The study examines physiological and neuronal processes of 26 inexpert wine drinkers in order to understand how consumers judge and choose wines during product experience. We analyzed if an increase in the beta band activity can be related to reward process and individual preference for a wine. We predicted that tasting different wines influence participants' preferences and beta band activity. We also hypothesized that high beta band activity would be related to preferences for a wine. The results confirmed that 1) tasting different wines modulate individual preferences and beta band activity and 2) the higher preferences for a wine corresponded to a stronger decrease in beta band oscillations.

This research investigated how neuromarketing can improve and determine the effectiveness of action-based public health and social cause marketing communications with social amplification platforms. Action-based advertisements (Ferrier, Ward, & Palermo, 2012) aim to encourage consumers to ‘act’, ‘share’, make a ‘pledge’ or complete a ‘challenge’ for a public health or social cause. Public health messages as non-commercial advertisements attempt to change public behaviour (Vecchiato, Cherubino, Trettel, & Babiloni, 2013). Research was conducted using a 64 channel EEG wet cap with electrodes placed according to the international 10/20 system (Gountas et al., 2014; Treleaven-Hassard et al., 2010). The study applied an exploratory design which involved 4 tasks where participants viewed 7 advertisements (6 action-based, 1 control) and their logos while EEG was recorded. Preliminary LORETA results from the first five seconds of the most effective advertisement indicated approach responses due to left prefrontal and right parietal cortex activation (Davidson & Irwin, 1999; Vecchiato et al., 2013). Results suggest that consumer’s decision making about an advertisement occurs within the first five seconds of viewing an advertisement.

Introduction Current research investigated whether emotionality of content would facilitate the possibility to share information on social media by using event-related potentials. Theoretical development Emotionality is an excitatory state which evokes autonomic nervous system. Previous studies suggested that stimuli with high emotionality elicited increased P100/P200 amplitudes relative to stimuli with low emotionality (Huang & Luo, 2006). Research design We tested the purpose in an affective priming paradigm in which participants were exposed to online content (i.e. the "prime" stimulus) followed by a stimulus (i.e. the "target" stimuli) from International Affective Picture System. Participants were required to judge whether the target was neutral white picture. Next, a nine-point Likert scale was followed to assess the level of emotionality for online content. Result and conclusion We observed a congruency effect in the priming effect. More importantly, early brain potentials P100/P200 were higher when participants were exposed to online content with more possibility to share than online content with less possibility to share. This finding could be explained by the "response level account" theory (Fazio, 2001). This study provides an insight to neural mechanism underlying emotionality of online content.

Introduction The article presents a technique for studying the perception of images of animated characters based on the application of psychophysiological methods of recording data in combination with classical sociological methods. The theoretical justification of the EEG, GSR, PPG and video-oculography methods application in testing affective stimuli is provided. The applications of the technique at various stages of creating animated characters are presented. The main advantages of the technique are noted: the ability to work with a target audience starting from the age of 3 years old and the recording of physiological data directly while viewing a stimulus material. One of the most topical objectives for the authors of animation films is the creation of animated characters, which elicits viewers’ sympathy, influences general perception of the movie and affects its distribution and final box office. The methodology that allows to study a perception of characters at different stages of its creation, from conception to final embodiment, will help authors to make changes and adjustments before moving to another technological stage, which will reduce production costs and more accurately meet the needs of the audience. The advantage of the proposed methodology on the one hand, is the efficiency of working with child audience, which is the most difficult in terms of obtaining valid information. On the other hand, it is the possibility of obtaining data directly during the perception of stimuli, which is impossible while using sociological methods. Theoretical development The EEG method is an integral component of classical neuromarketing studies of perception of audiovisual materials, allowing assessing the attractiveness and motivational component in the choice situation. A significant number of scientific publications demonstrate the correlation between the arousal of positive emotions and the activation of the left hemisphere. This is determined by the lower power of the alpha rhythm in the left frontal lobe as compared to the right one. While a person experiences negative emotion, the right frontal lobe is more active, thus, the alpha rhythm power is lower there (Rusalov, 1988, 1999; Aftanas, 2000; Vecchiato, et al. 2011; Ravaja, 2013, Harmon-Jones, et al. 2009). In our methodology the stimuli attractiveness index is calculated based on the EEG data. The high index scores are associated with positive emotions and the interest to object; low scores are associated with negative feelings and indifference. Changes in the indicators of the vegetative nervous system activity are strongly connected to an emotional manifestation; these changes are caused by anatomical and physiological conditions. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a decrease in the amplitude of the plethysmogram is observed when a person experiences negative emotions. On the contrary, an increase in the amplitude is observed during positive emotions experience (Sylvia, et al, 2008; Kreibig, et al., 2007). The emotional involvement indicator refers to the power of emotional inclusion when viewing a character. It is calculated by the registration of vegetative indices related to emotions (EDA, plethysmogram, breathing). Interest is a cognitive need to learn about what is happening on the screen; it reflects the direct interest in visual information. The understanding of interest is mostly based on the psychological researches (Izard, 1999; Silvia, 2006), however, the intensity of the parameter can correlate with objective physiological indicators based on oculomotor activity. The process of the characters’ image scanning is accompanied by the distribution of attention to individual areas of interest (Jenkin, 2001). In this methodology we allocated the areas of interest according to a different character or a separate element of the visual image of the hero. Research design The method is based on a complex approach combining neurophysiological methods of recording physiological reactions while the demonstration of animated characters’ images in combination with sociological research methods used after the stimuli demonstration. The developed technique allows the use of any audiovisual materials created at different stages of work on a character as stimuli (design of character, design of character accessories, character model in static in 2D or 3D, technological test from 10 to 30 seconds). The data was recorded via the high-speed remote binocular eye-tracking system RED250, the professional computer polygraph (PCP) “Energia” and the electroencephalograph B-AlertX24. Result and conclusion 20 images of animated movie characters were tested on 150 respondents during the research (a child audience of animated films and an adult audience with children aged 3-8 years, who make the decision to choose an animated film). A restriction for the EEG method has been found in working with children under 7 years old. At this age the analyzed rhythms are slowed down and not completely formed. The analysis of this group of respondents was focused on vegetative indices. The predicting method of perception of animated characters’ images allows us to define the evaluation parameters of the image of the animated character in terms of attractiveness, emotional involvement and interest. The methodology will be further developed and will include a differential analysis of emotional reactions by virtue of the electroencephalography method in response to the presentation of characters or video samples. The commercial use of the technique is planned for the purpose of testing characters at all stages of animation film production.

