The Emotional Antecedents and Consequences of Buying and Consuming: A Multidisciplinary Perspective on Consumers’ Emotions

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral Economics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 19176

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Business and Economic School ,Universidad Anáhuac México, Huixquilucan 52786, Mexico
Interests: creativity; self-beliefs; situated cognition; consumer decision making
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Dear Colleagues,

Buying, consuming, exchanging, and discarding products and services are popular practices around the world, which can be summed up as acts of consumption. In the past 500 years, we have seen an important growth in the number of personal items owned by a significant portion of the world’s population (Trentmann, 2016). What is it about buying and consuming that makes it so attractive to consumers around the world? A possible, attractive, yet incomplete explanation is that buying and consuming are vehicles of self-expression influenced by emotions (Andrade, 2015).  Emotions can act as antecedents or consequences of the act of buying and consuming products and services. Consequently, we make a broad call for papers on the emotional antecedents and consequences of buying and consuming from different perspectives, including anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, consumer psychology, marketing, and business studies, among others.

Research on emotions (Barrett, Lewis, & Haviland-Jones, 2016) and consumption have grown significantly in recent decades, making it attractive to combine these lines of research to examine consumer behavior in the context of emotions (Andrade, 2015).  We encourage researchers from different countries to engage in conceptual developments or empirical studies, qualitative and quantitative, focusing on the emotional antecedents and consequences of buying and consuming products and services.

Prof. Dr. Rogelio Puente-Diaz
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • consumption
  • buying behavior
  • emotions
  • consumer's emotions
  • consumer behavior
  • marketing

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 630 KiB  
Article
Promoting Consumers’ Sustainable Consumption of Online Retail Cold Chain Logistics Services: Extended Applications of SOR and Cognitive-Affective-Conative Theories
by Jiangmin Ding and Eon-Seong Lee
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090771 - 2 Sep 2024
Viewed by 471
Abstract
As food safety awareness rises and living standards improve, consumers have increasingly higher expectations for the efficiency and quality of cold chain logistics services. For cold chain logistics service providers, accurately understanding consumer psychology and enhancing their willingness to continue using the service—while [...] Read more.
As food safety awareness rises and living standards improve, consumers have increasingly higher expectations for the efficiency and quality of cold chain logistics services. For cold chain logistics service providers, accurately understanding consumer psychology and enhancing their willingness to continue using the service—while guiding them to actively participate in green cold chain logistics practices—are necessary means to maintain competitiveness. Therefore, based on stimulus-organism-response and cognitive-affective-conative theories, this study constructs a three-stage model to explore the factors influencing consumers’ continuous consumption of online retail cold chain delivery services. This study substantiates that consumers’ intention to continue consuming proceeds through the following three stages: cognitive, affective, and conative. Specifically, the results indicate that consumer- and environment-oriented services significantly enhance consumer value and psychological empowerment, which further promotes their intention to continue using the service and participate in green practices. Moreover, psychological empowerment and perceived value fully and partially mediate the relationship between the two types of services and consumer sustainable consumption, respectively. These findings expand the research on cold chain consumption and deepen our understanding of how various factors influence consumer behavior. Full article
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19 pages, 443 KiB  
Article
Research on the Purchase Intention of Social Commerce Consumers in Video Streams: Dual Pathways of Affection and Rationality
by Minwei Deng, Yitong Yang and Baiqing Sun
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090738 - 24 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1104
Abstract
Social commerce blurs the boundary between online social interaction and online shopping. The emergence of video streams introduces novel marketing modalities to social commerce. However, there is a paucity of comprehensive studies investigating the impact of emerging marketing techniques such as short videos [...] Read more.
