Gutsalyuk, M.А. The Decline of the Institution of the Family in the Consumer Society: is it the Beginning of Difficulties or the Apogee of Disaster?
The author examines the historical prerequisites for the emergence of a consumer society and mass culture. The degree of formation of a consumer society in Russia is analyzed, namely: a comparison of the salary expectations of Russians and their real incomes, as well as their debt burden, is carried out. The author also identifies the main features of the consumer society in Russia: brand orientation, demonstrativeness, rational and irrational character, shifting gender roles, caring about appearance and being lost in information, with subsequent comparison of these features with trends in the Russian family. The main conclusion of the study is that the social norms on which the family was based earlier are moving to the ways of market relations. The influence of the consumer society is gradually destroying the institution of the family, which leads to chronic bodily ailments, stress disorders, an increase in the level of aggression and depression.