Transformative Consumer Research for Personal and Collective Well Being 1st Edition by Simone Pettigrew,Cornelia Pechmann,David Glen Mick 9781848728523 9781848728523

I Declaring and Projecting Transformative Consumer Research

1 Origins, Qualities, and Envisionments of Transformative Consumer Research

The Association for Consumer Research (ACR) and Transformative Consumer Research (TCR)

Six Core Qualities and Commitments of TCR

Four Envisionments for TCR

Philosophical Roots: Beyond Knowledge to Wisdom

Making Theoretical Contributions Through TCR

Engaging With Agents of Social Change Through TCR

Communicating TCR: Beyond Information to Empowerment

Conclusion

References

2 Foundational Research on Consumer Welfare Opportunities for a Transformative Consumer Research Agenda

The Awakening of Marketing’s Social Conscience

Marketing’s Dark Side

Marketing’s Bright Side

Advances in Theory

Vulnerable Consumers: Youth

Early Years: 3–7-Year-Olds

Tweens: 8–12-Year-Olds

Adolescents

Remedies Related to Information Processing and Advertising

An Example From the Dark Side: Tobacco Advertising and Promotion

Remedies Related to Tobacco Consumption

A Second Example: The Impact of Food Advertising and Promotion on Youth’s Food Intake

Remedies Related to Food Advertising and Promotion to Youth

Vulnerable Consumers: Older Adults

Remedies for Older Adults in Marketing Contexts

Further Research on Developing Persuasion Knowledge Among Youth and Older Adults: Drawing on the Bright Side of Marketing

Quality of Life: Consumer Well-Being, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction

QOL Research Related to the Dark Side of Consumer Welfare

QOL Research Related to the Bright Side of Consumer Welfare

Implications Regarding Consumer Research Related to QOL

Conclusion

References

3 Activism Research Designing Transformative Lab and Field Studies

From Action Research to Activism Research

Lewin’s Action Research

Action Research Versus Activism Research

From Activism Research to Transformation

Operationalizing Activism Research

Moving From Passive to Active Research

Designing Research to Transform

Visualize Transformation

Ask the Right Question

Answer the Right Question With a Clear, Practical Answer

Collect Cool Data in the Right Context

Disseminate Your Findings to the Right Actors

The Power of Partners

No Programs Without Partners

Two Ends of the Partnership Continuum

Forming Partnerships With Policy Makers

Activism Advice for the Untenured and Tenured

Untenured Faculty: Keep the Fire Burning

Tenured Faculty: Finding a New Spark

Conclusion: “What’s Your Biggest Regret?”

Acknowledgments

References

4 Sensitizing Principles and Practices Central to Social Change Methodologies

Sensitizing Principles

Principle 1: Research Should Promote Social Justice for and Empowerment of Marginalized Groups*

Principle 2: Researchers Should Be Reflexive*

Principle 3: Researchers Should Address Intersectionality

Principle 4: Researchers Should Engage With Research Stakeholders

Implications of the Sensitizing Change Principles to Methodologies for TCR

Go Looking for Trouble

Mix It Up

Stay a While

Make New Friends

Go With the Flow

Shout It Out

Be Prepared to Get Changed

Acknowledgments

References

II Economic and Social Issues

5 Conducting Transformative Consumer Research Lessons Learned in Moving From Basic Research to Transformative Impact in Subsistence Marketplaces

