Consumers who focus on long-term goals exert self-control and resist unhealthy urges, even when faced with repeated challenges. Long-term goal-focused individuals linked health tasks to important goals, boosting self-control and reducing the impact of fatigue.
Researchers found that backcasters, who imagine future feelings and consider event information, predict more extreme emotions than forecasters. This approach could benefit marketers by changing consumers' expectations about their feelings after an event.
A study by Joseph P. Redden and Stephen J. Hoch found that variety in optical illusions leads to underestimation of quantity, causing individuals to pour more when faced with a mix of items. This perception affects food portions and may contribute to overeating.
According to evolutionary biologist Alan Walker, human fine motor control limits strength compared to chimps. Humans use fewer muscle fibers for tasks, while chimps use more due to less motor neuron control. This allows humans to conserve energy and perform delicate tasks, but may also limit their physical endurance.
Research suggests that female mammals use olfactory cues to select genetically dissimilar mates for healthier offspring. Mammals may prefer males with unique scents over those with parasites or dominant traits. This line of research reveals the importance of mammalian mate choice, challenging traditional assumptions.
A study published in the Journal of Labor Economics found that immigrants to Sweden who change their foreign-sounding names experience an increase in earnings, with African, Asian, and Slavic immigrants seeing a 141% rise. The study suggests that name changes improve job interview chances and employment probabilities.
A recent study published in Physiological and Biochemical Zoology found that mice with increased metabolism live just as long as those with slower metabolic rates, casting doubt on the rate-of-living theory. This contradicts the idea that faster living animals die young.
A recent study suggests that emotions play a crucial role in shaping consumer preferences, leading to greater consistency in choice-making. The researchers found that relying on feelings rather than cognitive thinking results in more consistent and long-term happiness.
Researchers found that shoppers focus on the first digit of prices, leading to biased decision-making. The study suggests that consumers should be aware of this tendency when making purchases.
A new study found that mentioning time makes consumers more likely to purchase and enjoy products. Consumers are more likely to feel personal connections with products when they're primed to think about time. However, there were exceptions to this finding, particularly for status products like designer jeans.
A study found that people tend to overestimate their long-term enjoyment of products, leading them to choose cheaper options with fewer features. This is because consumers who think about how long they will use a product and anticipate decreased enjoyment are less likely to buy premium items.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that donations are driven by overlap between donors and recipients, rather than cause-worthiness. Women tend to donate more to victims of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, while men donate more to victims of terrorist attacks.
A new study demonstrates simple techniques to avoid extreme actions when feeling depressed or happy. Focusing on reasons why feelings will pass or last can help individuals act in their long-term interests.
A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that highly materialistic individuals were equally happy with positive purchases of either experiential or material goods. However, emotional intensity decreases more quickly after material purchases than experiential ones.
Researchers found that consumers' quality expectations were initially misled by biasing cues, but they learned from these mistakes and made more accurate judgments in subsequent purchases. The study suggests marketers should rethink their strategies for misleading consumers with false attributes, as it may backfire on repeat purchases.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that Asian consumers are more tolerant of nonsocial failures due to their strong belief in fate, while Western consumers are more demanding. The researchers also discovered that brands emphasizing fate can increase Asian consumers' tolerance for social failures.
A new study suggests that women's attitudes toward sexually oriented advertising can improve if ads depict sex in a manner consistent with women's intrinsic values, such as devotion and commitment. Experiment 1 found that commitment-related cues in the ad boosted women's attitudes towards the product.
A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that commercials improve television viewing experience by disrupting viewer adaptation, making shows more enjoyable. Commercial interruptions were particularly beneficial for younger consumers and certain types of content, such as sitcoms and documentaries.
Researchers found that exposing consumers to product features from outside their initial category can increase awareness and improve evaluations. Hybrid products, such as phones with cameras or watch/cameras, often confuse consumers due to the single-category belief problem.
A new study reveals that socially desirable responding, where people present a more favorable image of themselves, affects the accuracy of surveys globally. Cognitive busyness and cultural orientation play a significant role in this phenomenon.
Research reveals that retirees are actively engaging in new projects and revisiting old interests, seeking personal growth and fulfillment. The study identifies two types of identity work: self-expression and affiliation, which help seniors create a lasting legacy or connect with others.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research finds that gifts from family members have great symbolic value, treated with care, and become surrogate family members. Families sustain their heritage by imposing hierarchies on assets, expanding our understanding of inalienable wealth.
Research by University of Pennsylvania economists finds the American population as a whole is no happier than it was three decades ago, but happiness inequality has narrowed significantly. The study found that non-whites report being significantly happier than they were in the early 1970s, while whites are slightly less happy.
Researchers developed a model explaining how consumers categorize new hybrid products, finding that activation flows through category structures. The Category Activation Model predicts positioning a new subcategory under relevant parent categories with many subcategories connected
A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers are drawn to products near a winning streak, regardless of whether luck actually plays a role. This phenomenon, known as 'contagiousness,' influences product choice and advertising persuasiveness.