Social commerce blurs the boundary between online social interaction and online shopping. The emergence of video streams introduces novel marketing modalities to social commerce. However, there is a paucity of comprehensive studies investigating the impact of emerging marketing techniques such as short videos and live streaming on consumer purchase intention. This study employs Bourdieu’s conceptual framework to construct a Field Theory-based model, investigating the impact of atmospheric and capital characteristics of social commerce platforms on consumer purchase intention through affective and rational pathways, respectively. A survey involving 515 Chinese social commerce consumers demonstrates that atmospheric characteristics (emotion and social presence) and capital characteristics (information quality and quantity) in video streams enhance similarity and power. Both similarity and power are associated with an increase in consumer purchase intention. This study validates the dual-path influence of social commerce characteristics and discusses theoretical and managerial implications. Full article
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27 pages, 819 KiB  
Article
Do Psychological Ownership and Communicative Presence Matter? Examining How User-Generated Content in E-Commerce Live Streaming Influences Consumers’ Purchase Intention
by Nan Zhang and Wen Hu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080696 - 11 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1251
Abstract
E-commerce live streaming has become a lucrative global industry. As the main carrier to convey information in live broadcasting, user-generated content (UGC)—and especially bullet screens—are crucial in influencing users’ purchase intentions. However, the influence of bullet screens’ multidimensional information characteristics on consumers’ decision-making [...] Read more.
E-commerce live streaming has become a lucrative global industry. As the main carrier to convey information in live broadcasting, user-generated content (UGC)—and especially bullet screens—are crucial in influencing users’ purchase intentions. However, the influence of bullet screens’ multidimensional information characteristics on consumers’ decision-making processes requires further exploration. Additionally, most existing studies start with the short-term effects of live product realization, and must address how to enhance customers’ psychological ownership using new means of live streaming marketing to obtain long-term sustainable brand-building effects. This study introduces psychological ownership and the communicative presence as mediating variables based on the theory of elaboration likelihood modeling to explore the mechanism of the influence of UGC’s multidimensional features on viewers’ purchase intentions in live e-commerce broadcasting rooms. We collected 404 valid online questionnaires and tested our hypotheses using structural equation modeling. These findings indicate that UGC emotions, quality, and their interaction significantly and positively affect purchase intentions. Moreover, psychological ownership and the communicative presence mediate UGC’s effect on purchase intentions. These results provide a new perspective for understanding consumer behavior in live e-commerce to improve marketing effectiveness of e-commerce live streaming platforms. Full article
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21 pages, 765 KiB  
Article
Buying Game Derivative Products Is Different from In-Game Purchases: A Mixed-Method Approach
by Xinyi An, Yuhan Peng, Zexi Dai, Yunheng Wang, Zizhen Zhou and Xianglong Zeng
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080652 - 28 Jul 2024
Viewed by 754
Abstract
The consumption of games has received increasing attention due to their high profits and addiction issues. However, previous studies have focused mainly on players’ in-game purchases, neglecting the purchase of game derivative products. This article provides the first exploration of the differences and [...] Read more.
The consumption of games has received increasing attention due to their high profits and addiction issues. However, previous studies have focused mainly on players’ in-game purchases, neglecting the purchase of game derivative products. This article provides the first exploration of the differences and similarities between in-game purchases and derivative product purchases with a mixed-method approach. A quantitative survey collected data from 9864 game players, and the results suggested that there were differences between in-game purchases and derivative product consumption in terms of consumption amount and number of participants, and that derivative product purchases had a stronger relationship with character attachment and game loyalty. Subsequent interviews were conducted with 22 players. The findings supported the quantitative results and revealed that players exhibited a distinct understanding of each type of purchase in terms of ownership. Overall, these findings contribute to the understanding of game derivative product purchases and explore the factors influencing in-game purchases and derivative product purchases. We strongly argue that the pattern of spending on game derivative products is very different from that of spending on in-game purchases and is, thus, worthy of dedicated research. Full article
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16 pages, 1392 KiB  
Article
Study on the Psychological Effects of Intangible Cultural Heritage Advertising with Different Degrees of Situational Involvement
by Ruiying Kuang, Changping Hu, Shiyu Huo, Yitian Shi, Xinai Tang and Lulu Mao
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070623 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 814
Abstract
This review addresses the issues of low consumer engagement and market development difficulties in intangible cultural heritage (ICH) products. Dietary ICH products are selected as research materials to discover contemporary commercial survival paths for ICH through the psychological effects of advertising. Firstly, this [...] Read more.
