This study responds to literature calls to investigate the different social and psychological antecedents of negative consumer emotional well-being in the context of the health crisis Covid-19. We perform a path analysis on a sample of Australian consumers during the Covid-19 lockdown. We find that social norms and word-ofmouth increase consumer fear-of-missing-out which in turn fuels panic buying behavior. Such behavior is moreover spurred by positive motivations to panic buy. By contrast, we find that consumer ability to self-regulate during Covid-19’s reduces their tendencies to succumb to panic buying. We moreover find that such self-regulation is enhanced through sustainable product consumption behavior during Covid-19. Lastly, it was found that panic buying has a negative influence on emotional well-being of consumers. Implications of our findings for theory and future research directions are provided.
Green consumption behavior (GCB) is desirable for a better world. The trend of GCB is expected to rise in the coming years. As such, it is imperative to understand the enablers of GCB. A significant majority of the investigated drivers of GCB are consumer-level factors. Studies focusing on the consumer-level showed that factors such as values, intentions, and personal norms could influence GCB. However, it is argued that compared to values or intentions, self-determined motivation can better predict GCB. The effect of self-determined motivation types (i.e., autonomous and controlled motivation) on GCB remains unclear due to prevailing gaps and contradictory findings. Furthermore, it is posited that people exhibit more self-determined behavior if they have strong self-awareness. Higher self-awareness can be achieved through mindfulness; therefore, differences in mindfulness level could affect the motivation-behavior relationship.
The research employs factor analysis, followed by a MANOVA procedure to explore relationships between fashion consumption and social media usage behavior based on data collected from 447 individuals. Findings suggest that social media usage and apparel consumption motivations interact, particularly for whom use social media for instant-self presentation.
Individuals consume products and services as a means of symbolic self-expression in private and public contexts (Ahuvia, 2005; Belk, 1988; Harmon-Kizer et al., 2013). The body should be seen as the continuation of the individual, as the self is exhibited to others via its embodiment (Borelli and Casotti, 2012). Thus, the body functions as object that can serve self-expressive purposes and consumption behaviors (Schouten, 1991). Meanwhile, cosmetic surgery is described as a “fashion object” (Venkatesh et al., 2010, p. 468) and a form of extreme symbolic consumption that uses the body as an object to express the self (Schouten, 1991). Research indicates that individuals use of cosmetic surgery as a means of self-identity reconstruction (Askegard et al., 2002) and that motivational antecedents such as sociocultural influences, competition with others, media influence, body appreciation, and a materialist orientation are drivers of cosmetic surgery (Henderson-King and Brooks, 2009; Markley-Roundtree and Davis, 2011; Swami et al., 2009). Contrary to prior evidence, we argue that besides being a consequence, cosmetic surgery acts also as an antecedent that influences materialist consumption practices through changes to a consumers’ self. Surprisingly, despite the growing number of cosmetic surgery procedures around the globe and the self as a key driver of consumer behavior, no study to date has explored how cosmetic surgery acts as an antecedent of materialistic consumption practices through potential alterations of an individual’s self. We carried out semi-structured in-depth interviews with 10 South Korean participants. Our participants were 22 to 57 years old, representing a range of income and professional roles. They had previously undergone plastic surgery procedures such as double eyelid surgery, breast enhancementt and nose surgery. First, our findings suggest that materialism is not just an antecedent of cosmetic surgery propensity (Henderson-King and Brooks, 2009), but also that cosmetic surgery influences materialist consumption practices (e.g. cosmetics, beach vacations) through changes to the self. Second, our findings indicate that individuals need to control influences how cosmetic surgery shapes the self. Specifically, consumers seek cosmetic surgery to bridge the discrepancy between the physical self (provided by nature) and their “sought” psychological self. Third, our findings illustrate the role of marketplace cultures and, in particular, socio-cultural driven factors that interact with the self in a cosmetic surgery context (Arnoud and Thompson, 2005). Fourth, our findings show that cosmetic surgery leads to various emotional outcomes through changes to the self (i.e. pride, self-satisfaction, subjective happiness, and increased guilt). We contribute to discourses of embodied practices (e.g. cosmetic surgery) related to the self and materialism (e.g., Richins, 2012; Schouten, 1991; Venkatesh et al., 2010).