Environmental issues, especially water and air pollution, are harmful results from an overconsumption of fossil fuels as well as various industrial sewage water discharge. Nowadays, environment friendly purchasing behaviour of consumers has been regarded as an effective method for alleviating environmental problems. Due to concerns about the natural environment, consumers show favourable attitude towards environment friendly products, and as a result, are more likely to purchase green products. However, consumers’ green purchasing behaviour varies across nations and cultures. This study aims to reveal how the endorsement of cultural values influences the green purchasing behaviour of Chinese consumers. As consumers’ lifestyle is deeply rooted in culture values, this study examines the mediating effects of four different dimensions of lifestyle. Meanwhile, environmental knowledge is considered as a moderating variable in order to investigate the relationship between cultural values and green purchasing intention. Data is collected from Chinese consumers. Empirical results reveal that the Chinese cultural values (specifically, the Doctrine of the Mean) is positively associated with green purchasing intention, while leadership and development consciousness play mediating roles. The moderating effects of environmental knowledge are found in the influence of leadership as well as development consciousness on green purchasing intention. The findings of this study have academic contributions and practical implications. Manufacturers and retailers can effectively adapt marketing strategies to cultural peculiarities to increase profitability and competitiveness.

This research was conducted in order to examine the effect of comparative price on consumers’ reactions to service failure in the loyalty program. The current study finds that under condition of lower level of persuasion knowledge, compared to single retail price, comparative price would mitigate consumers’ negative emotion in the context of service failure, which in turn improves customers’ tolerance. The authors test this prediction in two experiments. Experiment 1 aimed to provide an initial exploration of hypothesis by employing a between-subjects design. This experiment recruited undergraduate students at Suzhou University to complete an online survey. After reading the scenario of service failure, participants were asked to answer a series of questions about their intension of spreading negative word of mouth (NWOM). A one-way ANOVA on intention of spreading NWOM suggested that the NWOM activity was significantly lower in the group of comparative prices than in the group of single retail price. In experiment 2, the authors measured angry and intension to complain when participants finished reading the scenario of service failure. Furthermore, one week later the authors measured price tactic persuasion knowledge of participants. The bootstrap method (number of bootstrap samples = 5000, level of confidence = .95) was used. The results showed that customers’ angry level mediated the effect of comparative price on intension of complaint. The authors further conducted a mediated moderation analysis with the participants in the high- and low-persuasive-knowledge conditions. The results indicated the indirect effect of the comparative price on intention to complain was mediated by customers’ angry when they have low persuasive knowledge, whereas the mediation effect of customer’s angry level was no longer significant in the higher persuasive-knowledge condition. To summarize, this research suggested that comparative price would exert a marked impact on the tolerance of members of loyalty program in the context of service failure. The present paper adds to the existing comparative price literatures by confirming its impact on consumers’ judgment in the context of service failure even if they are all members of loyalty program and informed with information of discounted size in advance. Given the special meaning of NWOM and complaint, current paper provides implications for marketing practices.

