Anthropomorphism is a prevalent marketing practice that fosters consumer perceptions of a brand as humanlike. In today’s hyperconnected marketplace, firms are increasingly imbuing their brands with human features with the hope that the favorable perceptions of humanlike attributes in nonhuman objects could lead to consumers’ positive evaluation of humanized products. For example, Amazon has imbued Echo, a voice-activated Bluetooth speaker, with the human name Alexa, a female voiced virtual assistant that employs familiar human speech pattern, and some advanced personality traits. Similarly, Hormel Foods has used Mr. Peanut, the advertising logo and mascot of Planters that embodies the brands’ selling points. Mr. Peanut is depicted as a humanized peanut with arms, legs, top hat, and monocle and became a vessel of brand meaning and personality, taking on the product quality that the brand aims to communicate. Prior studies that use brand anthropomorphism as a foundation have investigated the impact of brand anthropomorphism on various outcomes such as product evaluations, emotional responses, and intentions to replace a product. However, what is missing from prior work is an understanding of the impact of brand anthropomorphism on the purchase intentions for clearance products which are sold under a retailer’s promotional strategy as an inventory management tool. The lure of cheapened goods may expand the range of consumers who can afford to buy merchandise from the company or may provide existing customers with an appealing purchasing option. In light of this, clearance sales are known to be effective not only for increasing store traffic by alluring price-conscious consumers but also for reducing excess inventory in a retail location or a chain of product fulfillment. The strategic importance of clearance sales has increased since the breakdown of COVID-19 which forced retailers to close their stores and caused demand for many product categories to plunge in early 2020. After the initial shock of the pandemic, consumer spending recovered fairly quickly, giving rise to record levels later in the same year. This surprising recovery continued into the next year as consumer sentiment and spending levels surged together, resulting in consumer demand that surpassed retailers’ stock levels. However, due to inflation and amounting fears of recession, consumer spending started to slow down again in 2022, resulting in the opposite of what happened in the previous year. Such a reversal caused many retailers to face high inventory levels and declining profitability, forcing them to cut prices to move excess inventory out of stores, which increases the importance of conducting clearance sales effectively. Clearance sales are prevalent in retail markets, where considerable discounts are typically offered for leftover items (Zhang & Cooper, 2008). Retailers widely use clearance sales to liquidate their unsold products at the end of a selling season (Nocke & Peitz, 2007). They have strong incentives to get rid of the remaining items in order to make room for the new products (Sällström, 2001). Previous research suggests that anthropomorphism leads consumers to apply human schema to a product, which in turn affects their attitude toward the product (Aggarwal & McGill, 2007, 2012). In this research, we aim to identify the negative effect of anthropomorphism on consumers’ attitude toward clearance products.

Chatbot-based services in online travel agency (OTA) are rapidly spreading in order to respond more agilely to consumers' needs based on the digitalization of the travel industry. Although AI chatbots use anthropomorphism to provide social experiences on behalf of humans, research results on its effects are mixed. Therefore, based on construal level theory, this study suggests the degree of anthropomorphism (low vs. high) of chatbots prime mental representations of different construal levels (low vs. high) and the fit between anthropomorphism and communication context (communication types and conversation types) has a positive effect on use behavior. This research method consisted of sentimental analysis for exploring use behavior of AI chatbots and two experimental studies (study 1 and study 2) to examine the hypotheses. The results of this study expand construal level theory and avatar research to provide an understanding of the anthropomorphism of AI chatbots.

Robo-advisors are gaining momentum, as they aim to provide personalized and low-cost financial advice (Jung et al., 2019). However, the effectiveness of robo-advisory is bounded by the lack of trust (Jung et al. 2018). Anthropomorphism or robo-advisor resemblance to a human (i.e., avatar, name, or gender) can remedy that. Indeed, robo-humanization can establish trust and impact on behavioral intents toward the advisory technology through social presence (Go & Sundar, 2019), warmth (Cyr et al., 2009), perceived expertise of the advisor (Qui & Benbasat, 2009), including perceived integrity and persuasiveness (Tan & Liew, 2020). Gender can amplify anthropomorphic cues and, thus, increase trust (Beldad et al., 2016). Finally, trust toward the technology is directly related to its adoption intent (Bruckes et al., 2019).

Digital humans integrating anthropomorphism into the performance and problem-solving features of AI offer innovative sources of insights and value that promotes a product, service, or brand. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a digital human’s aura and anthropomorphism on perceived interactivity, attitude toward a brand, attitude toward a digital human, electronic word of mouth (eWOM) intention, and purchase intention. An entrenched digital human’s aura and anthropomorphism increase perceived interactivity, attitude toward a brand, attitude toward a digital human, eWOM intention, and purchase intention. This study contributes to the literature by clarifying the concept of the digital human’s aura and anthropomorphism and the relationships between perceived interactivity, attitude toward a brand, attitude toward a digital human, eWOM intention, and purchase intention.

