psychographic segmentation

market segmentation strategy whereby the intended audience for a given product is divided according to social class, lifestyle, or personality characteristics. Marketers segment markets by social class for the promotion of products such as cars, clothes, home furnishings, and leisure activities. When segmenting a market according to consumer lifestyles, marketers promote their products as expressions of those lifestyles, such as the promotion of natural fiber products as ideal for a natural, healthy, active life. Marketers use personality factors to segment markets by giving their products personalities that match consumer personalities. Typically this strategy is used to promote products such as women's cosmetics or liquor. See also behavior segmentation demographic segmentation geographic segmentation; psychographics.