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Conspicuous Consumption Tendency Scale3

Conspicuous Consumption Tendency Scale Test

Completed in about six minutes, the Conspicuous Consumption Tendency Scale Test contains 30 questions about possessions, appearance, fashion, status, creativity, and attention. Results outline patterns behind consumption choices, helping you reflect on how purchases may express individuality, social standing, or a wish to be noticed.

Questions: 306 minutes

Conspicuous Consumption Tendency Scale: situation and reply bubbles

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

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2,340 completions

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Daniel Hall Psychologist · Test reviewer

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Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

ReleaseR

Measures the extent to which a person seeks pleasure and visibility through owning unique or luxury items and related attention-drawing behavior.

example score2/6

2/6Lowexample score

0 – 2Low

3 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 2 indicates a low tendency toward hedonic, attention-linked consumption, with limited reliance on unique or luxury items for visibility or pleasure.

PerfectionismP

Measures the tendency to prefer only top-tier, high-quality items as a way to signal exceptionally high standards through consumption.

example score2/5

2/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 2 indicates a moderate preference for higher-quality items, with occasional emphasis on “the best” as part of self-presentation.

Escape From PovertyEFP

Measures the tendency to use spending and visible purchases to signal financial security and distance oneself from associations with poverty.

example score3/5

3/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to make image-focused purchases to appear financially secure and avoid being perceived as poor.

Self-AffirmationSA

Measures the extent to which purchases are used to stand out and bolster self-confidence by displaying noticeable items.

example score2/5

2/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 2 indicates a moderate tendency to use visible purchases for self-assertion, typically appearing in certain contexts rather than consistently.

FashionF

Measures how strongly a person signals status or self-expression by keeping up with fashion trends and choosing trend-forward items.

example score2/5

2/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 2 suggests a moderate tendency to use fashion trends for demonstrative consumption, with occasional attention to new arrivals without making trend-following a main purchase driver.

PrestigeP

Measures how strongly a person prioritizes expensive, exclusive purchases as a way to signal and confirm social status.

example score3/5

3/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate prestige-oriented style, where exclusivity and higher price can influence choices but are not the sole drivers of value.

CreativityC

Measures the extent to which a person uses purchases to express creativity and a unique personal style.

example score3/5

3/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to use consumption for creative self-expression, showing originality in some choices without it being a dominant motive.

IndividualityI

Measures how strongly a person uses unusual or exclusive purchases to signal uniqueness and stand out.

example score3/5

3/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to choose distinctive items at times to express individuality and be noticed, without it being a dominant motive.

Status SignalingSS

Measures how strongly a person uses purchases and style choices to signal social status and group affiliation.

example score2/5

2/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 2 indicates a moderate tendency to consider status signaling in purchases, typically in selective situations rather than as a primary motive.

Histrionic TraitsHT

Measures how strongly a person uses bright or extravagant purchases to attract attention and elicit feedback from others.

example score2/5

2/5Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 3Moderate

4 – 5High

A score of 2 suggests a moderate tendency to sometimes choose attention-grabbing items, but this is not a dominant motive in most purchases.

Conspicuousness in ConsumptionCiC

Measures how strongly a person uses purchases and product use to signal status, attract attention, or express identity.

example score14/60

14/60Low demonstrativenessexample score

0 – 19Low demonstrativeness

20 – 40Moderate demonstrativeness

41 – 60Excessive demonstrativeness

A score of 14 falls in the low demonstrativeness range, suggesting purchases are generally driven more by practical needs than by signaling status or seeking attention.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Marketing and consumer researchers

41%OF USERS

They use it to segment audiences and understand how status and self-expression drive purchasing decisions.

Financial and behavior counselors

34%OF USERS

They take it to spot showy spending patterns and tailor guidance for healthier money habits.

Status-driven shoppers

25%OF USERS

They take it out of curiosity to see whether their purchases are motivated by attention, image, or social standing.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

DischargeD

You?

Average3.9

Typical rangeTypical2.8 – 5

Possible0 – 6

PerfectionismP

You?

Average2.7

Typical rangeTypical1.9 – 3.4

Possible0 – 5

Escape from PovertyEfP

You?

Average1.4

Typical rangeTypical0.5 – 2.2

Possible0 – 5

Self-assertionS

You?

Average2.9

Typical rangeTypical2.1 – 3.7

Possible0 – 5

FashionF

You?

Average2.1

Typical rangeTypical1.5 – 2.7

Possible0 – 5

PrestigeP

You?

