Researchers found that people can cultivate effective online communication strategies by using emoticons, subject lines, and signatures to convey tone and context. Common devices used include capital letters, quotations, emoticons, and punctuation to indicate sarcasm or enthusiasm.
A study found that loyal customers search for evidence a competitor brand is bad, while less loyal customers seek confirmation it's good. Researchers changed perceptions by shifting focus from dissimilarities to similarities or vice versa.
A new study reveals that positive moods increase our ability to understand the big picture and make healthier decisions. Researchers found that people in a good mood think more abstractly and adopt higher-order future goals.
A new study finds that high levels of individualism are associated with increased beer and alcohol consumption. In the US, individualistic regions showed higher rates of teen drinking, heavy drinking, and adult binge drinking.
A new study finds that individuals with high and low self-control categorize items differently as necessities or luxuries. People with low self-control tend to categorize fewer items as necessities, making it more challenging to stick to their goals.
A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that individuals tend to protect their memories of special experiences from being repeated. Participants preferred to acquire souvenirs that would help them remember meaningful experiences rather than mundane ones, even if they were more memorable.
A University of Chicago Press Journals study finds that unrealistic optimism in exercising leads to overestimation, costly treadmill purchases, and a more decisive personality. Researchers suggest instructing consumers to be less idealistic may improve realistic estimates.
Researchers found that allergy symptoms may protect against cancer by removing foreign particles and substances from organs that come into contact with them. However, the relationship between asthma and lung cancer is a special case where asthma actually increases lung cancer rates.
Researchers found that uninformed voters respond to abstract messages when voting far in the future, while concrete messages sway them when the choice is near. This effect applies to various consumption contexts like college decisions or car purchases.
A new study predicts that a two-degree temperature increase could shrink kangaroo populations by 48% and lead to their possible extinction in northern Australia. Climate change is likely to affect habitats, particularly water availability, making it harder for kangaroos to adapt.
A study found that online gamblers think they're more in control of their behavior compared to casino gamblers, but this is not the case due to a lack of social connections and intense sensations., The researchers believe regulating online gambling could remove its excitement.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers are more likely to make a purchase when given complete information about products. Marketers can apply these strategies to reduce the number of customers who leave empty-handed and increase sales.
Researchers found that modern club culture offers a more contained, regulated experience compared to underground raves. The emphasis on dancing and Ecstasy use has survived into the new era, but with increased regulation making it a more publicly acceptable form of partying.
A recent study found that repeated exposure to brands through everyday interactions can influence consumer choices. The research discovered a backlash effect, where people with high levels of subliminal exposures were less likely to choose a brand.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers more strongly associate common attributes with early-learned brands and unique attributes with late-learned brands. This means that late entrants can gain an advantage if their unique attributes are more valued than those of the pioneer brand.
A meta-analysis of 103 studies found that people tend to overestimate their knowledge, especially in health and social policy. However, subjective knowledge is more closely aligned with objective knowledge for fun products compared to practical ones.
A new study finds that goal priming can backfire when consumers are in unfamiliar situations. In such cases, marketing messages intended to influence behavior may have the opposite effect, leading to decreased consumer choice.
A new scale identifies consumers with a strong urge to buy, regular spending habits, and difficulty resisting impulse purchases. The study found approximately 8.9% of the population are compulsive shoppers, linked to materialism, reduced self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and stress.
A new study reveals that multinational companies should advertise luxury goods in English, while necessities may be more effective in local languages. Multinational corporations marketing to bilingual populations must pay attention to language choices, as perceptions of ads change significantly with different languages.
A new study suggests that remembering past instances of resisting temptation can help impulsive eaters make healthier choices. By reflecting on their previous successes and failures, individuals with self-control difficulties can improve their ability to resist fatty or tempting foods.
A new study reveals that hyperopic consumers are not necessarily self-controlled, and instead focus on the future at the expense of present-day experiences. Researchers found that high-hyperopia individuals perceive more products as luxuries, but are less likely to see luxury goods as long-term investments.
A study found that consumers evaluate purchases differently depending on the proximity of time and people involved. When making near-term or personal purchases, convenience and low-level construal are key considerations, whereas future or distant purchases rely on higher-level attributes like attractiveness.
New research in the Journal of Consumer Research found that presenting tempting foods in a real setting can improve self-control and lead to moderation, contradicting the idea of banning or avoiding temptation altogether.
A new study found that people who make healthier food choices have high emotional intelligence and confidence in their abilities. This 'emotional calibration' helps them resist impulsive eating triggered by vivid food pictures, such as those of hot fudge sundaes.
A new study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that ad placement influences consumer perception, with experts reacting differently to positive and negative context. The researchers discovered that knowledgeable consumers evaluate products more favorably when presented with relevant context ads.
Researchers found that people who are presented with vague information after making a decision tend to feel more optimistic about their choice. In three studies, participants were shown to be more optimistic when given incomplete nutritional information or sketchy reviews on products like chocolates and hand lotions.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research demonstrates that coupon users face stigma and their proximity affects others' perceptions. Standing near a coupon user can lead to negative opinions about one's character, especially if the individuals are similar or know each other well.
