A new study found that consumers predict product quality based on attributes when buying for themselves, but rely on price when someone else makes the purchase. The researchers suggest retailers and salespeople should increase psychological distance to influence quality perceptions through high prices.
A new study by Torsten Bornemann and Christian Homburg found that consumers who evaluate a product from a distance tend to interpret high prices as reflecting high quality. Consumers who face an immediate purchase focus on the role of price as an indicator of monetary sacrifice.
Consumers tend to eat more indulgent food after seeing someone who is overweight, according to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Thinking about personal health goals and reminding oneself of the link between eating and weight problems can help people avoid overindulging.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that hopeful consumers are more likely to choose healthy snacks like fruit over unhealthy options like candy bars. The authors suggest that this is because hopeful individuals focus on the future, rather than dwelling on past experiences or present emotions.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that dieters are misled by food names and may choose unhealthy options. Dieters focus on avoiding forbidden foods based on product names, leading them to perceive items with healthy names as less healthy.
A study found that traffic fatalities rise near winning teams' hometowns on game days. The closer the game, the more fatalities, particularly those involving alcohol. Losing teams' hometowns showed no increase.
Textiles and rope fragments found in a Peruvian cave have been dated to around 12,000 years ago, confirming the antiquity of artifacts previously found at the site. The dating technique used reveals that women may have played a key role in textile production during early high-altitude explorations.
Research by Brian Duncan and Stephen Trejo found that third-generation Mexican youth are more successful than previously reported, as many fail to identify as Mexican due to intermarriage with non-Mexicans. This 'ethnic attrition' skews results, leading to a downward bias in measures of attainment.
A cross-cultural study found negative attitudes toward fat bodies in every location surveyed, revealing a rapid 'globalization of fat stigma' and a shift away from traditional fat-positive values. The study suggests that newer forms of media and public health campaigns may be driving this change.
Experts have difficulty recalling product features, especially when explaining their logic, according to a study. Novices do not have prior knowledge that can confuse actual recall with other information stored in memory. As a result, novices may outperform experts in product comparisons.
A new study found that consumers' predicted consumption time is influenced by their assessment of the experience and its representation. Breaking down pleasurable events into subactivities increases expected time spent, while unpacking unpleasant events decreases it.
Researchers found that asking participants to predict their future behavior breaks their habits, but this only works for behaviors with strong personal goals. For behaviors without personal norms, predicting the past behavior reinforces existing habits.
A new study finds that signing one's name can increase engagement among consumers who strongly identify with a product category, leading to more purchases. However, it has the opposite effect on those who don't identify strongly, reducing time spent in stores and fewer shoe tries.
Research suggests people who exert self-control are drawn to aggressive art and public policy appeals, leading to increased irritability and quickness to anger. This is contrary to messages that promote behavioral change, which can be perceived as controlling.
A study found that people overestimate their abilities relative to others and underestimate for difficult tasks. This phenomenon affects product choices as consumers consider their relative position in the market.
The modern understanding of homosexuality originated in 19th-century Germany with the Imperial Criminal Code's anti-sodomy law, sparking public inquiry into same-sex eroticism. This led to key components of modern gay rights, including recognizing same-sex attraction as a fundamental aspect of individual biology or psychology.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that rejecting alternatives can lead consumers to reverse their preferences. Consumers may focus on less-preferred options when trying to decide what they don't want, making them more likely to notice appealing features of alternative options.
A study found that consumers are more likely to react negatively to poor service from a friend than a business associate. The researchers suggest that this is because people in friendships expect their partners to be concerned about them, and when this expectation is not met, it can lead to feelings of betrayal.
Researchers found that participants were willing to pay more for items owned by well-liked celebrities due to the concept of contagion, which suggests that people can transfer an individual's immaterial qualities onto an object. In contrast, despised individuals decreased the value of their belongings
A new study found that guitar players desire replicas of instruments to tap into the perceived magic of their favorite rock stars. These fetishes provide confidence and reduce anxiety, leading to improved performance.
A new study reveals that women avoid transactions with male service providers in STEM situations due to fear of stereotypes about their math and science abilities. Female consumers express lower intentions to purchase from firms advertising male service providers.
A recent study challenges the long-held assumption that early humans were significantly different from modern humans. Archaeologist John Shea found no single behavioral revolution in human evolution, but rather wide variability in toolmaking strategies over time. This research has significant implications for understanding human behavi...
A study by Mario Pandelaere and colleagues found that consumers tend to perceive larger differences between ratings with higher numbers, not necessarily because of actual quantity. For instance, a 7-year warranty might seem more desirable than an 8-month one due to the arbitrary nature of unit representation.
Research on grizzly bears reveals a complex series of changes in their hearts as they hibernate, including the adaptation of a protein called myosin heavy chain. The left atrium produces more alpha protein, resulting in a weaker beat, to prevent damage from pushing against the stiffened ventricle.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that people who feel depleted from exerting self-control tend to pass up the most desirable choices and opt for options with lower-level features. This is known as the 'easy path effect', where individuals prioritize short-term rewards over long-term benefits.
