, it also seems to suggest that a minimalist lifestyle can also be a highly individualistic one, as it suggests that a person who practices LIFESTYLE can choose to live a life that contradicts his general moral and ethical principles.
In sum, while many lifestyle bloggers choose to blog about their own personal experiences and thoughts, they also tend to speak about the larger aspects of life in the context of their own minimalist lifestyle. In this way, they draw upon and build upon the ideas and insights of other lifestyle bloggers, as well as use their unique perspectives as a medium for them to express their opinions and feelings. In essence, this works as an effective way of building upon one’s general outlook on life and creating a unique, yet uniquely true voice and vision.