Affective and Symbolic Aspects of Car Use

Abstract

Cars are attractive not only because of their instrumental advantages such as flexibility, cost and speed, but also because the car can influence mood (e.g., is thrilling, exciting and relaxing) and because it can provide an important social symbol to express status and power. This chapter gives an overview of the limited empirical research that examines the affective and symbolic aspects of car possession and use. Most of its exploratory research is not theory driven and the chapter hopes to provide more insight into definitions and operationalizations of the relevant concepts, which may aid future research and theory development.