Lilian Leupold

Title of the PhD Thesis:
Consumer Dispositions and Work Orientations: An Analysis Among Business Professionals

My doctoral research examines the relationship between consumer and work-related dispositions within the business sector, focusing on how socio-economic background and early socialization shape these orientations. The aim is to explain how tensions between consumer dispositions  and professional orientations emerge and are navigated by individuals, particularly in relation to social mobility.

Preliminary findings suggest that these tensions either stabilize or destabilize career trajectories, depending on how individuals manage the overlap between consumption and work spheres. To explore these dynamics, I conduct semi-structured interviews, applying the Dokumentarische Methode to identify the underlying Orientierungsrahmen and Habitus that guide how individuals negotiate the boundaries between work and consumption. Further interviews will refine this analysis and provide additional insights into the socio-economic trajectories shaped by these tensions.

By analyzing the interplay between consumer values and work orientations, this study seeks to deepen our understanding of how consumption, beyond mere social distinction, intersects with professional life and impacts social mobility. The research contributes to unraveling the complex relationship between economic and cultural capital in shaping opportunities for social mobility.