Integrating both the Computers-Are-Social-Actors Theory and Social Exchange Theory, this study investigates human-robot interactions in a frontline service setting. Data was collected via an intercept survey of 282 Gen Z visitors at a polytechnic library in Singapore. The data was analyzed using structural equation modelling with partial least squares. The results demonstrate the significant positive effects of robot anthropomorphism attributes, namely perceived warmth, perceived coolness, appearance, social capability, and personalized service on perceived trust as well as the significant positive effects of perceived coolness and social capability on positive emotion. Both trust and emotion affected consumer co-creation while only emotion impacted consumer wellbeing. The results add to the service robot literature and offer practical guidance for service managers to leverage trust in designing and personalizing inclusive service experiences for successful human-robot interactions.

This study suggests that using AI chatbots with highly human-like characteristics could reduce the effectiveness of personalized AI chatbot advertising because they will likely worsen consumer concerns about privacy. Conversely, using AI chatbot with less human-like characteristics will not heighten consumer privacy concerns, thereby increasing the impact of personalized AI advertising.

Social media influencers have become a powerful tool in marketing in the past decade; consumers who engage with the influencers are more likely to trust their recommendations. A VI is a very attractive marketing tool for brands and businesses. However, there is little empirical work about why and how consumers react to the anthropomorphism of virtual agents. Therefore, this study develops an understanding of how consumers interact with VI, emphasizing the perceived anthropomorphism's role. Consequently, we aim to investigate antecedents and outcomes of perceived anthropomorphism of the VI from online consumers' perspectives to develop and implement effective marketing strategies on social media platforms.

본 연구는 의인화와 긍정적인 사용자 경험의 기제를 밝히기 위해 수행되었다. 이때 CASA (Computers Are Social Actors) 패러다임 접근법을 차용해 사회적 반응과 의인화의 인과관계를 검증하고 이 패러다임에 대한 올바른 이해를 도모했다. 본 연구는 대인관계에서 나타나는 깊은 자기개방의 친밀감 형성 및 의인화 효과를 사람과 대화형에이전트 의 관계에 적용해 사회적 반응과 의인화를 모두 유도했다. 그리고 친밀감으로 치환되는 사회적 연결감과 의인화의 인과관계를 밝히는 심리학 모델로 깊은 자기개방의 의인화 효과에 대한 친밀감의 매개효과를 탐색했다. 더 나아가 대인 특성이 적용된 에이전트 사용 경험이 긍정적으로 나타나는 데 친밀감과 의인화가 어떻게 관여하는지 탐구했다. 연구 결과, 자기개방 깊이가 깊을수록 에이전트가 더 친밀하고 사람답게 지각됐으며, 사용자 경험이 더 긍정적이었 다. 그리고 자기개방 깊이가 의인화와 긍정적인 사용자 경험에 미치는 영향을 친밀감이 완전히 매개하였다. 사람이 사회적 단서를 가지는 대상에 사회적으로 반응하기 때문에 대인 특성이 반영된 컴퓨터를 의인화하고 긍정적으로 평 가하는 것이다. 본 연구는 CASA 패러다임과 의인화 연구를 연결하며 인간 - 컴퓨터 상호작용에 대한 심리학적 설명 가능성을 시사한다. 그리고 의인화와 긍정적인 사용자 경험의 충분조건으로서 사회적 반응 즉, 친밀감의 중요성을 강조한다.

Based on the Anthropomorphism theory and the Computers Are Social Actors paradigm, this research adopts questionnaire method and explores the relationship between robot anthropomorphism, social presence, social cognition and consumer’ continued using intention. In addition, we select technology anxiety as the moderator to explore its boundary effect

This research is an exploratory study that examined how users perceive and evaluate voice assistants differently from websites. Interviews revealed that users of voice assistants apply social norms to a machine. They used social perception descriptors and addressed the voice assistant as an autonomous, female agent and developed social relationships.

외로움은 사회적 연결 욕구가 충족되지 못할 때 갖게 되는 고통스러운 경험이다. 의인화는 동물이나 무생물(예: 컴퓨터)에게 인간의 속성을 부여하는 것인데 비해, 비인간화(dehumanization)는 의인화와 반대되는 과정으로서, 인간을 동물이나 무생물로 인식하는 것이다. 본 연구의 목적은 외로움, 사회적 연결욕구 및 의인화의 관계를 분석하고, 외로움이 의인화, 외집단의 비인간화에 끼치는 영향을 검증하는데 있다. 연구 1에서는 외로움, 사회적 연결욕구 및 의인화의 관계를 분석하고자 외로움 질문지와 의인화과제를 실시하였다. 그 결과 참가자가 외로움을 강하게 느낄수록 컴퓨터와 동물에 대한 의인화의 경향이 더 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 연구 2에서는 실험상황에서 작문과제를 통해 연구참가자들에게 외로움의 정서를 유도한 후, 통제조건에 비해 의인화, 비인간화의 경향 및 이웃에 대한 신뢰감에서 차이가 나타나는지를 비교하였다. 그 결과, 외로움의 조건에서 통제조건보다 의인화, 비인간화 및 이웃에 대한 부정적 정서가 유의하게 더 높게 나타났다. 이 결과는 동물과 무생물에 대한 의인화는 외로움을 해결하기 위한 사회적 연결욕구와 관계가 있으며, 외로움은 다른 인간에 대한 비인간화 및 이웃에 대한 비호감에 영향을 끼칠 가능성을 시사한다.

