1. the purchase and consumption of goods and services in amounts that exceed basic needs. Consumerism is often tied to the socioeconomic behavior of conspicuous consumption, whereby individuals acquire and display expensive goods as a means of obtaining or maintaining social status. See also ethical consumerism.

2. a movement to protect the rights of the consumer with regard to the quality and safety of available products and services (including psychotherapeutic and medical care). Consumers of mental health care have a number of clearly defined rights, including the right to know, to confidentiality, to choice, to determination of treatment, to nondiscrimination, to treatment review, and to accountability of treating professionals. Also called consumer activism. —consumerist adj.