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Thinking or Feeling the Risk in Online Auctions: The Effects of Priming Auction Outcomes and the Dual System on Risk Perception and Amount Bid

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  • Steinhart, Yael
  • Kamins, Michael A.
  • Mazursky, David
  • Noy, Avraham

Abstract

The present research sheds new light on the antecedents and outcomes of bidders' perceived risk. It examines the role of the two-system model in the context of activating the potential to either win or lose an online auction. This study demonstrates that when a bidder's affective system is primed, concern about losing the item is greater and ultimately the bid amount is higher when the bidder expects to lose rather than win. Conversely, when the cognitive system is primed, the anticipated goals of winning the auction – rather than the fear of losing – drive the bidder's actions. In the latter case, the bidder pays a higher amount if the expectancy of winning is primed, as opposed to the expectancy of losing. A field study on eBay and two lab studies confirm this phenomenon.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:joinma:v:27:y:2013:i:1:p:47-61
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intmar.2012.09.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Yael Steinhart & Michael Kamins & David Mazursky, 2019. "Influence of the “benefit of the doubt” in online auctions," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 245-260, December.
    2. Adam, Marc T.P. & Astor, Philipp J. & Krämer, Jan, 2016. "Affective Images, Emotion Regulation and Bidding Behavior: An Experiment on the Influence of Competition and Community Emotions in Internet Auctions," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 56-69.
    3. Casado-Aranda, Luis-Alberto & Liébana-Cabanillas, Francisco & Sánchez-Fernández, Juan, 2018. "A Neuropsychological Study on How Consumers Process Risky and Secure E-payments," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 151-164.

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