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University of Chicago Press Journals


What's in a name? A lot, says new research about the effect of one's own name on consumer behavior

A recent study found that consumers are more likely to choose a brand with letters similar to their own name. This effect is most pronounced when self-esteem or immediate need for the product are involved. The research suggests that specific conditions, such as threatening situations or relevant needs, influence this phenomenon.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateNov 14, 2005

The ethics of selecting for existence

This article discusses the ethics of selecting for existence, a controversial practice where parents choose not to bring into existence a person with certain characteristics. The discussion highlights concerns over the moral obligations towards individuals with disabilities and implications on social contract theory.

Invisible disabilities

The article discusses invisible disabilities such as chronic pain, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. These conditions often go unrecognized or underdiagnosed due to the stigma associated with disability, leading to a lack of support and acceptance for individuals who may be struggling.

A sense of place

A new study examines how publicly funded organizations used information and communications technologies to shape regional identities and overcome social, economic, and political problems. The research reveals the widespread adoption of ICTs in 'place-making' projects across Europe.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalCurrent Anthropology·DateNov 4, 2005

The 'spread of our species'

Researchers suggest that modern human expansion in South Asia was a complex process, with evidence indicating diversity of behavioral responses and competition driving the demise of indigenous archaic hominids. The study challenges the idea of a sudden 'revolution' in modern human behavior 50,000 years ago.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalCurrent Anthropology·DateNov 4, 2005

Home away from home

Kelly Tian and Russell Belk argue that personal possessions, like photos, stabilize the self in both home and work environments. As work-related artifacts enter the home, symbolic home-related possessions enter the workplace, leading to a blurring of boundaries.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 10, 2005

Retail utopia

Researchers uncover how utopian meanings are constructed in retail environments through the lens of a transformed 18th-century home. The study reveals the dynamic qualities of these spaces and their role in both escaping crass commercialization and fostering consumer resistance.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 10, 2005

Posting and lurking

A study by Ann Schlosser found that reading negative reviews triggers concerns among posters about social outcomes, causing them to lower their ratings. In contrast, lurkers' private attitudes did not differ from those of posters.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 25, 2005

Spaced out

The human brain employs complex responses for recollection, making it challenging to optimize advertising effectiveness. Research suggests that varying spacing repetitions can strengthen memory traces and improve recall.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 25, 2005

Name your price

Researchers Sucharita Chandran and Vicki Morwitz found that participative pricing affects consumers' goal-related focus, influencing their cognitions and purchasing decisions. By measuring personal characteristics like perceived control, marketers can tailor offerings to match different consumer types.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 25, 2005

Gamble or play it safe?

The study found that consumers' risk preferences are contingent on their self-view, with interdependent self-view consumers choosing less risky alternatives. The researchers suggest that investors can infer their past choices by examining their current decision-making patterns.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 25, 2005

Bring home the bacon

Research by Suraj Commuri and James Gentry found that women earning more than their spouses do not simultaneously earn domestic power, despite previous theories suggesting a shift in decision-making authority. The study highlights the need for further examination of household forms and consumption decisions influenced by factors such a...

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 18, 2005

Does the language gender system of English and Spanish affect consumers' perception of brands?

This study examines how language gender systems impact brand attitudes and evaluations. In Spanish, consistent formal markers enhance brand recall, while semantic associations drive brand evaluation. In English, formal cues determine initial brand name gender, but congruent semantic associations improve brand evaluations and recall.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 18, 2005

Judging brands

Consumers make assumptions about brands based on marketplace stereotypes, with a singular negative experience not weighing negatively on overall perception. The study suggests firms increase diversity in their workforces to capitalize on consumer evaluations

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 18, 2005

Alone in the aisle

Researchers found that consumers prefer a balance between social interaction and non-interaction, becoming uncomfortable when the experience becomes too intense. The study utilized Social Impact Theory to demonstrate the influence of mere presence on consumer behavior in retail contexts.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 18, 2005

Vanilla vs. rocky road

A study by Elizabeth Miller and Barbara Kahn found that consumers prefer atypical and unspecific names to common descriptives. The results suggest that color names can impact purchase propensity, with more ambiguous names leading to increased consumer appeal.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Dealing with dying

Researchers analyzed how mortality salience affects consumer behavior, particularly in food choice and charitable donations, highlighting the role of self-esteem as a buffer against existential anxiety. The study concludes that individuals respond differently to mortality salience based on their sources of self-esteem.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Making up your mind

Research suggests that consumers rely on quick thinking and knowledge accessibility when making judgments, with retrieval ease playing a dominant role in moderately accessible situations. The study found that content-based judgments occur when relevant knowledge is highly inaccessible or easily retrievable.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Consumer literacy

Research reveals that consumerism is a social practice of identity maintenance and management, driving low-literate individuals to employ coping strategies. The study identifies the importance of developing consumers' confidence and abilities to engage socially when needs are denied or thwarted.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

The consumer's cache

This study reveals that consumers store and camouflage brand products in their households, creating a new understanding of American consumerism. The findings challenge traditional assumptions about the significance of brands, highlighting the importance of household processes over individual identity.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Crazed by consumption!

Researchers Adam Duhachek analyzed two studies on consumer stress, creating a multidimensional scale to measure coping mechanisms. He found that consumers employ various strategies to cope with stress, including avoiding purchases, seeking social support, and using relaxation techniques.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Branded young

Researchers discovered that children begin incorporating brands into their self-concepts around age 10. As they move into adolescence, these connections evolve qualitatively, reflecting shared personality traits and user characteristics.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Penny pinching

Researchers found that introducing a nine-ending price causes a change in the left-most digit can affect perception of price. The study also found that nine-ending prices are more likely to be perceived as lower when close to the comparison standard price.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Good, bad and indifferent

A study published in Journal of Consumer Research reveals how consumers evaluate an experience by drawing connections between positive and negative events. The research suggests that people find comfort in ambivalence when a bad experience is compared immediately to a good one, providing valuable insights for marketing professionals.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Charge it!

Researchers found that credit card practices define consumption lifestyles and facilitate their attainment through consumption. However, some practices impede consumers from achieving desired lifestyles.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Love thy stuff

Researchers explore how consumers construct their perceptions of self through loved possessions and activities. These objects play a crucial role in creating a coherent identity narrative, as they symbolically demarcate boundaries between the self and rejected identities.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Cueing in on quality

This study found that consumers overestimate the impact of negative external cues and underweight positive cues when they are inconsistent. The relationship between positive and negative product cues is strongest when abundant intrinsic attribute information is present, suggesting a moderating effect on consumer judgments.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

'Drinking beer in a blissful mood'

Researchers from University of California at Santa Barbara explore traditional methods for making maize beer, barley and emmer wheat beer, and other ancient beverages. They find that operational chains of food and beverage production offered challenges and opportunities to sponsors, shaping feasting strategies.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalCurrent Anthropology·DateApr 6, 2005

Challenging the Venus and Mars theory

A study by Fisher and Dubé finds that men exhibit significant emotional responses to ads when alone, contrary to the stereotype of women being more 'emotional'. The research reveals that males are sensitive to specific types of emotions in social environments, leading to profound implications for advertisers approaching male customers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMar 29, 2005