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Risk perception and risk avoidance: The role of cultural identity and personal relevance

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  • Carvalho, Sergio W.
  • Block, Lauren G.
  • Sivaramakrishnan, Subramanian
  • Manchanda, Rajesh V.
  • Mitakakis, Chrissy

Abstract

With allegations of food contamination rapidly increasing, people face numerous consumption decisions regarding food safety. This paper examines the roles of cultural similarity and personal relevance in consumers' perceptions of the risk of food-borne contamination and their intentions to reduce consumption of this food. We demonstrate that consumers are more concerned by the threat of a likely food-borne illness if the contamination occurred in a culturally similar location, regardless of physical or geographical proximity to the consumer. However, when the event is highly personally relevant, consumers feel threatened, which leads to message denial and a reversal of the facilitating effects of cultural similarity.

Suggested Citation

  • Carvalho, Sergio W. & Block, Lauren G. & Sivaramakrishnan, Subramanian & Manchanda, Rajesh V. & Mitakakis, Chrissy, 2008. "Risk perception and risk avoidance: The role of cultural identity and personal relevance," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 319-326.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ijrema:v:25:y:2008:i:4:p:319-326
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2008.06.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Menon, Geeta & Block, Lauren G & Ramanathan, Suresh, 2002. "We're at As Much Risk As We Are Led to Believe: Effects of Message Cues on Judgments of Health Risk," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 28(4), pages 533-549, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pan, Jing Yu & Liu, Dahai, 2022. "Mask-wearing intentions on airplanes during COVID-19 – Application of theory of planned behavior model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 32-44.
    2. Caglar Irmak & Rebecca Naylor & William Bearden, 2011. "The out-of-region bias: Distance estimations based on geographic category membership," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 181-196, June.
    3. Steinhart, Yael & Kamins, Michael A. & Mazursky, David & Noy, Avraham, 2013. "Thinking or Feeling the Risk in Online Auctions: The Effects of Priming Auction Outcomes and the Dual System on Risk Perception and Amount Bid," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 47-61.
    4. Stremersch, Stefan, 2008. "Health and marketing: The emergence of a new field of research," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 229-233.

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