This paper selects Xi'an and Suzhou as the research objects, uses the methods of questionnaire and situational simulated method to discuss the impact of tourists' perceived destination image and self-concept congruity on intention to visit, and the moderating effect of self-construal (independent / interdependent). The Study I found the following results: the tourists' perceived destination image and self-concept congruity as well as the self-concept congruity dimensions (actual self-concept congruity, ideal self-concept congruity, social self-concept congruity, ideal social self-concept congruity) have a significant positive effect on intention to visit; the impact of ideal self-concept congruity is greater than that of actual self-concept congruity; the impact of ideal social self-concept congruity is greater than that of social self-concept congruity; and the ideal self-concept congruity has strongest impact on intention to visit. The Study II found out that: self-construal has moderating effect on this impact; the higher the actual self-concept congruity perceived by the tourists of independent self-construal, the greater the intention to visit; the higher the social self-concept congruity perceived by the tourists of interdependent self-construal, the greater the intention to visit. The research conclusion has certain reference value for building of tourism destination image, understanding of the tourism decision-making of the tourists and formulation and implementation of marketing strategies of relevant departments and enterprises.

This research investigates the negative consequences of offering preferential treatment to consumers. We demonstrate that offering preferential treatment builds up consumers’ feelings of entitlement, which increases consumers’ intention to retaliate against the firm when such treatment is terminated. This effect, which generalizes across a variety of shopping contexts and types of preferential treatment, is shown to be moderated by some specific features of the offer: repetitiveness, regularity, and value. Finally, we explore the relationship between consumer entitlement and consumer gratitude. Specifically, we find that boosting feelings of gratitude by reminding consumers that other firms do not offer similar preferential treatment to their customers attenuates the effect of consumer entitlement on consumer retaliation intention. Taken together, our findings provide actionable insights on how to design preferential treatment that will not backfire.

This research examines how price discount, message assertiveness, and national culture interact to influence consumers’ response to the recycling messages on product packages. Results showed that American consumers respond more negatively to assertive (vs. nonassertive) recycling messages when paying a full price for the product, but they respond more positively to assertive (vs. nonassertive) messages when paying a discounted price for the product. For South Korean consumers, price discount and message assertiveness do not influence their responses to recycling advertising.

The effectiveness of global brands is traditionally measured by its ability to turn the brand’s target audience into consumers. Yet the focus on consumption overlooks the significance of customer equity within non-target audiences. Studying this phenomenon has become increasingly important with the advent of the internet and cross-border mass-communications which expose brands to global non-target audiences. Yet, little is known about how consumers who have no experience with the brand anticipate such experience purely based on brand popularity? Also, little is known how are components of the global brand personality particularly active in shaping the anticipated brand/customer experience? Thus, this study examines customer anticipated experience of a global brand - Hard Rock Café, in Ukraine. The conceptual model focuses on the relationship between brand popularity with brand excitement and competence and their influence on customer perceived value of the anticipated brand experience and the impact of the perceived value on customer liking of the experience and intention to engage with the brand. Using 214 Ukrainian respondents, the conceptual module was supported with significant implications for global brand engagement in target and non-target audiences.

Foods play important roles in Chinese gift giving behavior; they contain abundant symbolic and semiotics meanings. Typical food products are exchange during festivals, commercial intercourse, and other social intercourse occasion. The purpose of study is to investigate how the meanings and values of food gifts affect gift-giving behavior under Chinese cultural context. Qualitative in-depth interviews are applied, eighteen participants from food gift industry, academic field and consumers are invited in the study, and qualitative data analysis framework is designed based on Sheth’s consumption values theory. We find that food gifts cover function value, emotional value, social value, epistemic value and conditional value. Gift values are explained by givers and recipients during gift-giving process. Gift-giving occasion, gift-giving purpose, relationship between givers and recipients are influence the value of gift. Study provides some practical recommendation for food products design and marketing.