A Summary of Our Journey to Date

Lessons about Methodological Issues

Develop Diverse Skills Through Local Partnerships

Understand Motivations of Partners

Invest Time to Understand Local Context and Develop Appropriate Methods

Engage in Healthy Disbelief to Refine Methods to Local Needs

Lessons about transformative impact

Education Based on TCR Can Be Transformative

Practical and Theoretical Impact May Not Align

TCR Scholars Can Play a Central Role in the Challenge of Scaling

A Research Mentality Is Key

Lessons on the Loops Between TCR and Its Positive Impact

Synergies Between Research and Social Initiatives

Relevant Research Can Emerge From Transformative Interventions

Lessons on the Conduct of TCR

Respect At-Risk Participants

Affirm Participants as Agents of Transformation

TCR Should Be Designed to Give Back

TCR Transforms the Researcher

Forge Sustainable Transformative Initiatives

Discussion

Acknowledgments

References

6 Transformative Consumer Research in Developing Economies Perspectives, Trends, and Reflections From the Field

Development Economics

Context for TCR

Development Dimensions

Macrofactors

Development Opportunities: Here, There, Everywhere

Vietnam

Geography, People, Policy Reforms, Challenges, and Goals

Development Redux

A Closer Look at a Producer–Consumer Global Dynamic

Vietnam’s Coffee Industry

World Prices and the Well-Being of Coffee Farmers

Methods

Sample Findings From Field Research

Greater Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand

Bangladesh

Former Yugoslavia and the Balkans

Lebanon and the West Bank

Republic of Georgia

Burundi-Chicago

South Africa

Reflections and Possible Inspirations

Engage for the Long Haul

Money Changes Everything

Speak Their Language

Be Flexible, but Stay True to Your Craft

Persevere

Purposeful Serendipity

Final Reflections

Acknowledgments

References

7 Hope and Innovativeness Transformative Factors for Subsistence Consumer-Merchants

Hoping, Having Hope, and Being Hopeful

Methods

Observations on the Innovation Process

In Pursuit of Hope, Having Hope, and Being Hopeful

Discussion and Limitations

Acknowledgments

References

8 Discrimination and Injustice in the Marketplace They Come in All Sizes, Shapes, and Colors

Oppression and Subordination

Marketplace Discrimination and Injustice

Historical Perspective on Discrimination and Injustice in the Marketplace

A Qualitative Inquiry on Marketplace Discrimination and Experiences of Different Injustices

Methodology

Theoretical Perspective and Findings

Discussion and Conclusion

Where Do We Go From Here?

References

III Technological Edges

9 Internet Indispensability, Online Social Capital, and Consumer Well-Being

Can the Internet Increase Well-being?

Internet Use Can Build Social Capital and Improve Consumer Well-being

Early Studies Suggested the Internet Harms Social Capital

Long-Run Online Use Positively Contributes to Social Capital

Online Versus Offline Social Capital

Social Capital and Online Social Networking

The Ritualization of Daily Routine Gives Rise to Internet Indispensability

Is the Digital Divide a Matter of Motivation?

The Demographics of the Digital Divide

A Behavior-Based Digital Divide

Conclusions

Future Research Directions

References

10 Social Media for Social Change A Transformative Consumer Research Perspective

Conceptual Foundations

Online Community and Social Media

Community and Sustainability

Extant Research on Social Media and Consumer Empowerment

Three Types of Online Social Change Communities

Social Media and Sustainability: Netnographic Findings

Locally Based Online Social Change Communities

Support-Based Online Social Change Communities

Issue-Based Online Social Change Communities

Social Media, Sustainability, and Transformative Consumer Research

The Social Roles of Social Media

Social Media and the Empowered Consumer

References

11 Quality of Virtual Life

Introduction to Quality of Virtual Life

Virtual Worlds

Background

Virtual-World User Behaviors and Motivations

Quality of Virtual Life

Lessons From Quality of Life and Subjective Well-Being

Toward a Model of Quality of Virtual Life

Transformative Aspects of Virtual Worlds: A Research Agenda for Quality of Virtual Life

Virtual Worlds as an Intervention to Increase Subjective Well-Being

Virtual Consumption as a Substitute for Physical Consumption

Virtual Presence as a Substitute for Physical Presence

Perils of Virtual Worlds

Adoption of Virtual Worlds

The Advent of Mixed Reality

References

IV Materialism and the Environment

12 What Welfare? On the Definition and Domain of Transformative Consumer Research and the Foundational Role of Materialism

Domain of Transformative Consumer Research

Defining Consumer Welfare

Individual and Psychological Perspectives on Consumer Welfare

Economic and Societal Perspectives on Consumer Welfare

Material Trap

Escaping the Material Trap

Aligning Individual and Collective Interests

Narrowing the Conceptual Distance Between Micromotives and Macroconsequences

Framing Behaviors to Raise the Saliency of Their Impact

Failure to Escape the Material Trap

Concluding Thoughts

References

13 Sustainable Consumption and Production Challenges for Transformative Consumer Research

A Dominant Practice of Consumer Research

Environmental Research in the Consumer Field

Sustainable Consumption and Production (SC&P)

