How much do you like a person who loves the brands you hate? We investigated an effect we call the brand negativity bias, which occurs when an unfavorable brand reduces the attitudes toward an associated target product or person. Using a person perception paradigm in the context of brand placements, Experiment 1 established that unfavorable brands reduced attitudes toward a new digital product (i.e., a movie) in which the brand was placed. Experiment 2 showed this effect was driven by a reduced ability to connect with the character in the movie who was associated with an unfavorable brand in two serial processes (lower perceived similarity leading to lower empathy). These results provide the first evidence showing how unfavorable brands can reduce empathy between people. Supporting the brand negativity bias, we found that unfavorable brands yielded stronger effects across every evaluative outcome suggesting that unfavorable brands held more influence over consumer judgment compared to favorable brands. Lastly, these results add a layer of complexity to B2B partnerships and tell a cautionary story of when unfavorable brand associations transfer between entities.

본 연구에서는 국내 선행 연구에서 간과되어 왔던 내국 브랜드를 대상으로 브랜드 글로벌성이 품질 인식에 미 치는 영향을 분석하였다. 동시에, 본 연구에서 브랜드 글로벌성의 효과가 제품 특성에 따라 달라질 수 있음을 검증하고자 하였다. 제품 특성으로 국가 전형성, 구매 위험도 및 상징적 가치를 살펴봤다. 가설 검증을 위해 전국 성인 소비자 356명 대상으로 온라인 조사를 시행하였다. 검증 결과, 브랜드 글로벌성이 브랜드 현지성과 함께 내국 브랜드에도 중요한 품질 단서로서 소비자들이 인식 한 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 브랜드 현지성 대비 글로벌성의 중요성이 제품의 국가 전형성 즉 한국을 대표하는 정도가 높을수록, 제품의 상징성 즉 사회 신호적 가치와 소비 가시성이 높을수록 커지는 것으로 나타났다. 반면 에 구매 위험도에 따라 브랜드 글로벌성의 중요성은 달라지지 않았다.

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of brand extensions. Specifically, the study examines how consumers’ perceived fit between parent brand and newly extended brands may help facilitate consumers’ post extension evaluation of parent brand equity and brand concept.

This study demonstrates how consumers’ implicit self-theory orientations (Entity vs. Incremental) relate to their perceptions of luxury brand appeals (Functional vs. Non-functional). Specifically, our experiments show that the entity theorists are likely to value the hedonic appeal of luxury brands, whereas incremental theorists value their functional appeal. The study provides useful insights for managers for designing advertising messages and their positioning strategies for luxury brands.