Introduction The goal of the current research is to conduct a comparative analysis of marketing models of Russian and global companies localized in Russia. Our research experience confirms an existence of a significant difference in the implementation of market orientation and in marketing activities of global companies compared to the local ones. The focus of the present research lies in the development and support mechanisms of customer oriented organizational culture as well as the role of marketing in decision making processes on all managerial levels. Literature review The attitude of top management to marketing changes consistently both in the developed and emerging markets (Webster, 1992; Webster, Malter, & Ganesan, 2005; Yuldasheva & Pisareva, 2015). Modern marketing is increasingly a part of the managerial and decision making system. It is being integrated into the system of company management through a diffusion of marketing competencies (Webster et al, 2005) becoming a locus of integration and coordination of inter-functional processes in a service dominating business model (Vargo & Lush, 2004). Literature review makes it possible to highlight several most important directions of research that formed the basis for our comparative analysis of marketing models. Customer oriented culture (COC) The literature review allows differentiating between three approaches to the definition of customer orientation (CO): ⦁ CO as an element of market orientation (Narver & Slater, 1990; Kohli & Jaworski, 1990) and in some cases its synonym; ⦁ CO as behavioral aspect of sales or frontline personal (Saxe & Weitz, 1982). In this case an operational level of CO implementation is considered; ⦁ CO as an advanced level of organizational culture development that has been shaped under enhancing of marketing influence on the decision making processes in the companies on all managerial levels (Deshpande & Webster, 1989). Thus, CO can be considered as an organizational culture creating new values for the personnel and transforming all business processes in terms of customer centricity to achieve higher customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty. The research of COC should be conducted from the perspective of CO settings (values) and from the perspective of CO implementation. Marketing competencies and capabilities Dissemination of COC influences on the development of marketing capabilities and competencies in the organizational learning process which involves all departments and all managerial levels. In this context marketing capabilities can be understood as integrative processes whereby the collective knowledge, skills, and resources of a firm are applied to the market-related needs of the business (Day, 1994; Vorhies, 1998). As a result of repetitive actions, more or less sustainable patterns of behavior arise (Grant, 1991). These patterns determine the type of the customer oriented business models in which the marketing models is one of the sub elements reflecting the role and the status of marketing in decision making process. The previous research results (Webster, 1992; Webster et al, 2005; Wiersema, 2013) showed the evolutionary changes of marketing in corporations on three levels of management – corporate, business and operational (functional) (Hofer & Schendel, 1978). Taking into account these three strategy levels, Webster (1992) suggests to consider marketing as culture (on the corporate level), as strategy (on the strategic business unit level) and as tactics (on the functional level). In this research, we compare the changes in marketing models on the different managerial levels in Russian and global companies under the pressure of emerging COC. Theoretical model and research design We understand the marketing models as consisting of COC and a set of marketing competencies and capabilities on the different managerial levels. COC creates the values and the behavioral norms in the company which are transformed in the customer oriented business processes setting. COC has to bring not just CO values but CO business processes supported by the control and motivation system. In this context, COC establishment and implementation should be considered. COC establishment is based on the understanding of CO importance by top management. COC implementation leads to the dissemination of CO values and transforming them into CO behavior of personnel. That is why the measuring scales of market orientation (MARCOR: Kohli & Jaworski, 1993) and CO (MORTN: Deshpande & Farley, 1998; SOCO: Saxe & Weitz, 1982) include the statements about the regular using or the effective performance of CO business processes. To investigate the corporate marketing competence dispersion, we also use the concept of intangible marketing assets (Webster et al, 2005) (fig.1). Research goal and proposition The goal of this research is description and comparative analysis of marketing models of companies localized in Russia, which are shaped differntly under the influence of COC development. We suppose that dissemination of COC in the company changes the role and status of marketing in the managerial system as well as the level of its influence on decision making processes. Two groups of companies are compared: ⦁ large Russian companies possessing brands well-known in Russia; ⦁ global companies (their units) localized in Russia and possessing globally known brands. As this research is an exploratory one, a preliminary proposition was formulated: the process of marketing model changing in Russian and global companies proceeds in a different way. The typical level of COC development and marketing influence on decision making processes on all managerial levels in large Russian companies is lower than in the global companies localized in Russia. Sample This research is making use of the database of 40 semi-structured interviews with company managers (Trefilova, 2017; Yuldasheva & Pisareva, 2015). Out of these, 5 interviews with large Russian companies and 8 interviews with daughter companies of global corporations were selected. To increase the size of the sample of Russian companies, 5 interviews with managers were organized additionally. Thus, the total sample consisted of 18 interviews (10 Russian and 8 global companies) The interview guide consisted of six open questions. Data analysis and research results The primary analysis of interviews was conducted applying the techniques of content analysis and meanings compaction (Ilyin, 2006). The primary content analysis showed a significant differentiation between the respondents’ answers to all questions, especially inside the sub-set of Russian companies. The further analysis of the qualitative research data was carried out according to the grounded theory methodology applying the procedures of data conceptualization, concept categorization, identifying the category attributes and ways to measure them (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). The results of the comparative analysis of the marketing models of Russian and global companies allowed formulating several conclusions. The managers of Russian and global companies show different understanding of COC. The global companies promote service proposition and sustainable consumption models while Russian companies continue to sell products and try to keep quality and price on the competitive level. We labeled this phenomenon as “the fight between product and service dominant logic”. The gap between the declared CO values and their implementation in business processes in Russian companies is higher than in global ones. We connect it with lower quality of management in Russian companies as well as low level of market competition encountered by large companies. Global companies are aimed at supporting long-term brand value to a much higher extent than Russian companies. All business processes on the business and functional levels are subordinated to providing long-term brand value. Global companies are characterized by a stronger COC, which is supported not only by the service standards but also by the customer-centric motivation of the whole staff. Moreover, internal and HR branding carried out by the HR department are well developed in the global companies. It reveals a much more developed personnel management function than in the Russian companies. Up to now, it is believed in the Russian companies that customer centricity can be ensured just by the work of marketing and sales personnel. The research confirmed also the results received by Webster et al (2005) and Wiersema (2013) on the dispersion of marketing competencies on the business and corporate levels, on the growing importance of marketing performance measurement and on the growth of the marketing’s strategic role, especially for companies involved in innovations. As for the dominating marketing strategy, most informants use both attraction and retention strategies simultaneously. An interesting finding turned out to be that many informants differentiate between the models of product marketing and relationship marketing. The latter is understood as the interaction and value co-creation using a digital platform. Our research showed that on the functional level (marketing department level) the dominating share of companies develop competencies and capabilities in the sphere of marketing communication and customer involvement. Such marketing competencies as product management (including price management), customer relationship management or key account management have been transferred to the inter-functional (business) level. Channel management is carried out by the sales departments. The major finding is the confirmation of marketing knowledge equity formation in the most advanced companies (Yuldasheva, Pisareva & Khalikov, 2016). Marketing knowledge equity mostly consists of market and customer needs knowledge, ability to forecast market changes and customer reactions. Conclusion Thus, the proposition about the different ways of marketing model changing and a lower level of COC and lower influence of marketing in the decision making processes on all levels of the large Russian companies compared to the global companies is confirmed. However, a trend is apparent to enhance the strategic influence of marketing on the decision making processes in the large Russian companies. It requires the continuation of a longitudinal research. In whole, the comparative analysis of the Russian and global companies marketing models showed that in spite of the existence of some peculiarities mainly connected with the backwardness of Russian companies compared to foreign ones (particularly, there is a lower customer centricity and lower management quality), the Russian marketing replicates the development of the Western marketing, copying its models and practices.

