The labyrinth of life-styles

Abstract

The increasing complexity of multi-cultural society has given rise to the thought that traditional (demographic and socio-economic) variables are no longer sufficient to substantiate policy development and planning in the housing sector. The concept of life-style is presumed to add to the description and prediction of the demand side, thus enabling housing strategies that are consistent with more dynamic and differentiated preferences. The usefulness of life-styles for policy development was studied in a literature review, in particular of research in the Netherlands. The study shows that the current significance of the concept is doubtful for various reasons: the indefiniteness of life-styles; the static and simplified view of society that is often presented, which is partly caused by the methods used; the uncertain relation to types of residential environment; and the unproven necessity of using life-styles alongside or as a substitute for more traditional variables. Recommendations are offered for future research on this subject.

Re-searching the labyrinth of life-styles

“…The usefulness of the concept-and especially the non-scientific approach to life-style segmentation by a number of commercial agencies (initiated by providers) that now seems to imbue most of these studies-has frequently been criticized (van Diepen and Musterd 2001;Ouwehand 2001;Nio 2002;Pinkster and van Kempen 2002;van der Wouden and Kullberg 2002;van Diepen and Arnoldus 2003;Heijs et al 2005Heijs et al , 2009). …”

“…In one literature review these difficulties have led the reviewer to conclude that much of the current life-style research in the field of housing resembles a labyrinth with no easy way out, an avenue of enquiry that should be entered with great caution and perhaps not at all (Heijs et al 2005(Heijs et al , 2009). This conclusion, however, was based on the absence of data supporting the necessity of life-styles and of a sharp definition of the subject.…”

“…The research literature shows a wide diversity of life-style classifications with regard to their meaning, the number and names of life-style groups, and the variables these lifestyles are based on (Heijs et al 2005(Heijs et al , 2009. As was already pointed out, life-styles can refer to regular patterns in manifest behavior, latent variables or both, to different life domains and various scale levels.…”

Urban and suburban lifestyles and residential preferences in a highly urbanized society

“…The concept of lifestyle has different roots, and it has been given a wide range of meanings and uses (Cathelat, 1993 ;Aero, 2006 ;Bell and Hollows, 2006 ;Thorkild, 2006 ;Coppens and Oosterlynck, 2008 ;Heijs et al, 2009). In the last decades, it has gained importance in the relevant literature within the fields of Marketing, Social Psychology and Sociology (Holt, 1995 ;Holt, 1997 ;Kahle and Chiagouris, 1997 ;Crompton, 1998).…”

“…dwelling, work, transport) and factors that influence behaviour (e.g. intentions, preferences, values or structural variables) (Heijs et al, 2009). In this way, the lifestyle approach serves as an additional tool for traditional socio-demographic differentiation, because it includes aspects such as subjective patterns of values, intentions and preferences.…”