Researchers discover that subtle manipulations like using non-dominant hands can lower self-confidence, but purchasing products or affirming unrelated values can restore it. Participants who chose healthier options after being shaken out of their confidence were more likely to have been given the opportunity to bolster their self-view.
A new study explores the phenomenon of consuming past expiration dates, finding that owning a product increases its valuation. Consumers are more likely to eat or drink expired food at home than in stores, despite lower perceived risk.
A new study reveals that offering parity information in ads can enhance brand evaluation, especially when presented consistently with the audience's goal orientation. The effectiveness depends on the consumer's mindset and purchasing goals.
A new study by Thomas P. Novak and Donna L. Hoffman found that consumers approach problems with either rational or experiential thinking styles. Rational thinking is characterized as logical, effortful, and analytical, while experiential thinking is associative, lower-effort, and holistic.
A study by Bertini et al. found that consumers favorably perceive products with add-ons, particularly those improving existing features, while negative impressions of optional upgrades lead to more favorable ratings. Conversely, participants tend to like downgrades over no add-ons at all.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that materialism and death anxiety are linked to brand loyalty. Materialistic consumers experience a stronger connection to brands when death anxiety is high, using them as a source of symbolic security.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people's level of desire to think analytically about choices (NFC) and cognitive load significantly impact their use of mental shortcuts when making product selections. Researchers identified two factors that can lead consumers to use heuristics, including NFC and cognitive load.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people who deliberately weigh their options make less accurate judgments than those who trust their instincts. In five separate studies, researchers found that complex decisions led to decreased effectiveness of deliberation.
A new study by Nicole Votolato Montgomery and H. Rao Unnava found that consumers tend to favor vacations with improved outcomes over those with worsened outcomes when evaluated immediately, but reverse preferences emerge after a delay.
A new study reveals that spitting cobras create complex geometric patterns of venom when striking, which are actively produced by the snake's muscles. This allows them to hit their targets with remarkable precision, making contact with an attacker's eyes where it causes severe pain and possibly blindness.
A new study found that local governments issue more traffic citations when revenue falls, as a means of generating additional income. The research controlled for demographic and economic differences, revealing a statistically significant correlation between revenue shortfalls and increased ticket issuance.
A recent study in the Journal of Political Economy found that prejudice accounts for approximately one-quarter of the racial wage gap in the US. The study suggests that levels of prejudice among the least prejudiced have a strong influence on wage gaps, while levels among the most prejudiced have no effect.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people are more likely to choose healthy options when faced with a large variety of menu items. This is because choosing from larger assortments is often more difficult, leading people to select easier-to-justify options.
A new study found that individuals with anxious attachment styles prefer brands with sincere personalities, such as Gap, while those with avoidant styles opt for exciting brands like Abercrombie. This research highlights the moderating role of attachment styles on consumer-brand connections.
A new study examines how consumers evaluate brand features to make choices, finding that goal-oriented individuals prefer rapid progress in decision-making, while those focused on avoiding mistakes value detailed information. This understanding has important implications for designing persuasive marketing messages.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research uncovers a strategy for releasing consumers from 'regret lock' after missing a sale. By offering alternative sales on similar products, retailers can increase purchase likelihood and market share.
A new study found that marketing messages in people's native languages are more effective at evoking emotions than those in foreign languages. The researchers believe this effect is due to personal memories and language context, which are more accessible when the message is written in the consumer's native tongue.
Researchers found that initial questions deplete self-control resources, making consumers more vulnerable to persuasion. This strategy increases donations and compliance with charitable requests.
A new study found that consuming a single chocolate truffle can induce cravings for fatty foods and awaken desires for luxury items. Researchers discovered that people who were allowed to eat the truffle unconsciously activated a goal of indulgence, leading them to desire more treats.
Researchers found that adding a subordinate elite tier to a top-tier program enhances perceptions of status, while diluting the perception of status occurs when too many elites are added. The study shows that customers value exclusive programs even if they don't qualify for the highest tiers.
A new study by Yu Chen found that buying and viewing art share similar benefits, including the desire for aesthetics, sociality, and novelty. Collectors and visitors to galleries share common values but differ in their motivations, with collectors seeking a long-term intimate relationship with artworks.
A new study by University of Chicago researchers found that consumers prefer products with more specifications, even meaningless ones. Participants chose between digital cameras, towels, and other products, prioritizing those with the most specs.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research identifies four product claim structures that can be more effective in different situations. Consumers employ different logical strategies to counteract pitches, with alternative causes and disabling conditions affecting believability.
A study by Peter Leeson and Russell Sobel found that each $100 of FEMA-provided disaster relief increases the average state's corruption by nearly 102 percent. Notably, hurricane-prone states with high FEMA allocations have more corruption convictions per capita.
A new study suggests that having an imperfect body may come with benefits for some women, as hormones redistribute fat from the hips to the waist. This redistribution is associated with increased strength and competitiveness, but not necessarily lower fertility or chronic disease rates.