MKT-260: Consumer Behavior

Study how psychological, social, and cultural factors influence customer choices in this Consumer Behavior course. Learn to apply consumer insights to segmentation, targeting, positioning, and marketing strategy.

Course Description

The Consumer Behavior course explores how psychological, social, cultural, and personal factors shape the way individuals make purchasing decisions. Using Consumer Behavior, 8th Edition by Wayne D. Hoyer, Deborah J. MacInnis, and Rik Pieters, students will examine motivation, perception, memory, attitudes, decision-making, and post-purchase behavior. The course also highlights the impact of social class, diversity, culture, values, and lifestyle on consumer preferences and brand choices.

Students will analyze how consumers process information, evaluate alternatives, and form attitudes toward products and services. Case studies and applied exercises connect theory to practice, showing how consumer insights inform strategies for segmentation, targeting, positioning, and marketing campaign design. Ethical and societal considerations, including consumer rights, diversity, and social responsibility, are also addressed.

Designed for marketing, business, and related disciplines, the course equips students with tools to interpret consumer behavior and apply findings to real-world marketing challenges. By the end of the course, learners will be able to develop effective strategies that anticipate consumer needs, foster brand loyalty, and create value in competitive markets.

Textbook: Consumer Behavior (8th Edition) by Wayne D. Hoyer, Deborah J. MacInnis, Rik Pieters

Course Objectives

Explain key concepts and theories of consumer behavior.

Analyze psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence consumer decision-making.

Evaluate how consumers process information, form attitudes, and make purchase decisions.

Apply consumer behavior insights to develop marketing strategies and campaigns.

Assess the impact of diversity, values, and lifestyles on consumer preferences.

Critically examine ethical and social responsibility issues in consumer behavior.

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Course Contents

Part 1. An Introduction to Consumer Behavior

Understanding Consumer Behavior

Part 2. The Psychological Core

Motivation, Ability, and Opportunity

Exposure, Attention, Perception, and Comprehension

Prior Knowledge, Long-Term Memory, and Retrieval (Remembering)

Attitudes Based on High-Effort

Attitudes Based on Low-Effort

Part 3. The Process of Making Decisions

Problem Recognition and Information Search

Judgment and Decision-Making Based on High-Effort

Judgment and Decision-Making Based on Low-Effort

Post-Decision Processes

Part 4. The Consumer’s Culture

Social Influences on Consumer Behavior

Consumer Diversity

Household and Social Class Influences

Psychographics: Values, Personality, and Lifestyles

Part 5. Consumer Behavior Outcomes and Issues

Innovations: Adoption, Resistance, and Diffusion

Symbolic Consumer Behavior

Marketing, Ethics, and Social Responsibility in a Consumer Society

Single Course or Program Option

This course may be purchased individually or as part of the certificate programs listed below.

Recommended Prerequisites

Accreditation You Can Trust

Washington Technical Institute is fully accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)—a regional accrediting agency recognized for setting high standards in education. This accreditation affirms that our programs, operations, and outcomes meet rigorous academic and institutional benchmarks. MSA-CESS accreditation is a mark of quality that ensures our students receive an education that is both credible and respected. It also means WTI is committed to continuous improvement, student success, and accountability at every level.