This review addresses the issues of low consumer engagement and market development difficulties in intangible cultural heritage (ICH) products. Dietary ICH products are selected as research materials to discover contemporary commercial survival paths for ICH through the psychological effects of advertising. Firstly, this study examines the respective advantages of rational and emotional ICH advertisement in terms of emotional responses, cognitive responses, attitudes, recall, and recognition. Then, it explores the effects of different ICH advertisement types (rational advertisement, emotional advertisement) and different degrees of situational involvement (purchasing for oneself, purchasing gifts for others) on the advertising effectiveness, aiming to identify factors influencing the psychological effects of ICH advertisement. Through statistical analysis, the main conclusions are as follows: (1) Rational ICH advertisement prompts consumers to consider the actual attributes of ICH products, leading to a more positive purchasing attitude. (2) Emotional ICH advertisement is more effective in eliciting positive emotions from consumers and enhancing brand memory. (3) Under the scenario of purchasing a gift for others, emotional ICH advertisement has a more positive impact on consumers’ attitudes towards advertising. (4) Under different degrees of situational involvement, rational ICH advertisement has a more positive impact on consumers’ purchasing attitudes. This study not only provides guidance for optimizing ICH advertising strategies but also offers new directions for market expansion, contributing valuable insights into cultural heritage preservation, as well as the development and protection of ICH. Full article
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19 pages, 1387 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Live Streamer’s Facial Attractiveness and Product Type on Consumer Purchase Intention: An Exploratory Study with Eye Tracking Technology
by Rui Shi, Minghao Wang, Tongjia Qiao and Junchen Shang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050375 - 29 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2161
Abstract
As a booming branch of online retailing, live-streaming e-commerce can present abundant information dimensions and diverse forms of expression. Live-streaming e-commerce has enabled online retailers to interact with customers face-to-face, resulting in widespread instances of emotional and impulse buying behavior. Prior research in [...] Read more.
As a booming branch of online retailing, live-streaming e-commerce can present abundant information dimensions and diverse forms of expression. Live-streaming e-commerce has enabled online retailers to interact with customers face-to-face, resulting in widespread instances of emotional and impulse buying behavior. Prior research in live-streaming e-commerce has suggested that live streamers’ characteristics, especially the live streamer’s face, can affect customers’ purchase intentions. The present research used questionnaire surveys and an eye tracking experiment to investigate the impact of live streamer’s facial attractiveness on consumer purchase intention for search-based and experience-based products. The questionnaire survey analyzed 309 valid questionnaires and revealed that attractive faces are the key influencing factor driving consumers’ impulse purchase intentions. Moreover, consumers’ emotional experience plays a partial mediating role in the process of live streamers’ faces influencing purchase intention. The eye tracking experiment further explored the mechanism of a live streamer’s facial attractiveness on consumers’ purchase intentions of search-based products and experience-based products from the perspective of visual attention by analyzing 64 valid sets of data. The results showed that attractive faces attract more consumers’ attention and, therefore, increase their purchase intention. Furthermore, there is a significant interaction between product type, the live streamer’s facial attractiveness, and consumers’ purchase intentions. In the case of unattractive live streamers, consumers are more likely to buy search-based products than experience-based products, while the purchase intention does not vary between search-based products and experience-based products in the case of attractive live streamers. The present study provides evidence for ‘beauty premium’ in live-streaming e-commerce and sheds light on the design of the match between live streamers and different types of products. Full article
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17 pages, 702 KiB  
Article
The Post-Effects of the Authenticity of Rural Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourists’ Engagement
by Yifan Zuo, Tianning Lan, Shuangshuang Liu and Hongfa Zeng
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040302 - 5 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1443
Abstract
Amidst the burgeoning interest in rural Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tourism, this study, anchored in the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) theoretical framework, chose Meizhou Island in Fujian Province as a case study to examine the impacts of tourists’ perceptions of authenticity and their engagement levels [...] Read more.