Consumption practices for self-construction and impression management have been widely studied. However, most research adopts snap-shot, cross-sectional views and focuses mainly on leisure and home settings, giving little attention to the mundane context of workplace. Building on the works of Goffman and Bourdieu, this study takes an over-time view to understand how professionals acquire cultural capital related resources and practices for impression management over their career life. Based on retrospective narrative inquiries (Davies & Fitchett, 2015) and a novel on-route walking-with interview (Richardson, 2015) to capture bodily and other affective resonances, this paper reports on our analysis so far with ten senior executives in Hong Kong, as part of an on-going study. Mutability and agency are key to understand the biographical evolution of cultural capital for impression management. Exclusive resources and practices, such as grooming styles and dining choices, are found as ‘class-markers’ in the workplace (Bourdieu 1984), which also keep changing over people’s career life. With thin cultural capital, junior executives can only rely on extrinsic ‘sign vehicles’ (Goffman 1959) such as appearance and surface diligence to extend their work identity (Belk, 1988; Tian and Belk 2005). Over time, when cultural capital is accumulated through accrued learning and socialization (Bourdieu, 1977; Skeggs, 2004), senior executives climb up the career ladder by building up embodied habitus to differentiate themselves through more intrinsic competence and practices, such as discourse and decisive judgement. The study also reflects the field-specific nature of cultural capital (Bourdieu & Wacquant, 1992) and finds that resources valued in one field could become liabilities or capital shocks in another. Such ‘embodied hysteresis’ is found attributable to the rupture between the changing field conditions (McDonough & Polzer, 2012) and we example how executives struggle with self-field incongruity when switching workplaces. Lastly, the study reveals that the workplace is itself a potent ground for learning embodied competences for workplace consumption and practices. Secondary socialization through observation of the referenced others and continuous self-reflection is found to be a crucial source of acquiring cultural capital for self-presentation.
This research investigates luxury consumption preferences for different types of luxury goods (quiet vs loud) and shopping environments (online vs offline), as a function of individual motivation (bandwagon vs snob) and self-construal (independent vs interdependent), using a quantitative approach (online survey). Bandwagon-motivated consumers, as well as those with higher levels of interdependent self-construals show significant preferences for conspicuously branded luxury goods. Conversely, snobmotivated consumers show significant preferences for inconspicuously branded luxury goods. Finally, consumers displaying preferences for conspicuously branded luxury goods engage in both webrooming and showrooming behaviours, highlighting the complementary nature of online and in-store shopping. Results are discussed in the light of luxury consumption in the 21st century.
This research aims to examine the different types of consumers’ self-concept profiles towards nostalgic advertising. Furthermore, two moderators are proposed to enhance two different types of relationships. First, brand heritage moderates the relationship between nostalgia proneness and nostalgia intensity towards the ad (NIAD). Second, brand experiences moderate the relationship between NIAD and purchase intention. The effectiveness of nostalgic advertising is also assessed in times of economic slump and political tension.
Despite the growing trend of incorporating ethnic motifs, colors, and styles (i.e., ethnic-inspired designs (EIDs)) into mainstream fashion products in the US, there is yet a lack of understanding on what drives consumers to demand such products with EIDs. Although extant literature provides important insights as to what motivates consumers to favor EIDs, much of the studies have focused on the products’ appeals to particular ethnic groups with matching their cultural backgrounds. Less is understood on the core self-centric values mainstream consumers reflect into EIDs and the personal goal-pursuit they project by wearing them. We address this issue. Building upon Image Theory (Beach & Mitchell, 1987), our findings document that consumers’ purchase intent toward products with EIDs is more fundamentally driven by their aspirations to boost their self-view confidence by wearing EIDs (i.e., self-enhancement), which are guided by their core self-values that are represented by two personal values (i.e., cultural openness and seeking personal style) and two product values (i.e., perceived esthetics and perceived novelty).
This article explores alternate ways to conceptualize self-nature relationship, that is, how nature in general, rather than specific nature places, become part of the extended self and how this influences responsible consumption. An ethnography, using participant observation, iterative in-depth interviews and photographs, was used to understand self-nature relationship and consumption behavior. The study was conducted in Malaysia using the English language as the medium of communication. The results suggest three levels of extended-self, reflecting the individual’s depth of relationship with nature; relational extended-self, encapsulated-self and assimilated-self. Nature as extended self, then, influences meanings attached to nature which results in different levels of attachment with nature; these are, functional, emotional, religious and spiritual attachment. When nature is perceived as separate from self, consumption behaviour is motivated by self-interest or self-preservation. As nature experiences are internalised, individuals begin to form emotional connections which initiates the process of self-extension whereby nature is progressively seen as part of the self. At the higher level, stronger affiliation with nature may result in religious or spiritual attachment, which motivates further assimilation of the self with nature and a sense of oneness with the broader universe promoting communal relationship and mutual gain. Our study contributes theoretically with the discovery of three dimensions of extended self and how extended self influences responsible consumption. Practically, these insights are valuable for public policy, social marketing and sustainability programs, for example, it highlights a possible solution to our unsustainable consumption behaviour which is, programs or activities which encourage our citizens to spend time with nature.