Average2.1

Typical rangeTypical1.3 – 2.9

Possible0 – 5

CreativityC

You?

Average2.9

Typical rangeTypical2.2 – 3.7

Possible0 – 5

IndividualityI

You?

Average1.5

Typical rangeTypical0.7 – 2.3

Possible0 – 5

StatusS

You?

Average2.4

Typical rangeTypical1.7 – 3.1

Possible0 – 5

HistrionicityH

You?

Average2.4

Typical rangeTypical1.6 – 3.3

Possible0 – 5

Degree of Demonstrativeness in ConsumptionDoDiC

You?

Average16.1

Typical rangeTypical7.9 – 24.3

Possible0 – 60

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Our possessions communicate information about us without words: clothing, accessories, writing supplies, gadgets, and so forth. Some individuals seek to attract attention through their possessions. This is conspicuous consumption. However, the motives and orientation of such consumption vary. This questionnaire is designed to identify the predominant types of conspicuous consumption and their levels. For each statement, select the response option that best fits from those provided.

- This is not at all characteristic of me
- In some situations, this is true
- Yes, this describes me exactly
- Not at all like me
- Sometimes true
- Completely true of me
- This is not like me at all
- In some cases this is true
- Yes, this describes me exactly

These are 3 of the 30 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Conspicuous Consumption Tendency Scale Test - Description and methodology of the test

consumption

For people who want to examine how appearance, possessions, and public presentation shape social impressions, the Conspicuous Consumption Tendency Scale Test offers a structured account of conspicuousness in consumption. Its conspicuous consumption profile is useful when considering personal style and social presentation. Pattern scores accompany an overall degree of demonstrativeness, so the result describes styles without treating motives as the sole construct.

What This Assessment Explores

The questionnaire examines conspicuous consumption dimensions through pattern scores and facets.

Nine pattern scales use Low 0-1, Moderate 2-3, and High 4-5:

Release (0-6; Low 0-2, Moderate 3-4, High 5-6) reflects pleasure in unique or luxury items attracting attention.
Perfectionism (0-5) reflects best-only standards; Escape From Poverty (0-5) reflects displaying prosperity to avoid poverty associations.
Self-Affirmation (0-5) reflects noticeable items compensating for insecurity or avoiding negative evaluation; Fashion (0-5) reflects current trends.
Prestige (0-5) reflects expensive status goods; Status Signaling (0-5) reflects goods signalling success or group membership.
Creativity (0-5) reflects original self-expression; Individuality (0-5) reflects unusual, distinctive choices.
Histrionic Traits (0-5) reflects extravagant attention-seeking; Conspicuousness in Consumption (0-60; Low demonstrativeness 0-19, Moderate demonstrativeness 20-40, Excessive demonstrativeness 41-60) summarizes demonstrativeness.

Methodology and Evidence Base

Each item offers three levels of self-description, from not characteristic to describing the respondent exactly. Statements cover appearance, shopping, brands, fashion, public settings, creativity, and reactions to attention, so the format records how strongly each statement fits rather than agreement or a yes-or-no choice.

In scoring, the conspicuous consumption questionnaire organizes responses into facet and overall scores. Each total is read against its displayed category, while the overall score summarizes demonstrativeness. These are questionnaire-specific bands, not clinical norms.

Conceptually, the questionnaire is consistent with Posypanova (2013), particularly the distinction between motives and forms of conspicuous consumption, and with Posypanova (2012). It also aligns with O’Cass and McEwen (2004), which treats status and conspicuous display as socially meaningful consumer behavior. The questionnaire is not an adaptation of either published instrument, and no standardization is documented.

Because answers are self-reported, current finances, mood, social setting, memory, and the wish to appear favorable can influence them. The profile is best read alongside actual behavior and personal circumstances rather than as a diagnosis.

Author: Russell W. Belk

Literature:

Posypanova, Olga Sergeevna. (2013). Features of Motivation of Conspicuous Consumption among Provincial Youth. Social Psychology and Society, 4(3), 116-129.
Posypanova, Olga Sergeevna. (2012). Economic Psychology: Psychological Aspects of Consumer Behavior. Monograph. Kaluga: Publishing House of Kaluga State University named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, 296 pp. Appendix 2, pp. 282-284.
O’Cass, Aron, and Hmily McEwen. (2004). Exploring Consumer Status and Conspicuous Consumption. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 4(1), 25-39. 10.1002/cb.155.

Updated: 2025-10-02