What is the term for consumer behavior characterized by a habitual pattern of buying a product without much thought?

The correct term for consumer behavior characterized by a habitual pattern of buying a product with little thought is routinized choice behavior. This behavior typically arises when consumers have developed a strong familiarity with a product or brand, leading them to make purchases based on routine rather than a detailed evaluation of options.

In routinized choice behavior, consumers do not need to engage in extensive information search or evaluation because they are confident in their previous experiences with the product. This can often be seen with everyday purchases such as groceries or household items, where the habitual nature reduces cognitive effort and speeds up the buying process.

Limited decision making involves a situation where consumers might look for some additional information, but it’s still less intensive than extensive decision making. Impulsive decisions are characterized by a lack of forethought, usually driven by emotions or immediate gratification, while extensive decision making is applied to more significant purchases that involve a lot of consideration and research, such as buying a car or a house. Thus, routinized choice behavior is distinctly characterized by its habitual nature and low mental effort, making it the correct term in this context.