Drawing both on international marketing literature (Steenkamp, Batra, & Alden, 2003) and value/risk research (Sweeny & Soutar, 2001; Mitchell, 1999), the current study investigates (1) how consumers’ perceptions of brand globalness/localness (PBG/PBL) influence their assessment of different dimensions of perceived value as well as the risk associated with making a purchase decision; and (2) how these value and risk assessments mediate the relationships between PBG/PBL and brand purchase intentions. We apply signaling theory (Kirmani & Rao, 2000) to relate PBG and PBL to consumers’ perceptions of risk as well as their perceptions of functional, emotional and social value. For empirical verification of the hypothesized relationships, we use comparable samples from two European countries that vary substantially in terms of economic development (Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina). Results show that only emotional value serves as a consistent mediator of PBG and PBL on purchase intentions in both countries, whereas no mediating role could be identified for perceived risk. In terms of managerial implications, our findings reveal the importance of emphasizing the emotional value of a brand, which serves as a stable facilitator through which PBG/PBL influence consumers’ purchase intentions across the distinct market settings.

Introduction With environmental concern becoming a growing area for both the marketing academy and society, there is an increasing trend for consumers, governments, and society to deem environmental behaviours as both necessary, and desirable (Olsen, Slotegraaf, & Chandukala, 2014). There is a growing awareness around the negative impacts of human consumption developing amongst consumers and gaining greater focus in the media (Prothero, McDonagh, & Dobscha, 2010). However, despite the positive intentions surrounding the consumption of “green goods”, hitherto referred to as sustainable goods, a well-established gap exists between intention and behaviour (e.g., Carrington, Neville, & Whitwell, 2010; Hassan, Shiu, & Shaw, 2016). For example the United Nations Environment Program (2005) established that despite 40% of survey respondents indicating a willingness to purchase sustainable goods, only 4% did so. One lens through which the intention-behaviour gap can be viewed is the idea of the self. Individual identity has long been suggested as a driver of purchasing decisions (Grubb & Grathwohl, 1967). A consumer‟s aim to act both in accordance with their own identity, as well as how they see themselves in the context of society has been suggested to enhance purchasing (e.g., Graeff, 1996; Markus & Kitayama, 1991; Onkvisit & Shaw, 1987). This research seeks to use this idea of self, in the form of Self-Construal (SC), and Image- Congruence (IC), to enhance Purchase Intention (PI) towards sustainable goods. A contribution is sought by using consumers‟ sense of self to better understand the intention-behaviour gap. The proposed contribution benefits the marketing academy (furthering the understanding of consumer purchase intentions and behaviour), marketing practitioners (seeking to encourage behaviour change), and government policy makers (by furthering an understanding of possible nudges to influence behaviour). This research defines „sustainable goods‟, as characterising products with lower environmental impacts, including biodegradable, recycled, low energy, or reduced packaging (Costa Pinto, Herter, Rossi, & Borges, 2014). Sustainable goods have been suggested to present a perceived trade off to consumers, both in literature and the popular press (e.g., Consumer, n.d.-a, n.d.-b; Kaufman, 2014). Kaufman (2014) suggests that sustainable alternatives often carry a price premium, as well as a stigma of lower quality. An example of the trade off as presented in the popular press is through product testing by Consumer New Zealand, suggesting that household items such as eco-friendly (sustainable) laundry detergent come with a price premium, a reduction in efficacy, or both (Consumer, n.d.-a, n.d.-b). Therefore, this research hypothesises that sustainable goods may be perceived as an inferior (either by price or efficacy) product and thus consumers will perceive a trade off in their purchasing decision. This trade off can be summarised as; higher priced or less effective goods, in order to make an environmental contribution (e.g., reduced landfill, cleaner water). As such, it is argued consumers will be more willing to make this trade off where they are able to portray aspects of the self through the decision making process. Conceptual Model The aim of this study is: To investigate the impact of self-construal, and imagecongruence on consumers‟ purchase intention towards sustainable goods. In order to achieve the aim of this research, the following hypotheses are presented: H1a: The more interdependent an individual‟s self-construal, the higher their purchase intention towards sustainable goods. H1b: The more independent an individual‟s self-construal, the lower their purchase intention towards sustainable goods. H2: The greater the image-congruence towards sustainable goods, the higher the purchase intention towards sustainable goods. To illustrate the hypotheses the following conceptual model has been proposed: Studies of self-construal (SC) have demonstrated that individuals fall into two categories, independent and interdependent SC (Markus & Kitayama, 1991). Individuals with independent SC emphasise being unique and expressing their self and promoting their individual goals (Arnocky, Stroink, & DeCicco, 2007); conversely those with interdependent SC define their sense of self largely on relationships and a sense of harmony with others (Markus & Kitayama, 1991). Therefore, interdependent selfconstrual may drive purchasing activity of socially desirable goods. The alignment of products to a consumer‟s self-concept has long been considered a predictor of purchasing behaviour (Grubb & Grathwohl, 1967). The alignment between a product and the self-concept of a consumer is known as image-congruence and leads to an increased likelihood of purchase (Graeff, 1996; Onkvisit & Shaw, 1987). Conversely, where a product is not congruent with an individual‟s image the likelihood of purchase is reduced (Graeff, 1996; Onkvisit & Shaw, 1987). Purchase intention (PI) as used in this research is defined as a consumers‟ plan to purchase sustainable goods, meeting the criteria outlined previously, in the near future. The Brand Loyalty Intentions scale has been adapted for use in measuring PI (Algesheimer, Dholakia, & Herrmann, 2005), with the addition of a time definite item, „I will purchase sustainable products within the next six months”. SC is expected to impact PI as interdependent and independent people behave differently. Those with an interdependent SC behave in line with the expectations of society (Ybarra & Trafimow, 1998). Protection of the environment is seen as desirable behaviour by society (Olsen et al., 2014), thus leading to those with an interdependent SC consuming in line with this expectation. Conversely, individuals with independent SC are more likely to prioritise their individual benefits and are thus more likely to prioritise the lower price, or increased efficacy of non-sustainable products. IC is expected to impact PI as those whose self-concept is connected to the environment and sustainable goods, are expected to have an intent to purchase in line with their selfimage (Graeff, 1996; Onkvisit & Shaw, 1987). As such, individuals with image congruence to sustainable goods will be more willing to accept a trade off in order to consume in line with their own self-concept. Method Two phases of data collection were conducted to test the proposed model. An initial pretest, followed by a larger sample. A pre-test consisting of 258 participants was recruited through a Qualtrics research panel. Of the 258 participants, 15 were denied entry to the survey for being under 18 and 39 participants were deleted for non-completion of the survey. A final sample size of 204 participants (103 Male, 101 Female, mean age range 30-34) was collected. Reliability analysis was used to determine the internal reliability of the scales used to measure the model. Reliability analysis was performed to ensure the adequacy and reliability of scales; a regression analysis was further performed to determine model fit as well as the strength and direction of variable relationships (Field, 2013). The second phase of data collection consisted of 554 participants, recruited through a Qualtrics research panel. Of the 554 participants, 24 were denied entry to the survey for being under 18 and 98 participants were deleted for non-completion of the survey. A final sample size of 432 participants (226 Male, 206 Female, mean age range 35-39) was collected. Reliability analysis was again performed to ensure the adequacy and reliability of scales; further regression analysis was performed to determine model fit as well as the strength and direction of variable relationships (Field, 2013), discussion and conclusions were drawn from this second phase of data collection. Results Phase 1: Pre-Test The three variables in the model were measured using three established scales, one of these scales consists of two sub-scales, for a total of four analysed scales. All reported acceptable reliability (Cronbach's α > .70). Self-construal – interdependent (α = .854), self-construal – independent (α = .837), image-congruence (α = .913), and purchase intention (α = .899) A regression analysis was used to determine the strength and direction of the variable relationships. The overall model fit was R2 = .434. H1a was supported (β = .284, p = .004), as was H2 (β = .449, p < .001). H1b demonstrated a significant relationship (β = .231, p = .025), however, contrary to H1b, the relationship was positive, albeit to a lesser extent than in H1a. Phase 2: Final Data Collection As in phase 1, all scales used reported acceptable reliability (Cronbach's α > .70); selfconstrual – interdependent (α = .871), self-construal – independent (α = .867), imagecongruence (α = .920), and purchase intention (α = .900). As in the pre-test a regression analysis was used to test the stated hypotheses. The overall model fit was R2 = .478. H1a was supported (β = .284, p < .001), as was H2 (β = .546, p < .001). H1b demonstrated a significant relationship (β = .206, p = .05), again however, contrary to H1b, the relationship was positive, albeit to a lesser extent than in H1a. Discussion and Conclusion Two phases of data collection both yielded similar results in support of H1a, H1b and H2. H1a and H2 were supported, H1b in both phases of data collection and analysis yielded significant results, but not in line with the predicted direction of the relationship. H2 was fully supported with image-congruence found to be the strongest predictor of purchase intention (p < .001, β = .546). H1a was similarly fully supported with self-construal – interdependent found to be the second strongest predictor of purchase intention (β = .284, p < .001). The strength and direction of the H1a relationship suggests that individuals who see themselves as part of a broader society may be more inclined to purchase in a manner beneficial to this society. H1b yielded a significant relationship (β = .206, p = .05), however, as a positive predictor of purchase intention, the relationship was the opposite of that hypothesised. As the third strongest predictor, the relationship between self-construal – independent and purchase intention, suggests that strong focus on the self, independently of others, does not necessarily lead to a less „pro-social‟ purchasing pattern. By positing the strength of image-congruence as a driving factor in consumer‟s purchasing decisions towards green products, this research enhances the academy‟s understanding of „pro-social‟ purchasing. The understanding of the impact of selfconstrual on „pro-social behaviour is also enhanced. Hypotheses derived in line with extant literature suggest that those with an independent self-construal would be less likely to purchase „pro-social‟ goods where there is a perceived detriment to the individual (e.g. in the case of a trade-off). However, this research suggests that those with an independent self-construal may still desire „pro-social‟ products, just to a lesser degree than those with an interdependent self-construal. Thus, findings from this research suggest that independence and interdependence may act as moderators or mediators to other variables. For practitioners it is important to understand the types of psychological appeals that can be made in marketing materials. Future Research Future research around image-congruence, self-construal and purchase intention should examine the relationship between these and the possibility of mediation or moderation in the model. Despite strong support in the literature an independent SC also acted as a strong predictor of sustainable goods purchase intention therefore, further analysis to explore the possibility of independent self-construal acting as a mediator or moderator should be conducted.