Adding Production

Fostering SC&P

The Individual Within the Community

Academic Perspectives

The Institution

Conclusion

References

14 From Profligacy to Sustainability: Can We Get There From Here? Transforming the Ideology of Consumption

Transformative Consumer Research and Sustainable Consumption

Consumption as a Driver of Marketing Systems

Philosophical Origins of Profligacy as the Ideology of Consumption

Man and the Natural State of Consumption

Consumption and the Natural State of Man

Institutions That Shape the DSP

Evolutions of the Dominant Social Paradigm

Dimensions of the Ideology of Consumption

The Technology of Profligate Consumption

The Politics of Profligate Consumption

The Economics of Profligate Consumption

Transformative Consumer Research: A Systems Perspective

Transformative Consumer Research and a New Ideology of Consumption: A Research Agenda

References

V Enhancing Health

15 Tackling the Childhood Obesity Epidemic An Opportunity for Transformative Consumer Research

The Context in Which Consumption Occurs

Key Contributors to Childhood Obesity

Internal Contributors

Biological Predispositions

Behavioral Predispositions

Developmental Readiness

Self-Identity and Self-Esteem

External Contributors: Proximal and Distal

Family Influences

Socioeconomic Status

Peer Influences

Cultural Influences

The Marketing Environment

The Local Community

Health Care Industry

Toward Integrative Consumer Research on Childhood Obesity

References

16 Processing and Acting on Nutrition Labeling on Food The State of Knowledge and New Directions for Transformative Consumer Research

Nutrition Labeling in the United States and European Union: An Overview

Approaches to Analyzing the Effects of Nutrition Labeling

Brand Choice

Dietary Intake

Previous Research on Nutrition Labeling

Motivation to Process Nutrition Labels

Nutrition Knowledge

Self-Reported Perception and Use in Decision Making

Liking Different Labeling Formats

Understanding and Health Inferences

Actual Use in Decision Making

Dietary Intake

Theoretical and Methodological Challenges

In-Store and In-Home Research

Ongoing Choice and Consumption

Food Choice Versus Dietary Intake

Agenda for Research

Conclusion

References

17 Transformative Consumer Research for Addressing Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol and Tobacco Prevalences

Alcohol and Tobacco Health Risks

Research on Tobacco Marketing

Cigarette Advertising Prevalence

Causal Effects of Cigarette Advertising

Tobacco in Entertainment Media

Marketing of Light Cigarettes

Marketing of Other Nicotine Products

Research on Tobacco Demarketing

Advertising Bans

Counteradvertising

Warning Labels

Smoking Restrictions in Buildings

Restricting Retail Sales to Youth

Prices and Taxes

Research on Alcohol Marketing

Alcohol Advertising Prevalence

Causal Effects of Alcohol Advertising

Alcohol in Entertainment Media

Research on Alcohol Demarketing

Advertising Bans

Counteradvertising

Warning Labels

Restricting Retail Sales to Youth

Prices and Taxes

Regulation of Tobacco and Alcohol Marketing

Industry Self-Regulation

U.S. Government Regulation of Tobacco Marketing

Global Efforts to Regulate Alcohol and Tobacco

Concluding Thoughts and Future Research Directions

References

18 Using Behavioral Theory to Transform Consumers and Their Environments to Prevent the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually Transmitted Infections

A Behavioral Analysis Based on the Integrative Model

The Integrative Model

Using the Integrative Model to Develop Interventions

Two Illustrations

An Expanded Behavioral Analysis for Multicomponent and Multilevel Interventions

Illustration 1: Apply the Reasoned Action Approach to Understand Several Behaviors Implicated in the Performance of the End Consumer or Health Behavior

Illustration 2: Use the Results From the Analysis of the Underlying Behavioral, Normative, and Control Belief Structure to Identify Environmental Changes

Illustration 3: Apply the Reasoned Action Approach to Understand the Behavior of Agents Who Influence the Environment

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

References

VI Consumer Finances

19 Addition by Division Partitioning Real Accounts for Financial Well-Being

Problem 1: The Desire to Meddle Solution: Nest Egg and Fun Accounts

Problem 2: Lack of Pleasure or Reassurance From Saving Solution: Earmarked Accounts

