IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v170y2024ics0148296323007142.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

When does anthropomorphism hurt? How tool anthropomorphism negatively affects consumers' rewards for tool users

Author

Listed:
  • Huang, Jingya
  • Wang, Liangyan
  • Chan, Eugene

Abstract

The current work explores how tool anthropomorphism adversely affects people’s rewards for tool users. This effect arises because tool anthropomorphism decreases perceived effort of tool users as people see tool users to be exerting less effort with some of the effort picked up by the anthropomorphized tools. Study 1 adopts a context of a national city-cleaning activity to verify the main effect in the form of prosocial behaviors. Study 2 replicates the main effect in a consumption context for monetary reward (i.e., tips). Study 3 reveals the underlying mechanism of perceived effort and rules out the alternative explanation of perspective-taking. Study 4 verifies the mediating role of perceived effort by manipulating tool users’ effort as explicitly mentioned (or not). Finally, Study 5 shows the moderating role of just world belief. Our findings are robust across various contexts and provide novel theoretical and practical implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Jingya & Wang, Liangyan & Chan, Eugene, 2024. "When does anthropomorphism hurt? How tool anthropomorphism negatively affects consumers' rewards for tool users," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:170:y:2024:i:c:s0148296323007142
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114355
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296323007142
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114355?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sharma, Monika & Rahman, Zillur, 2022. "Anthropomorphic brand management: An integrated review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 463-475.
    2. Minkyung Koo & Hyewon Oh & Vanessa M. Patrick, 2019. "From Oldie to Goldie: Humanizing Old Produce Enhances Its Appeal," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(4), pages 337-351.
    3. Kwak, Hyokjin & Puzakova, Marina & Rocereto, Joseph F., 2017. "When brand anthropomorphism alters perceptions of justice: The moderating role of self-construal," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 851-871.
    4. Sara Kim & Ann L. McGill, 2011. "Gaming with Mr. Slot or Gaming the Slot Machine? Power, Anthropomorphism, and Risk Perception," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 38(1), pages 94-107.
    5. Hyeongmin Christian Kim & Thomas Kramer, 2015. "Do Materialists Prefer the "Brand-as-Servant"? The Interactive Effect of Anthropomorphized Brand Roles and Materialism on Consumer Responses," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 42(2), pages 284-299.
    6. Julia D. Hur & Minjung Koo & Wilhelm Hofmann, 2015. "When Temptations Come Alive: How Anthropomorphism Undermines Self-Control," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 42(2), pages 340-358.
    7. Silvia Bellezza & Francesca Gino & Anat Keinan, 2014. "The Red Sneakers Effect: Inferring Status and Competence from Signals of Nonconformity," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 41(1), pages 35-54.
    8. Feifei Huang & Vincent Chi Wong & Echo Wen Wan & Pankaj Aggarwal & Vicki G Morwitz & Margaret C Campbell, 2020. "The Influence of Product Anthropomorphism on Comparative Judgment [Is That Car Smiling at Me? Schema Congruity as a Basis for Evaluating Anthropomorphized Products]," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 46(5), pages 936-955.
    9. Langan, Ryan & Kumar, Anand, 2019. "Time versus money: The role of perceived effort in consumers' evaluation of corporate giving," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 295-305.
    10. Wang, Lili & Kim, Sara & Zhou, Xinyue, 2023. "Money in a “Safe” place: Money anthropomorphism increases saving behavior," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 88-108.
    11. Noah Castelo & Bernd Schmitt & Miklos Sarvary, 2019. "Human or Robot? Consumer Responses to Radical Cognitive Enhancement Products," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(3), pages 217-230.
    12. Lili Wang & Maferima Touré-Tillery & Ann L. McGill, 2023. "The effect of disease anthropomorphism on compliance with health recommendations," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 266-285, March.
    13. James A. Mourey & Jenny G. Olson & Carolyn Yoon, 2017. "Products as Pals: Engaging with Anthropomorphic Products Mitigates the Effects of Social Exclusion," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 44(2), pages 414-431.
    14. Fong, Christina, 2001. "Social preferences, self-interest, and the demand for redistribution," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 225-246, November.
    15. Rummelhagen, Katja & Benkenstein, Martin, 2019. "When Service Employees Should Not Go the Extra Mile: The Interaction Between Perceived Employee Effort and Customer Misbehaviour Severity," SMR - Journal of Service Management Research, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 3(1), pages 37-50.
    16. Fangyuan Chen & Jaideep Sengupta & Rashmi Adaval, 2018. "Does Endowing a Product with Life Make One Feel More Alive? The Effect of Product Anthropomorphism on Consumer Vitality," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(4), pages 503-513.
    17. Fournier, Susan, 1998. "Consumers and Their Brands: Developing Relationship Theory in Consumer Research," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 24(4), pages 343-373, March.
    18. Velasco, Franklin & Yang, Zhiyong & Janakiraman, Narayanan, 2021. "A meta-analytic investigation of consumer response to anthropomorphic appeals: The roles of product type and uncertainty avoidance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 735-746.
    19. Ketron, Seth & Naletelich, Kelly, 2019. "Victim or beggar? Anthropomorphic messengers and the savior effect in consumer sustainability behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 73-84.
    20. Frank May & Ashwani Monga, 2014. "When Time Has a Will of Its Own, the Powerless Don't Have the Will to Wait: Anthropomorphism of Time Can Decrease Patience," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 40(5), pages 924-942.