Amidst the burgeoning interest in rural Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tourism, this study, anchored in the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) theoretical framework, chose Meizhou Island in Fujian Province as a case study to examine the impacts of tourists’ perceptions of authenticity and their engagement levels on the destination image and loyalty towards rural ICH tourism. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze survey data, findings revealed that higher perceptions of a destination’s preservation of original characteristics and traditional values correlate with a more favorable overall perception of the destination, albeit with smaller impact on emotional connections. Conversely, depth of tourist engagement was shown to enhance both understanding and emotional bonds with the destination. Further, familiarity with the destination was found to foster affection, thereby increasing the likelihood of repeat visits or recommendations. The more tourists know about a place, perceiving it as authentic, the more likely they are to remain loyal; similarly, deeper engagement enhances understanding and affection, increasing the probability of revisiting or recommending the place. These outcomes not only offer new insights into tourist behavior but also provide theoretical and practical guidance for the protection and development of rural ICH tourism, destination marketing, and management strategies, thus promoting the sustainable development of rural ICH tourism. Full article
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25 pages, 1120 KiB  
Article
Research on Determinants Affecting Users’ Impulsive Purchase Intention in Live Streaming from the Perspective of Perceived Live Streamers’ Ability
by Jun Chen, Junying Luo and Tian Zhou
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030190 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2510
Abstract
As an innovative marketing pattern, live-streaming e-commerce supplies advantages over traditional e-commerce in stimulating impulsive purchases. This study developed a theoretical model that examines how perceived live streamers’ abilities (perceived live interaction ability and perceived linguistic persuasion ability) affect impulsive purchase intention based [...] Read more.
As an innovative marketing pattern, live-streaming e-commerce supplies advantages over traditional e-commerce in stimulating impulsive purchases. This study developed a theoretical model that examines how perceived live streamers’ abilities (perceived live interaction ability and perceived linguistic persuasion ability) affect impulsive purchase intention based on interaction theory, affective distance theory, trust theory, and Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals. We conducted empirical research through a survey questionnaire to verify the effectiveness of the model. A total of 330 valid samples were gathered from live-streaming users, and partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for data analysis. The results indicate that perceived live interaction ability, encompassing responsiveness, entertainment, and personalization, significantly impacts affective distance. Among the four dimensions of perceived linguistic persuasion ability, emotional contagion significantly influences affective distance, whereas expertise, logic, and morality significantly affect cognitive trust. Both affective distance and cognitive trust promote consumers’ impulsive purchases through affective trust. Our research findings provide theoretical and practical recommendations for live-streaming platforms and merchants engaged in live marketing. Full article
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15 pages, 855 KiB  
Article
Effects of Embarrassment on Self-Serving Bias and Behavioral Response in the Context of Service Failure
by Kai-Chieh Hu and Hsin-Lin Tsai
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(2), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14020136 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1421
Abstract
Previous research has focused on examining embarrassment in sensitive product purchase situations. Although embarrassment is a widespread emotion in consumption situations, few studies have explored its impact on service encounters, especially in the service failure context. This study examines how customers react to [...] Read more.
Previous research has focused on examining embarrassment in sensitive product purchase situations. Although embarrassment is a widespread emotion in consumption situations, few studies have explored its impact on service encounters, especially in the service failure context. This study examines how customers react to different service failures that cause embarrassment and explores whether self-serving bias exists when customers perceive higher embarrassment in service failure. This study uses a 2 (source of failure) × 2 (level of embarrassment) scenario experimental method to examine the effect of two sources of failure on consumer locus attributions, negative emotions, and negative behaviors, considering the moderating effects of the level of embarrassment. Data were collected from 218 student subjects in Taiwan. The results show that embarrassment is important in service failure contexts. Specifically, when consumers perceive higher embarrassment, they attribute more responsibility to the service provider. These attributions, in turn, influence customers’ emotions and behavioral responses. These findings have several important theoretical and practical implications in terms of embarrassing service failures. Full article
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33 pages, 1166 KiB  
Article
Examining the Moderating Role of Reasons in Masstige Luxury Buying Behavior
by Ayse Sedef Uluturk and Umut Asan
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14010067 - 19 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2225
Abstract
This study proposes a new model derived from Behavioral Reasoning Theory (BRT) to examine the purchasing behavior of masstige jewelry consumers. The suggested model provides a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of purchasing masstige products by considering values and reasons in addition [...] Read more.