Problem 3: Diminishing Motivation to Save Solution: “Old Money” and “New Money” Accounts

Problem 4: The Pain of Paying Solution: “Save It” and “Spend It” Accounts

How Financial Institutions Can Help

How Researchers Can Help

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

References

20 Understanding Consumer Psychology to Avoid Abuse of Credit Cards

The Economics of Consumer Credit

Consumer Self-Control

The Adoption and Use of Credit Cards

The Effect of Credit Cards and Mental Accounting on Spending

Credit Cards, the Pain of Payment, and Spending: New Empirical Evidence

Study 1: Moral Tax Payments and Spending

Study 2: Automatic Aspects of Spending With Credit Cards

The Credit Card Reform Act of 2009

Prescriptive Recommendations

Self-Control Strategies and Decision Points

Interventions That Influence the Mental Accounting of Consumers

References

21 Employee Retirement Savings What We Know and Are Discovering for Helping People Prepare for Life After Work

What we are Discovering about why Americans do not save

Motivation: Looking Ahead and Priorities

Ability

Target Audience

Consumer Research Related to Enhancing Motivation to Save

Lay Theories That Undermine Saving for Retirement

Design of Communication Interventions to Motivate Retirement Saving

Consumer Research Related to Enhanced Ability to Save

Plans Versus Outcomes

Implemental Mind-Sets

Design of Communication Interventions to Enhance Ability to Save for Retirement

Methodology for New Employee Orientation Intervention

Findings

Discussion

Meeting the Retirement Saving Challenge

Future Research

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

References

VII Other Risky Behaviors and At-Risk Consumers

22 A Model of Self-Regulation Insights for Impulsive and Compulsive Problems With Eating and Buying

Definitions and Conceptual Considerations

A Model of Self-Regulation

Limited-Resource Model of Self-Regulation

Dieting Failure Due to a Loss of Self-Control

Impulse Buying Due to a Loss of Self-Control

Strategies for Avoiding Self-Regulation Lapses

Severe Losses of Consumption Control

Bulimia: Compulsive Eating

Compulsive Buying

Explaining Complete Self-Regulatory Failure

Recovering From Extreme Self-Regulation Failure

Future Research

References

23 Gambling Beliefs Versus Reality Implications for Transformative Public Policy

Research-Based Belief: Consumers are Loss Averse

Research-Based Belief: The Casino Environment Makes the Gambler More Emotional, Which Leads to Irrational Behavior

Research-Based Belief: Research on Problem Gamblers Provides Insights for Understanding All Gamblers

Societal-Based Belief: Gamblers Chase Losses

Societal-Based Belief: Near Misses Motivate Gamblers to Continue Gambling

Societal-Based Belief: Gamblers do not Understand Laws of Probability, So Teaching them will Reduce Gambling Problems

Societal-Based Belief: Responsible Gambling can be Successfully Promoted

Societal-Based Belief: Bad People Cause Problem Gambling

Societal-Based Belief: There are No Upsides to Gambling

Where to From Here?

Research Methodologies

Gambling Populations

The Internet

References

24 Porn 2.0 The Libidinal Economy and the Consumption of Desire in the Digital Age

What and Where is Porn?

The Secret Life of Porn

Photography, Playboy, and the “Girls Next Door”

Limp Dicks and Art House Porn: The Video Era

Porn Consumption in the Digital Age

The Pornification of Popular Culture

Impacts of Porn Consumption

Porn Addiction

Porn Consumption and Aggression

Porn Consumption and Rape

Porn Consumption and Relationships

Porn, Bodies, and Body Image

Emerging Issues

Fandom and Public Consumption of Porn

Erogenous Zoning

Celebrity Sex Tapes

Amateur Porn and Hooking Up

Reaction Videos

Communities of Porn

New Technologies, New Challenges

Conclusion

References

25 Neuroscience and Addictive Consumption

Addictive Substances and Behavioral Patterns

Illicit Substances

Licit Behaviors and Consumables

Licit, Illicit, and Related Disjunctions Versus an Expansive View of Addictive-Pattern Consumption