A new study finds that brief interruptions can alter purchasing decisions, causing a shift from detail-oriented, price-conscious thinking to goal-oriented, price-insensitive consideration. Participants who were interrupted in decision-making processes prioritized qualities like satisfaction and desirability over feasibility and price.
A study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that simply asking people if they're willing to volunteer their time leads to increased donations of both time and money. This effect cannot be explained by guilt or feelings of obligation, suggesting a deeper psychological connection between giving time and experiencing happiness.
A new study reveals that consumers tend to avoid the largest and smallest options when it comes to soft drinks. By eliminating small drink sizes and adding larger ones, retailers have seen a 15% increase in high-calorie drink consumption. Reversing this trend could curb soft drink consumption with only a slight reduction in profit.
Researchers found that hotel bathroom signs focusing on environmental benefits were less effective than those highlighting participation rates, increasing reuse rates from 35.1% to 44.1%. Normative messages about the norm, which was never used by hotel chains, also spurred significant increases in towel re-use.
A study found that healthy individuals are more willing to take enhancement drugs for traits not fundamental to their identity, such as improving concentration. However, they are less likely to agree to enhance traits considered essential to their self-identity.
A new study introduces the participatory action research paradigm, which aims to help people and employ different methodologies from traditional consumer research. The authors examined three categories of participatory action research, revealing important benefits and ideas for improvement.
A study by Deborah A. Small and Uri Simonsohn found that people become more sympathetic towards victims suffering from the same misfortune as a close relationship, leading to increased donations to charities supporting those causes. The researchers recreated this phenomenon in an experiment where participants formed new friendships and...
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that donors are more likely to respond to appeals involving negative emotions and a sense of obligation, rather than benefits to themselves. The research highlights the importance of empathy and altruism in driving charitable donations.
Research found that small packages trigger consumers to give in to temptation, while large packages are perceived as innocent pleasures, leading to overindulgence. Consumers believe that small packages help regulate hedonistic consumption, but reality shows the opposite.
A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that mini-packs and 100-calorie packages can undermine dieters' calorie control. Researchers discovered that chronic dieters tend to overconsume these small portions due to their perception of them as 'diet food'.
Researchers developed a tool, Distribution Builder, to help investors understand their risk attitudes and make informed decisions. The tool estimates unacceptable risk levels using probability distributions, enabling users to construct better preferences.
Researchers found that associating binge drinking with graduate students reduced junk food consumption by 28%. Linking unhealthy behaviors to an 'outgroup' can be a successful strategy for improving consumer health. By shifting perceptions of identity associated with risky behaviors, better health outcomes can be achieved.
A new study found that focusing on the social benefits of having a beautiful smile is effective in improving dental hygiene habits among new immigrants. The research also shows that families from less acculturated backgrounds are more responsive to such messages.
A new study by Debabrata Talukdar found that low-income households pay more for groceries without access to a car. This phenomenon, dubbed the 'ghetto tax,' is largely driven by the higher prices charged at corner stores, which lack competition from larger regional or national chains.
A new study found that people who made annual budgets were more accurate than those who made monthly ones. The researchers also discovered that people's perception of their budget-making abilities affected the accuracy of the budgets, with annual budgets being more accurate due to the difficulty in construction.
Research found that even brief exposure to brand names can alter consumers' subconscious goals, influencing purchase decisions. This study provides new insights into the power of brands in shaping consumer behavior.
A new study by Michael W. Allen, Richa Gupta, and Arnaud Monnier found that people's perception of meat's taste is influenced more by personal values than actual taste. The researchers examined the symbolic meaning of foods and beverages, discovering that social power associations with meat contribute to its perceived flavor.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals how Chinese advertising co-opted communist symbols and messages to promote consumption. The research found that advertisers transformed socialist economic goals into consumer messages, contributing to China's rapid materialistic shift.
A new study finds that consumers tend to diversify their choices more for future than present consumption due to uncertainty about future preferences. The researchers propose that stochastic noise plays a crucial role in this phenomenon, leading to overestimation of future choice options.
Researchers found that the configuration of the choice set significantly impacts creating consumer preference. Participants rated products and their satisfaction with choices in different sets, showing that context can influence preference strength and attribution. The study demonstrates the long-term effects of choice processes on con...
Researchers found that categorization of options increases consumer happiness and satisfaction, even if categories are meaningless. This phenomenon, known as the mere categorization effect, shows that consumers experience a sense of self-determination when faced with categorized choices.
Researchers found that Asian brands use a 'global, urban, and multicultural' image in their advertising campaigns. The study demonstrates how Asian corporations are redefining globalization with a more contemporary vision of Asia.
Research found that thinking about one's own death can trigger overeating, especially among individuals with low self-esteem. The study used mortality salience to explain the effect of death-related thoughts on consumption behavior.