This research examines the impact of closing versus opening eyes on consumers’ decision making as to whether the decision context is driven by utilitarian versus hedonic motivation. The findings from three studies show that consumers processing advertising messages with their eyes closed are likely to use high-level, abstract processing, and thus more positively evaluate the utilitarian products (vs. the hedonic products). On the contrary, consumers with their eyes open are likely to use low-level, concrete processing, and thus more positively evaluate the hedonic products (vs. the utilitarian products). Implications for consumers and marketers are discussed.

“When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.” This expression used as a part of an article, (Cotton Incorporated's Lifestyle Monitor™, 2002) look into the group that depicts a part of numerous contemporary consumers' ways of life, that is, shopping to ease a negative state of mind. This type of shopping is alluded to as retail therapy or retail therapy. "Retail therapy" or "compensatory consumption" is frequently connected in the observation to brighten oneself up through the buy of self-treats and additionally lacking self. The significance of the study is to identify the factors influencing the consumption behaviour among women with reference to retail therapy. Most of the research in this area belongs to socio-psychology, psycho-sociology and clinical psychology. The concrete and crystallized conceptual framework in the field of consumer research is very few. The complex theoretical background which lacks unified conceptual framework. Thus, the present research aims to understand the influence of selfconcept theories on consumption behaviour. The research question broadly focuses on the two major aspects of the study that is importance of self-discrepancy in understanding behavioural response in consumer behaviour. Another aspect is to investigate in detail the various moods and emotions related to retail therapy among women. The research question of self-discrepancy has several sub-components ideal-self, self-incongruence, ought-self, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, dejection, disappointment and actual-self are analysed. The various emotions (described in the hypotheses section) related to consumption behaviour w.r.t retail therapy which are aligned and relatable to self-discrepancy concepts are analysed to understand the relationship with the outcome-retail therapy among women. The study uses the sequential transformative strategy of mixed method research. In the present study, the qualitative data is collected is followed by quantitative data collection. The qualitative approach includes in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and quantitative data collection was through the self-administered questionnaires. The study uses inferential analysis and structural equation modelling for the data analysis. The present work holds critical ramifications for consumers' well-being and prosperity. The findings propose that consumer’s uncovered passionate turbulence may be more inclined to overspending and sinking overwhelmingly into obligation because of their expanded eagerness to pay for status-related items. the consumption is both reactive and proactive which originates from self and terminates in consumption. This is cyclic and extends temporary relief.

