IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v69y2016i2p785-793.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Symbolic drivers of consumer–brand identification and disidentification

Author

Listed:
  • Wolter, Jeremy S.
  • Brach, Simon
  • Cronin, J. Joseph
  • Bonn, Mark

Abstract

The current research examines a new phenomenon, consumer–brand disidentification (CBD), in relation to consumer–brand identification (CBI), their symbolic drivers, and unique outcomes. The model is examined in the context of seven nationally-recognized beer brands. As such, three theoretical contributions are made. First, the concept of CBD is revealed as useful in understanding consumers' brand relationships. Second, CBI and CBD are evidenced as capturing an attraction/repulsion dynamic by which brands simultaneously attract and repulse segments of consumer. Third, the results suggest that the influence of self-motives, as represented by the symbolic drivers, differs for CBI and CBD. Overall, the research suggests that capitalizing off of the symbolic properties of a brand is a difficult task as strong brand identities can alienate consumer segments.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolter, Jeremy S. & Brach, Simon & Cronin, J. Joseph & Bonn, Mark, 2016. "Symbolic drivers of consumer–brand identification and disidentification," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 785-793.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:69:y:2016:i:2:p:785-793
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.07.011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296315003021
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.07.011?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. Allison R. Johnson & Maggie Matear & Matthew Thomson, 2011. "A Coal in the Heart: Self-Relevance as a Post-Exit Predictor of Consumer Anti-Brand Actions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 38(1), pages 108-125.
    2. Stokburger-Sauer, Nicola & Ratneshwar, S. & Sen, Sankar, 2012. "Drivers of consumer–brand identification," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 406-418.
    3. Grisaffe, Douglas B. & Nguyen, Hieu P., 2011. "Antecedents of emotional attachment to brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1052-1059, October.
    4. Tuškej, Urška & Golob, Urša & Podnar, Klement, 2013. "The role of consumer–brand identification in building brand relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 53-59.
    5. Hogg, Margaret K. & Banister, Emma N. & Stephenson, Christopher A., 2009. "Mapping symbolic (anti-) consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 148-159, February.
    6. SandIkcI, Özlem & Ekici, Ahmet, 2009. "Politically motivated brand rejection," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 208-217, February.
    7. Belk, Russell W, 1988. "Possessions and the Extended Self," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 15(2), pages 139-168, September.
    8. Lee, Michael S.W. & Motion, Judith & Conroy, Denise, 2009. "Anti-consumption and brand avoidance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 169-180, February.
    9. 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.
    10. Rafael Currás-Pérez & Enrique Bigné-Alcañiz & Alejandro Alvarado-Herrera, 2009. "The Role of Self-Definitional Principles in Consumer Identification with a Socially Responsible Company," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 89(4), pages 547-564, November.
    11. Katherine White & Darren W. Dahl, 2007. "Are All Out-Groups Created Equal? Consumer Identity and Dissociative Influence," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(4), pages 525-536, June.
    12. Peterson, Robert A, 2001. "On the Use of College Students in Social Science Research: Insights from a Second-Order Meta-analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 28(3), pages 450-461, December.
    13. Jonah Berger & Chip Heath, 2007. "Where Consumers Diverge from Others: Identity Signaling and Product Domains," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(2), pages 121-134, June.
    14. Kimberly D. Elsbach & C. B. Bhattacharya, 2001. "Defining Who You Are By What You're Not: Organizational Disidentification and The National Rifle Association," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 393-413, August.
    15. Brodie, Roderick J. & Whittome, James R.M. & Brush, Gregory J., 2009. "Investigating the service brand: A customer value perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(3), pages 345-355, March.
    16. He, Hongwei & Li, Yan & Harris, Lloyd, 2012. "Social identity perspective on brand loyalty," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(5), pages 648-657.