    21. Jenny G. Olson & Brent McFerran & Andrea C. Morales & Darren W. Dahl, 2016. "Wealth and Welfare: Divergent Moral Reactions to Ethical Consumer Choices," Journal of Consumer Research, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(6), pages 879-896.
    22. Jing Wan, 2018. "Paying the Doughboy: The Effect of Time and Money Mind-sets on Preference for Anthropomorphized Products," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(4), pages 466-476.
    23. Golossenko, Artyom & Pillai, Kishore Gopalakrishna & Aroean, Lukman, 2020. "Seeing brands as humans: Development and validation of a brand anthropomorphism scale," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 737-755.
    24. Lee, Seonjeong (Ally) & Oh, Haemoon, 2021. "Anthropomorphism and its implications for advertising hotel brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 455-464.
    25. Sara Kim & Rocky Peng Chen & Ke Zhang, 2016. "Anthropomorphized Helpers Undermine Autonomy and Enjoyment in Computer Games," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 43(2), pages 282-302.
    26. Quang-An Ha & Phuong Nhi Nguyen Pham & Long Hoang Le, 2022. "What facilitate people to do charity? The impact of brand anthropomorphism, brand familiarity and brand trust on charity support intention," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 19(4), pages 835-859, December.
    27. Mohr, Lois A. & Bitner, Mary Jo, 1995. "The role of employee effort in satisfaction with service transactions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 239-252, March.
    28. Pankaj Aggarwal & Ann L. McGill, 2007. "Is That Car Smiling at Me? Schema Congruity as a Basis for Evaluating Anthropomorphized Products," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(4), pages 468-479, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Velasco, Franklin & Yang, Zhiyong & Janakiraman, Narayanan, 2021. "A meta-analytic investigation of consumer response to anthropomorphic appeals: The roles of product type and uncertainty avoidance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 735-746.
    2. Golossenko, Artyom & Pillai, Kishore Gopalakrishna & Aroean, Lukman, 2020. "Seeing brands as humans: Development and validation of a brand anthropomorphism scale," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 737-755.
    3. Xie, Yi & Chen, Ke & Guo, Xiaoling, 2020. "Online anthropomorphism and consumers’ privacy concern: Moderating roles of need for interaction and social exclusion," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    4. Liu, Fu & Wei, Haiying & Zhu, Zhenzhong & Chen, Haipeng (Allan), 2022. "Warmth or competence: Brand anthropomorphism, social exclusion, and advertisement effectiveness," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    5. Baskentli, Sara & Hadi, Rhonda & Lee, Leonard, 2023. "How culture shapes consumer responses to anthropomorphic products," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 495-512.
    6. Lili Wang & Maferima Touré-Tillery & Ann L. McGill, 2023. "The effect of disease anthropomorphism on compliance with health recommendations," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 266-285, March.
    7. Sharma, Monika & Rahman, Zillur, 2022. "Anthropomorphic brand management: An integrated review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 463-475.
    8. Justina Sidlauskiene & Yannick Joye & Vilte Auruskeviciene, 2023. "AI-based chatbots in conversational commerce and their effects on product and price perceptions," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-21, December.
    9. Hyun Ju Jeong & Jihye Kim, 2021. "Human-like versus me-like brands in corporate social responsibility: the effectiveness of brand anthropomorphism on social perceptions and buying pleasure of brands," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(1), pages 32-47, January.
    10. van Esch, Patrick & Cui, Yuanyuan (Gina) & Sledge, April & Das, Gopal & Pala, Erol, 2023. "Preference for partner or servant brand roles depends on consumers’ power distance belief," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    11. Wang, Lili & Kim, Sara & Zhou, Xinyue, 2023. "Money in a “Safe” place: Money anthropomorphism increases saving behavior," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 88-108.
    12. Karanika, Katerina & Hogg, Margaret K., 2020. "Self–object relationships in consumers’ spontaneous metaphors of anthropomorphism, zoomorphism, and dehumanization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 15-25.
    13. Maria Vernuccio & Michela Patrizi & Maja Šerić & Alberto Pastore, 2023. "The perceptual antecedents of brand anthropomorphism in the name-brand voice assistant context," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 30(4), pages 302-317, July.
    14. Karpinska-Krakowiak, Malgorzata & Eisend, Martin, 2021. "The Effects of Animistic Thinking, Animistic Cues, and Superstitions on Brand Responses on Social Media," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 104-117.
    15. Han, Nah Ray & Baek, Tae Hyun & Yoon, Sukki & Kim, Yeonshin, 2019. "Is that coffee mug smiling at me? How anthropomorphism impacts the effectiveness of desirability vs. feasibility appeals in sustainability advertising," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 352-361.
    16. Sara Kim & Rocky Peng Chen & Ke Zhang, 2016. "Anthropomorphized Helpers Undermine Autonomy and Enjoyment in Computer Games," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 43(2), pages 282-302.
    17. Lee, Seonjeong (Ally) & Oh, Haemoon, 2021. "Anthropomorphism and its implications for advertising hotel brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 455-464.
    18. Li, Xueni (Shirley) & Kim, Sara & Chan, Kimmy Wa & McGill, Ann L., 2023. "Detrimental effects of anthropomorphism on the perceived physical safety of artificial agents in dangerous situations," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 841-864.
    19. Jamel Khenfer & Steven Shepherd & Olivier Trendel, 2020. "Customer empowerment in the face of perceived Incompetence: Effect on preference for anthropomorphized brands," Post-Print hal-03189338, HAL.
    20. Malgorzata Karpinska-Krakowiak & Lukasz Skowron & Lachezar Ivanov, 2020. "“I Will Start Saving Natural Resources, Only When You Show Me the Planet as a Person in Danger”: The Effects of Message Framing and Anthropomorphism on Pro-Environmental Behaviors that are Viewed as E," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-14, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:170:y:2024:i:c:s0148296323007142. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.