Introduction Drawing from Kahneman and Tversky’s, (1979) prospect theory, this conceptual paper attempts to go beyond our knowledge of how consumers understand, perceive, use, and apply nutritional information on nutritional labels especially at the point of purchase (Cowburn & Stockley, 2005; Grunert & Wills, 2007; Miller & Cassady, 2015) to examine whether a health-conscious consumer’s food product choice decision will largely be based on negative or positive nutrients on the nutritional label. This has become necessary because of the criticality of consumers’ decisions regarding nutrition issues to marketers and policymakers (Chen, 2013; Clare & Burghardt, 2015; Ellison et al., 2013) which has resulted in a growing interest in nutritional information issues among researchers. A review of the extant relevant literature also shows that, studies examining how consumers place value on the positive nutrients (those that enhance and improve their health – e.g. Vitamins) and negative nutrients (those that have deteriorating effect on their health – e.g. Fats) and how they affect their purchasing decision are scarce. Conclusion This paper argues that, it is not enough to know how consumers understand, perceive, use and apply the nutritional information especially at the point of purchase etc. shown in the literature. There is the need to go further to examine the influence the nutrient content claim (both positive and negative nutrients) have on consumer nutritional choice decision when purchasing a food product. There is also a need to go beyond the dieting and ill consumers who because of their conditions seek specific nutrients in their foods and consider the larger consumer segment who are health-conscious by taking Burton and Andrews (1996) and Baltas’ (2001) research a step further. The study provides evidence for the use of prospect theory in nutritional label issues and go a long way to reinforce its application in this regard. The study enables marketers to: gain understanding of what nutrient content claim will cause a consumer to decide to purchase a food product when seen on a nutritional label; shape the format of the nutritional information on nutritional labels for easy use by consumers; and know what to emphasize in communicating nutritional information to their consumers.

The present work aims to extend Meyer, Shankar, & Berry (2017)’s work on antecedents of consumer willingness to pay (WTP). This research paper investigates the role of antecedents such as autonomy, quality variability, complementarity, overall quality and bundle quality, for the traditional bundles (i.e., bundles consisting of either goods or services). The paper uses the choice-based conjoint methodology to measure consumer’s WTP for the traditional bundles in an experimental vignette set-up. The study uses four different types of traditional bundles as consumer stimuli to analyze the factors mentioned above. The results indicate that autonomy, overall bundle quality, and quality variability were significant in influencing the consumer’s WTP. Consumer WTP has been widely used as a factor to derive the optimal prices of the bundles in the literature. For a retailer selling a traditional bundle, it is imperative to have an understanding of consumer WTP and also make an attempt to increase it by offering high customer value. By knowing the factors determining the antecedents of consumer WTP, one can reap higher benefits monetarily as well as in the form of increased customer satisfaction. The paper also challenges the view that it is difficult to influence the consumer’s WTP. It advances the understanding of the factors which influence the consumer WTP for the widely used traditional bundles.

In tourism industry, tourists at the post-fordist era have overlooked tangible aspects of consumption by focusing on tourists’ experience and satisfaction. Recently, many scholars have employed the marketing concepts to investigate tourists’ need, want, and demand, especially, value co-creation. However, there is a little interest to focus on value co-creation in tourism industry, in spite of the fact that tourists in the digital age have decided to travel by intangible aspect of consumption – emotional and experience. Additionally, we also employ the concept of psychological carrying capacity to understand how tourist value relates to psychological carrying capacity. A total of 380 completed questionnaires are collected and the data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. The correlations between tourist value and psychological carrying capacity were examined in order to understand the relationship of tourist value toward environmental concern in the settings of island area. The results show that there is the direct relationship between tourist value, perceived crowding, interactions between tourists, perceived physical environment, overall satisfaction, and returning intention.

The main purpose of this research is to explore the effects of usage frequency on the intention to reuse membership service while having perceived value play a role as a mediator. Usage frequency of membership services can affect consumers' fairness judgment. The more opportunities consumers have to perceive the fairness of a service, the more likely it is that they will choose to receive the identical service from the same provider in the future, since they form a positive attitude toward the service. In addition, the perceived value of the consumer can lead to the reuse of the service because it gives satisfaction to the consumer. Another objective of this research is to examine the moderating effect of regret and guilt on the relationship between perceived value and the intention to reuse membership service. Consistent with regret literature, if consumers perceive a consumption value that is smaller than the initially expected consumption value when using a membership service, they will regret the use of the service. Further, negative emotion such as regret often lead to negative attitudes and behaviors of consumers. Thus, as consumers feel regret, their willingness to use the membership service will continue to decrease. On the other hand, consumers experience guilt when they benefit from an unfair process (Krehbiel and Cropanzano, 2000). Similarly, when consumers judge that they have exceeded the usage frequency of membership service based on social norms or ethical principles of individuals, they will perceive unfairness. Consumers may try to offset their negative emotion by continuing to use identical membership services even after the end of the contract period as compensation for their guilty feelings. Thus, as consumers feel guilt, their willingness to use the membership service will continue to increase. This study proposes practical implications that a firm operating a membership service program can encourage a positive response of consumers in their service process by theoretically identifying the intrinsic process related to consumers' intention to reuse the service.