    17. Son K. Lam, 2012. "Identity-motivated marketing relationships: research synthesis, controversies, and research agenda," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 2(2), pages 72-87, December.
    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. Elbedweihy, Alaa M. & Jayawardhena, Chanaka & Elsharnouby, Mohamed H. & Elsharnouby, Tamer H., 2016. "Customer relationship building: The role of brand attractiveness and consumer–brand identification," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 2901-2910.
    2. Anaza, Nwamaka A. & Luis Saavedra, José & Hair, Joe F. & Bagherzadeh, Ramin & Rawal, Monika & Nedu Osakwe, Christian, 2021. "Customer-brand disidentification: Conceptualization, scale development and validation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 116-131.
    3. Bastian Popp & Herbert Woratschek, 2017. "Consumer–brand identification revisited: An integrative framework of brand identification, customer satisfaction, and price image and their role for brand loyalty and word of mouth," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(3), pages 250-270, May.
    4. Jacob, Isaac & Khanna, Monica & Rai, Krupa A., 2020. "Attribution analysis of luxury brands: An investigation into consumer-brand congruence through conspicuous consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 597-607.
    5. Shyh-Ming Huang & Shyh-Rong Fang & Shih-Chieh Fang & Chao-Chin Huang, 2016. "The influences of brand benefits on brand loyalty: Intermediate mechanisms," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 41(1), pages 141-160, February.
    6. Reed, Americus & Forehand, Mark R. & Puntoni, Stefano & Warlop, Luk, 2012. "Identity-based consumer behavior," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 310-321.
    7. Bernritter, Stefan F. & Verlegh, Peeter W.J. & Smit, Edith G., 2016. "Why Nonprofits Are Easier to Endorse on Social Media: The Roles of Warmth and Brand Symbolism," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 27-42.
    8. So, Kevin Kam Fung & King, Ceridwyn & Hudson, Simon & Meng, Fang, 2017. "The missing link in building customer brand identification: The role of brand attractiveness," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 640-651.
    9. Roy, Sanjit K. & Sharma, Apurv & Bose, Sunny & Singh, Gaganpreet, 2022. "Consumer - brand relationship: A brand hate perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1293-1304.
    10. Coelho, Pedro Simões & Rita, Paulo & Santos, Zélia Raposo, 2018. "On the relationship between consumer-brand identification, brand community, and brand loyalty," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 101-110.
    11. Büyükdağ, Naci & Kitapci, Olgun, 2021. "Antecedents of consumer-brand identification in terms of belonging brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    12. Yeh, Ching-Hsuan & Wang, Yi-Shun & Yieh, Kaili, 2016. "Predicting smartphone brand loyalty: Consumer value and consumer-brand identification perspectives," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 245-257.
    13. Gwarlann de Kerviler & Carlos Rodriguez, 2019. "Luxury brand experiences and relationship quality for Millennials: The role of self-expansion," Post-Print hal-02114441, HAL.
    14. Martin, David S. & Bourdeau, Brian L. & Stephan, John, 2020. "Measuring the effectiveness of facility naming rights sponsorships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 51-64.
    15. Daniel Villanova, 2019. "The extended self, product valuation, and the endowment effect," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 9(3), pages 357-371, December.
    16. Popp, Bastian & Woratschek, Herbert, 2017. "Consumers’ relationships with brands and brand communities – The multifaceted roles of identification and satisfaction," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 46-56.
    17. Hogg, Margaret K. & Banister, Emma N. & Stephenson, Christopher A., 2009. "Mapping symbolic (anti-) consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 148-159, February.
    18. Remi Trudel & Jennifer J. Argo & Matthew D. Meng, 2016. "The Recycled Self: Consumers’ Disposal Decisions of Identity-Linked Products," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 43(2), pages 246-264.
    19. Thomas, Veronica L. & Yeh, Marie & Jewell, Robert D., 2015. "Enhancing valuation: the impact of self-congruence with a brand on the endowment effect," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 178-185.
    20. Josef Welzmueller & Sascha L. Schmidt, 2024. "Consumer identification: an interdisciplinary review of the marketing and sport management literature and future research agenda," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(1), pages 439-485, February.

    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:69:y:2016:i:2:p:785-793. 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.