This study proposes a new model derived from Behavioral Reasoning Theory (BRT) to examine the purchasing behavior of masstige jewelry consumers. The suggested model provides a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of purchasing masstige products by considering values and reasons in addition to the global motives and intention. The study also examines, for the first time, the moderating role of reasons. It explores how reasons may strengthen or weaken the impact of perceived values on global motives. The proposed model was empirically tested using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with survey data on the consumption of masstige jewelry brands in Türkiye. To provide a more complete understanding of the moderating role of reasons, submodels were constructed for different value–reason combinations. The results demonstrate notable differences in the goodness-of-fit measures between the moderated and non-moderated models. Specifically, reasons contributed to enhanced explanations of global motives and intention, both directly and indirectly. However, not all submodels yielded significant results in terms of the moderator effect. Thus, the empirical tests supported the hypotheses regarding the moderating effect only partially. Overall, the current findings further extend the existing frameworks and provide valuable insights into masstige jewelry purchasing behavior, which can be used by marketers to develop more effective strategies. Full article
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16 pages, 1349 KiB  
Article
Payment Behavioral Response Mechanisms for All-Age Retrofitting of Older Communities: A Study among Chinese Residents
by Yang Zhang and Lei Dong
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110925 - 13 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1383
Abstract
Intergenerational integration has given rise to a novel aging paradigm known as all-age communities, which is garnering international attention. In China, the aging population and the implementation of the three-child policy have resulted in increased demand for retirement and childcare services among residents [...] Read more.
Intergenerational integration has given rise to a novel aging paradigm known as all-age communities, which is garnering international attention. In China, the aging population and the implementation of the three-child policy have resulted in increased demand for retirement and childcare services among residents in older neighborhoods. Consequently, there is a pressing need to retrofit these older neighborhoods to accommodate all-age living arrangements given the high demand they generate. Therefore, this study undertakes research interviews with residents and constructs an exploratory theoretical model rooted in established theory. To assess the significance of our model, we employ Smart PLS 3.0 based on 297 empirical data points. Our findings indicate that anxiety has a significant negative effect on payment behavior; objective perception, willingness to pay, and government assistance exert significant positive effects on payment behavior. By comprehensively analyzing the mechanisms underlying residents’ payment behavior, this study provides valuable insights for the government for promoting the aging process within communities and formulating effective transformation policies. Full article
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15 pages, 1883 KiB  
Article
Analyzing Online Reviews to Uncover Customer Satisfaction Factors in Indian Cultural Tourism Destinations
by Aura Lydia Riswanto, Seieun Kim and Hak-Seon Kim
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110923 - 13 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1679
Abstract
Tourism to Indian heritage destinations has been on the rise due to the increasing demand for heritage tourism. Increasing customer satisfaction and promoting Indian culture require tourism businesses to understand factors influencing tourists’ experiences and behavior towards these destinations. Therefore, this study analyzes [...] Read more.
Tourism to Indian heritage destinations has been on the rise due to the increasing demand for heritage tourism. Increasing customer satisfaction and promoting Indian culture require tourism businesses to understand factors influencing tourists’ experiences and behavior towards these destinations. Therefore, this study analyzes four popular heritage tourist destinations in India by using online reviews collected from Google Travel. Data are refined, processed, and visualized using the R programming language and UCINET 6.0. Furthermore, we explore the fundamental framework and interconnections among these characteristics through the utilization of exploratory factor analysis and linear regression analysis with the assistance of the SPSS software package. Based on customer reviews obtained from Google Reviews, an analysis was conducted on 6618 reviews of four heritage tourism destinations in India. From the top 60 words, four clusters of words were created, including “Physical characteristic”, “Cultural and historical link”, “atmosphere”, and “area”. Through explanatory factor analysis and linear regression analysis, we found that Physical characteristic, Cultural and historical link, atmosphere, and area all play a significant role in customer satisfaction. This study provides heritage destination managers and Indian government with insights into which attributes impact customer satisfaction the most and offers valuable marketing insights. As a result of this study, we are able to gain a greater understanding of the Indian heritage tourism market, and in doing so, we provide businesses with implications on how to enhance customer service. Full article
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