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The reduction of consumption in two cohorts of Italian men: some interpretations.

Article Excerpt
In any study of individual life developments, a sociologist must always "conduct a double level of analysis, that which refers to the individual in flesh and blood, and that which refers to the typical individual.... The typical individual doesn't only speak for him/herself, but also for the entire context in which he/she is placed" (Olagnero & Saraceno 1993, p. 13).

The majority of the interviewees in this study of two cohorts of Italian men, aged 40-45 and 65-70, believed that their consumption patterns were similar to those they knew (who belonged to the same age group), so the lifetime consumption patterns also tended to be similar. The members of each group considered certain aspects of the consumption model to be particular to their age group, the "peak consumption model" for the younger age group, the "no-peak consumption model" for the older age group: they recognized that the factors inducing them to modify their consumption habits were common to other members of their generation.

We have seen (see Scarscelli, in this issue) how both models allowed us to explain the different mechanisms behind a specific course of action. In substance, the individual's choice to modify his/her own consumption style by reducing the quantity of alcohol consumed could be influenced by a status transition or need to protect his/her own health (especially in the presence--or fear--of specific pathologies).

We have seen, however, that the differences between the two models were explained only by adopting a historic interpretation (by using the group concept). Otherwise we would not have been able to explain why life transitions had had a visible impact on alcohol consumption only for the younger age group (only the life transition to retirement was claimed by the older age group to have had an impact on their consumption patterns).

So what were the situational mechanisms that, given the social and cultural contexts in which our interviewees lived, influenced their behavior?

Changes in employment status

The industrialization and increasing tertiary nature of our country's economy has had a significant impact on the labor market, changing its context, tempo and production rhythm. An analysis of the feedback from the interviewees showed how these changes, requiring an increase in efficiency and productivity at work, and a certain structuring of...