본 연구는 사회경제적 지위(socioeconomic status: SES)가 문화적 자기효능감에 미치는 직접적인 영향을, 문화예술 콘텐츠 소비향유와 문화예술 지식을 통해 각각 간접적으로 미치는 영향들과 비교 분석하였다. 이를 통해 사회경제적 지위가 어떤 경로로 통해 문화적 자기효능감을 극대화시킬 수 있는지를 살펴보았다. 본 연구는 전국 단위의 성별·연령별 비례할당에 의한 무작위 표본(N=547) 추출에 근거하여 실증 분석하였다. 연구결과, 첫째 사회경제적 지위는 문화적 자기효능감에 정(+)적 영향을 미쳤을 뿐 아니라, 문화예술 콘텐츠 소비향유와 문화예술 지식을 매개로 하여 문화적 자기효능감에 간접적으로도 정(+)적 영향을 미쳤다. 둘째, 사회경제적 지위가 문화적 자기효능감에 미치는 이들 직간접적인 영향 사이에는 유의미한 크기 차이가 없었다. 셋째, 그러나 사회경제적 지위가 문화예술 콘텐츠 소비향유 활동을 증가시키고, 이것이 문화예술 지식을 높일 경우 문화적 자기효능감은 앞서 직간접적 영향보다 더 크게 증강된다는 사실을 발견하였다. 이는 단순히 사회경제적 지위만으로 문화적 자기효능감이 극대화되지는 않는다는 것을 시사한다. 즉 문화예술 콘텐츠 소비향유 활동과 문화지식의 증가가 같이 수반돼야 한다는 것이다. 끝으로 이론적·현실적 함의를 논의하였다.
The aim of this paper is to assess the mediating effect of self-congruity on the relationship between susceptibility to interpersonal influence and status consumption. The findings of this paper are based on 222 sample. The paper utilises Baron and Kenny procedure and Sobel test to examine the mediation effects of self-congruity on the relationship between susceptibility to interpersonal influence and status consumption. Results indicate that self-congruity played a mediating role in the effect of susceptibility to interpersonal influence on status consumption. A partial type of mediation was established. Possible areas for further research are indicated at the end of the paper.
The purpose of this study were to investigate middle and high school students' food habits and food attitudes, and to assess student's nutrient consumption. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on review of literature. The questionnaire consisted of three sections (food habits, food attitudes, and food consumption). The questionnaires were distributed to 4,050 students enrolled in 34 middle and high schools located in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gyeongnam provinces. A final response rate was 88.2% (3,570) excluding responses that had significant missing data. Data of the food habits and food attitudes were analyzed with descriptive analysis, 2-test, and t-test using SPSS WIN(ver.11.0). The student's self-reported food consumption data was converted into nutrient consumption using conversion factor. Many middle and high school students skipped breakfast and/or dinner. Approximately 29% of the students did not eat vegetables and fruits. Scores of the middle school student's attitudes(19.1) towards foods were significantly higher than those of the high school student's attitudes(18.7)(p〈.001). Student's nutrient intakes were estimated according to the student's self-reported food consumption data. The nutrient intakes were compared with DRIs(Dietary Reference Intakes: DRIs) for their age groups. The result of EAR(Estimated Average Requirement: EAR) cut-point method demonstrated 57.7% of middle school boys, 64.4% of middle school girls, 70.2% of high school boys, and 71.0% of high school girls did not meet EAR for Calcium. Additionally, it showed that 39.0% of middle school boys, 23.7% of middle school girls, 58.4% of high school boys, and 24.4% of high school girls did not consume EAR for Vitamin B1. 25.7% of middle school boys did not meet EAR for Vitamin B2, while 44.4% high school boys did not satisfy EAR for Vitamin B2.
Purpose: Current study aimed at exploring the roles of system justification in the effects of consumers’ self-identification with the threatened social in-group on the within-domain versus across-domain consumption. It focused on whether there are positive effects of both of the self-definition and the self-investment on the in-group system justification, and also explored whether the system justification, in turn, could make positive effects on the consumption. Research design, data and methodology: The self-identification was approached in view of self-definition and self-investment when the in-group was threatened by members of their out group. The empirical study was performed with the single factor within-subject design based on the feeling of the consumers’ being threatened when the ingroup was criticized by the others. The in-group threatened was accessed from the memory of each of the undergraduate students participating in the empirical study by asking them to remember the events by which their important in-group was perceived to be threatened in their past life. Questionnaire data collected from the undergraduate students were used to verify research hypotheses by structural equation model in Amos 21.0 program. Results: First, the self-definition positively affected the within-domain versus acrossdomain consumption, but did not affect the in-group system justification. Second, the self-investment positively affected the in-group system justification. Third, the system justification made positive effects on the within-domain versus the across-domain consumption. Therefore, this article could contribute to the development of the theory related to compensatory consumption in the view that there could be the positive mediation roles of system justification in the effects of consumers’ self-investment to their in-group on the within-domain versus across-domain consumption when the in-group is threatened. Conclusions: The results of this study could give managerial implications to brand or product marketing managers. How to vitalize consumers’ self-definition with, and self-investment to, the threatened in-group is at issue to the marketers when consumers’ important in-group was threatened by others. By evoking the in-groupbased self-investment to consumers when the in-group was threatened, the marketers should increase the level of the system justification, and the marketers should promote the consumers to recognize that their products or brands are included into the within-self domain.