A recent study by Kurt A. Carlson and Jacqueline M. Conard discovered that the first letter of one's childhood surname influences consumer behavior, with individuals having late alphabet surnames responding faster to purchasing opportunities, whereas those with early alphabet surnames tend to wait in line.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that women outperform men in figuring out innovative products. Women are able to accurately identify unusual products when exposed to ads alongside similar or related items, but struggle to remember specific product claims.
A new study explores how emotions hinder safety product decisions, finding that people reject imperfectly safe options due to feelings of betrayal. Providing positive images and presenting information in a graphic format can help consumers make safer choices. Influencing others' choices can also encourage safer decisions.
A recent study by Keisha M. Cutright et al. reveals that individuals with low confidence in their government tend to choose subtle ways of showing support, such as buying U.S.-based products or preferring domestic brands like Nike over foreign alternatives.
Research finds that asking for advice can increase likelihood of patronizing a business and donating to a nonprofit. On the other hand, soliciting expectations creates distance and reduces subsequent transactions.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that gift-givers who choose gifts that contradict their own identity experience discomfort and are more likely to choose alternative products. The researchers investigated how social closeness affects this process, revealing that those with stronger bonds experience greater discomfort.
A new study by Daniel M. Bartels and Oleg Urminsky found that consumers struggle to connect with their future selves, leading to impatient consumption habits. When people feel a strong sense of identity with their future self, they are more patient and willing to save for long-term benefits.
A new study by Sara Kim and Ann L. McGill found that people who feel powerful are more likely to believe they can beat cancer if it's described in human terms, leading to lower perceived risks. In contrast, those who feel powerless perceive greater risk when faced with humanized products.
A new study on commercialized climbing expeditions on Everest found that paying climbers tend to prioritize individual accomplishments over communal experiences. The research suggests that transformative experiences can reinforce an individualistic and competitive ethos, undermining feelings of camaraderie.
A new study by John L. Lastovicka and Nancy J. Sirianni reveals that consumers can form strong emotional bonds with their possessions, such as cars and firearms. The researchers found that love-smitten consumers are more likely to invest time and money into improving their prized possessions.
A new study by Nailya Ordabayeva and Pierre Chandon reveals that increasing equality decreases consumer envy, but also boosts status spending among bottom-tier consumers. In experiments, participants were more likely to spend money on purchases that would improve their social standing when the distribution was less equal.
Researchers challenge traditional views of individuality, proposing an evolutionary perspective that considers the fitness interests of component parts. Meanwhile, a surge in play research reveals its diverse causal mechanisms and evolutionary histories across animal species.
New research by James Evans highlights industry's role in advancing academic science by encouraging novel discovery and exploring previously unexplored biological processes. Industry-funded work tends to stray from theoretical hubs, whereas government-funded studies cluster around related themes and theoretical hubs.
Archaeologists propose that the Persian Gulf Oasis may have been home to humans for over 100,000 years, challenging current migration models. The region's fertile landscape and abundant resources would have supported early human settlements.
A study of 10 nursing homes in California found that 31% of residents carried MRSA, with rates varying widely between facilities. The findings suggest that some nursing homes are effective in containing the bacteria, but more research is needed to understand their strategies.
Researchers found that when people believe a goal is autonomously chosen, they experience increased motivation and value, whereas imposed choices lead to decreased motivation. This study has implications for consumer behavior and marketing strategies.
Researchers found that inconsistent portion sizes contribute to people's uncertainty about eating appropriate amounts, leading to 'guiltless gluttony'. This effect is more pronounced when consumers are less concerned with accurate nutrition intake or have limited cognitive resources.
A new study found that football bettors often favor favorite teams over underdogs, despite point spreads intended to reflect crowd wisdom. The researchers suggest a method to improve predictions: asking people to estimate point differentials instead of making choices against spreads.
A new study published in Journal of Consumer Research explores how pride affects consumer self-control decisions. Researchers discovered that pride has two opposing forces: one promotes indulgence and the other facilitates self-control.
A new study reveals that consumers who strongly identify with a brand may experience shame and insecurity when betrayed, leading to negative actions against the brand. Companies can mitigate this by promoting forgiveness, indifference, or effective disengagement.
A new study finds that consumers are often confused by zero values when comparing products, leading to unexpected choices. The Zero-Comparison Effect reveals how relative differences matter more than absolute ones in decision-making.
Research on self-fertilization reveals that it may not always be an evolutionary advantage but can evolve as a side-effect of drought-avoiding life cycles. Flower shape evolution is also influenced by pollinator preferences, with different shapes preferred by different types of insects.
The mangrove killifish uses its skin to maintain ion balance, exchanging ions through the skin cells called ionocytes. The fish can also adapt to varying salinity levels, with skin ionocytes getting bigger in response to saltwater and returning to normal size when returned to water.
Education has played a crucial role in Sudan's fifty-year civil war, deepening the country's divisions. Schools were targeted to impose Islamic values and alienated South Sudanese people who are largely Christian or adherents of indigenous religions.
A new study found that clenching muscles can increase willpower by activating the mind-body connection. Participants who tightened their muscles demonstrated greater ability to withstand pain and make healthy choices.