Central Phenomena and Mechanisms

Key Neural Pathways, Regions, and Activity Patterns

Desire–Satisfaction Dissociation: Anhedonic and Counterhedonic Consumption

Manifestations in Consumer Behavior, Choice, and Valuation

Neuroscience and the Public Debate Regarding Addiction

Current Policy Efforts Regarding Addictive-Product Marketing

Public Policy Implications of Neuroscience for Addictive Consumption

Potential Caveats of Using Neuroscience Methods

Conclusion

References

26 Toward a Process Theory of Consumer Vulnerability and Resilience Illuminating Its Transformative Potential

Vulnerability Analysis

Vulnerability Defined by Demographics

Vulnerability Defined by Environments in Which People Live

Vulnerability Defined by the Situation

Vulnerability Defined by Community and Context

Summary

A Process Theory of Consumer Vulnerability and Resilience

A Transformative Model of Consumer Vulnerability and Resilience

Summary

Contextualizing a Process Theory of Vulnerability and Resilience

Disability

Disaster, Markets, and Consumption

Extending the Theoretical Framework Beyond Disability and Disaster

A Call to Arms

Acknowledgments

References

27 Consumer Well-Being in Later Life

Older Consumers: Now and in the Future

Why Study Older Consumers?

What do we Already know about Older Consumers?

The Aging Process

Successful Aging

Aging and Consumption

Research Gaps

Marketing Strategy

Consumer Education

Public Policy

Research Methods

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

References

VIII Family Matters

28 Effective Parenting to Prevent Adverse Outcomes and Promote Child Well-Being at a Population Level

Beneficial Parenting Strategies and Practices

Parenting and Family-Based Interventions for Prevention

Prevention of Preadolescent Problems

Prevention of Adolescent Problems

Sampling of Critical Issues

Distillation of Common Elements

Engagement of Parents

Are Long-Term Studies of Every Intervention Needed?

Moving Toward Wide-Scale Prevention

Interventions Designed for Broad Dissemination

Targeting Reduction of Population Prevalence

Improving Accessibility to Parenting Interventions and Information

Conclusion

References

29 Family Time in Consumer Culture Implications for Transformative Consumer Research

A Brief History of Family Time

Idealized Family Time

Time as a Pressure Cooker

Guilt and Stress for the Time Poor

Rising Expectations for Family Time

Balancing Work and Family Time

Time Poor and Poor

Time as a Map

Family Time and Goal Striving

Integrating Family Time and Work Goals

Time as a Mirror

Building and Preserving Traditions

Time as a River

Consumption Opportunities and Constraints

Alternative Discourses for Family Time

Time as a Feast

Collective Variety-Seeking

Emotional Spillover Among Family Members

Final Thoughts

Provide Realistic Alternatives to Time as a Constraint

Provide Consumption Options That Are Positive Partners in Family Time

Help Families Tailor Consumption Options to Collective Goals

References

IX Enriching Behaviors and Virtues

30 The Nature and Effects of Sharing in Consumer Behavior

What is Sharing?

Sharing In Cultural and Historical Perspectives

An Example of a Sharing Society

The Commons and Its Vestiges

Sharing Experiences As Children and Young Adults: a Retrospective Study

Methods

Findings

Discussion and Conclusions

References

31 Resilience and Consumer Behavior for Higher Quality of Life

Life as a Stressful Phenomenon

Hardy Attitudes as Existential Courage

Hardy Strategies as Facilitators of Development

Implications of Hardiness for Consumer Behavior and Quality of Life

Where Does Hardiness Come From?

Research on Hardiness Attitudes and Strategies

Research and Practice on Hardiness Training

Conclusions

References

32 Can Consumers Be Wise? Aristotle Speaks to the 21st Century

Practical Wisdom from the Aristotelian Perspective

Paradigms of Wisdom in Recent Psycholgical Science

Summary of Aristotle’s Practical Wisdom and Recent Psychological Research

Applications of Practical Wisdom to Consumption Cases

Helping Consumers Be Wiser More Often

Consumer Education

The Internet

Better Business Practices

Government Policies via Libertarian Paternalism

Present and Future Research

References

Epilogue

Suggestions for the Future

Chapter-Specific Comments

Opportunities for TCR

Types of TCR and Separating Research From Advocacy and Action

Is Theory Critical?

Implementation: Confrontation Versus Co-Option

Highlights and Shadows

Some Final Questions and Observations