Journal of Consumer Research
March 29, 2011



 
























































































































































































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Journal of Consumer Research
Recently Published Online

Celebrity Contagion and the Value of Objects
George E. Newman
Gil Diesendruck
Paul Bloom


Why do people purchase objects that were once owned by celebrities such as film stars, politicians, and even despised individuals such as serial killers and notorious dictators? The present studies examine three potential explanations: mere associations, market demands, and contagion (the belief that these objects contain some remnant of their previous owners). Results indicate that while market demands do play a role, contagion appears to be the critical factor affecting the valuation of celebrity possessions. Manipulating the degree of physical contact that a celebrity has with an object dramatically influences consumer willingness to purchase it, and individual differences in sensitivity to contagion moderate this effect. Additionally, the valuation of celebrity possessions is principally explained by measures of contagion, and subliminally activating the concept of contagion changes consumer willingness to purchase celebrity objects. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

DOI: 10.1086/658999
Online Publication Date: February 08, 2011


References

Selected Media Mentions

Wall Street Journal
Do Celebrity Endorsements Work?


New York Times
Urge to Own That Clapton Guitar Is Contagious, Scientists Find


Scientific American
Would You Pay More for Jon Voight's Car?


Boston Globe
Touched by Justin Bieber


Vancouver Sun
Why we go gaga for celebrity gear - touch of greatness boosts perceived value of celebrity possessions


EurekAlert!
George Clooney or Saddam Hussein? Why do consumers pay for celebrity possessions?s

Truly, Madly, Deeply: Consumers in the Throes of Material Possession Love
John L. Lastovicka
Nancy J. Sirianni


How does material possession love expand our understanding of the role of discrete emotional attachment in enhancing consumer well-being? Relying on both qualitative and quantitative data, the authors develop a three-factor, but seven-faceted, conceptualization of material possession love in four separate consumption contexts (automobiles, computers, bicycles, and firearms). Love-smitten consumers nurture their beloved possessions in part by buying complementary products and services. Material possession love is empirically tied to loneliness and social affiliation deficits, which suggests a compensatory basis of consumer well-being. The article distinguishes possession love from the construct of attitude and demonstrates the distinct functionality of each. The conclusion reviews the mixed-methods findings and their implications for consumer research.

DOI: 10.1086/658338
Online Publication Date: January 25, 2011


References

Selected Media Mentions

TIME Magazine
Can You Be "In Love" With Your Gadgets? Study Says Yes


U.S. News and World Report
Love of Possessions Can Run Deep, Study Shows


Bloomberg Businessweek
Love of Possessions Can Run Deep, Study Shows


CNN-IBN
Loving your car or gun? Yes pet!


Toronto Sun
People can - and do - fall in love with objects: Study


EurekAlert!
Love-smitten consumers will do anything for their cars and guns

Stereotype Threat in the Marketplace: Consumer Anxiety and Purchase Intentions
Kyoungmi Lee
Hakkyun Kim
Kathleen D. Vohs


How do consumers react when they believe that a transaction partner will view them through the lens of a stereotype? The authors predicted and found that being aware of a negative stereotype about a group to which one belongs (for example, gender) made consumers sensitive to whether service providers were in-group versus out-group members and lowered purchase intentions when the provider was an out-group member. Stereotype threat effects exist across diverse marketplace settings: financial services, automobile repairs, and automobile purchases. Reluctance to purchase from out-group (vs. in-group) members was caused by heightened anxiety. However, the presence of a soothing scent, as a situational factor to alleviate anxiety, mitigated stereotype threat effects on marketplace decisions.

DOI: 10.1086/659315
Online Publication Date: February 08, 2011


References

Selected Media Mentions

Science Daily
Not Actually Bad at Math or Auto Repair? Women Fear Being Stereotyped by Male Service Providers


Motor Authority
The Case For Same-Sex Car Salespeople


New Zealand Herald
Women still feel unease


Health Canal
U of M researcher discovers stereotypes can deter consumer purchases


Science Daily
Stereotypes Can Deter Consumer Purchases


EurekAlert!
Not actually bad at math or auto repair? Women fear being stereotyped by male service providers

On Intertemporal Selfishness: How the Perceived Instability of Identity Underlies Impatient Consumption
Daniel M. Bartels
Oleg Urminsky


How does the anticipated connectedness between one's current and future identity help explain impatience in intertemporal preferences? The less consumers are closely connected psychologically to their future selves, the less willing they will be to forgo immediate benefits in order to ensure larger deferred benefits to be received by that future self. When consumers' measured or manipulated sense of continuity with their future selves is lower, they accept smaller-sooner rewards, wait less in order to save money on a purchase, require a larger premium to delay receiving a gift card, and have lower long-term discount rates.

DOI: 10.1086/658339
Online Publication Date: January 04, 2011


References

Selected Media Mentions

TIME Magazine
5 New Year's Resolutions for People Who Hate Resolutions


New York Times
In Politics, Live in the Present and Kick Problems to the Future


UPI
Why people are apt to spend, not save


Sify
Inability to imagine future prevents us from saving up in the present: Study


EurekAlert!
Imagine your future self: Will it help you save money?
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Please remember that the current editors' terms will be ending on June 30, 2011. Any manuscripts (new or revised) received after this date will be processed by the new editors.
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