Even though luxury brands embraced social media (Godey et al., 2016; Kim & Ko, 2012), research on the use of social media for luxury brand marketing is limited. Given the increasing popularity of social media, it is imperative to examine social media-based communication strategies for luxury brands to achieve desirable consumer evaluations of brands and advertising. This research explored the role of brand anthropomorphism strategies in social media in enhancing consumers’ advertising and brand evaluations. Specifically, this research investigated (1) the effects of verbal-based brand anthropomorphism in the luxury goods brand context (Study 1), (2) the effects of verbalbased brand anthropomorphism in the luxury service brand context (Study 2), and (3) the effects of verbal-based brand anthropomorphism cues (Study 3) on consumers’ luxury brand and advertising evaluations. Studies 1 and 2 both collectively examined the role of self-focused anthropomorphized brand effects in two different contexts. Consumers easily connect themselves with an anthropomorphized advertising, compared to an objectified advertising for luxury brands. Study 3 identified the fit between luxury brand type and an anthropomorphized brand cue to explore the effectiveness of brand anthropomorphism. Depending on the type of luxury brands, consumers processed anthropomorphized brand cues differently. Consumers favorably perceived the fit between luxury good brands and partner cues; on the other hand, consumers favorably perceived the fit between luxury service brands and servant cues. Results of this research contribute to the social media advertising and luxury brand marketing literature by clarifying the role of brand anthropomorphism in consumer-brand relationships as well as in brand-advertising relationships. Results also provide industry suggestions for delivering personified brand messages to have desirable consumer brand and advertising evaluations.

Ingredients are the component parts or elements of something. Brands often portray a product’s ingredients, components, and parts as humanlike messengers in advertising and packaging. Nature’s Way, for example, humanizes a strawberry for their Vita Gummies by portraying it with eyes and a mouth. This study explores whether imbuing ingredients or components with humanlike features influences consumer perceptions and decisions. The results of Study 1 demonstrated that anthropomorphizing an ingredient successfully intensified consumer purchase decision in a coffee shop context. However, not all humanized ingredients were effective. The data from Study 2 revealed that anthropomorphizing a primary ingredient was more likely to increase purchase intentions than anthropomorphizing a secondary ingredient. This effect was mediated by quality perceptions. While prior research investigated the effect of product anthropomorphization on consumer responses, our study mainly focused on humanizing the ingredients that constitute a product, an important topic that has not yet been investigated in the marketing and consumer research.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review the previous studies on the characteristics of the image search service provided by using artificial intelligence, the social impact characteristics, and the moderating effect of perceived anthropomorphism, and conduct empirical analysis to identify the constituent factors affecting purchase intention. To clarify. Through this, I tried to present theoretical and practical implications. Research design, data, and methodology: Research design was that characteristics of image search service (ubiquity and information quality) and social impact characteristics (subjective norms, electronic word of mouth marketing) are affected by mediation of satisfaction and flow, therefore, control of perceived anthropomorphism have an effect on purchase intention to increase. For analysis, research conducted literature review, and developed questionnaires, so that EM firm which is a specialized research institute has collected data. This was conducted on 410 people between the 20s and 50s who have mobile shopping experiences. SPSS Statistics 23 and AMOS 23 had been used to perform necessary analysis such as exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, feasibility analysis, and structural equation modeling based on this data. Results: first, ubiquity, information quality and subjective norms were found to have a positive effect on purchase intention through satisfaction and flow parameters. Second, satisfaction and flow were found to have a mediating effect between ubiquity, information quality, and subjective norms and purchase intentions. However, there was no mediating effect between eWOM information and purchase intention. Third, perceived anthropomorphism was found to have a moderating effect between information quality and satisfaction, and it was found that there was no moderating effect on the relationship between information quality and flow. Conclusions: The information quality of image search services using artificial intelligence has a positive effect on satisfaction, and it has been found that there is a positive moderate effect of perceived anthropomorphism in this relationship, which may be an academic contribution to the distribution science utilizing artificial intelligence. Therefore, it is possible to propose a distribution strategy that improves purchase intention by utilizing image search service and anthropomorphism in practical business and providing a more enjoyable immersive experience to customers.