IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v202y2024ics0040162524001045.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Virtual pets' cuteness matters: A shared reality paradigm for promoting internet helping behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Zhou, Fei
  • Lin, Yifan
  • Mou, Jian

Abstract

Elements related to cuteness are widely used in virtual spokesperson strategies. However, few studies have explored the effect of virtual pet cuteness. Shared reality theory indicates that humans are strongly motivated to share their inner states about the world with one another, which could be used to predict individuals' prosocial behaviours. By integrating parasocial interaction theory with shared reality theory, this research aimed to extend shared reality theory to the context of virtual pets. Specifically, we explore the sequences mediating parasocial interaction and generalized shared reality between virtual pet cuteness and users' internet helping behaviours through three scenario experiments. The results show that virtual pet cuteness has a significant positive influence on individual internet helping behaviour; parasocial interaction and generalized shared reality have a sequences mediation effect on the relationship between virtual pet cuteness and internet helping behaviour; and independent self-construal moderates the relationship between virtual pet cuteness and internet helping behaviour. Accordingly, this study's results provide useful implications for the use of virtual pets to enhance online mutual assistance.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Fei & Lin, Yifan & Mou, Jian, 2024. "Virtual pets' cuteness matters: A shared reality paradigm for promoting internet helping behaviour," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:202:y:2024:i:c:s0040162524001045
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123308
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162524001045
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123308?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. Jacobson, Jenna & Hodson, Jaigris & Mittelman, Robert, 2022. "Pup-ularity contest: The advertising practices of popular animal influencers on Instagram," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    2. Zhou, Fei & Su, Qiulai & Mou, Jian, 2021. "Understanding the effect of website logos as animated spokescharacters on the advertising: A lens of parasocial interaction relationship," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. Sokolova, Karina & Kefi, Hajer, 2020. "Instagram and YouTube bloggers promote it, why should I buy? How credibility and parasocial interaction influence purchase intentions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Zheng, Xiabing & Men, Jinqi & Xiang, Li & Yang, Feng, 2020. "Role of technology attraction and parasocial interaction in social shopping websites," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    5. Hu, Lixia & Min, Qingfei & Han, Shengnan & Liu, Zhiyong, 2020. "Understanding followers’ stickiness to digital influencers: The effect of psychological responses," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    6. Ku, Hsuan-Hsuan & Shang, Rong-An & Fu, Yi-Fan, 2021. "Social learning effects of complaint handling on social media: Self-construal as a moderator," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    7. Septianto, Felix & Paramita, Widya, 2021. "Cute brand logo enhances favorable brand attitude: The moderating role of hope," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    8. Cowan, Kirsten, 2020. "Anything you can imagine is possible: How imagining can overcome visceral drive states elicited in promotional advertising," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 529-538.
    9. Alexandra Sierra Rativa & Marie Postma & Menno Van Zaanen, 2020. "The Influence of Game Character Appearance on Empathy and Immersion: Virtual Non-Robotic Versus Robotic Animals," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 51(5), pages 685-711, October.
    10. Ki, Chung-Wha (Chloe) & Cuevas, Leslie M. & Chong, Sze Man & Lim, Heejin, 2020. "Influencer marketing: Social media influencers as human brands attaching to followers and yielding positive marketing results by fulfilling needs," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    11. Xiaojing Yang & Xiaoyan Deng & Amita Bhadauria, 2020. "Does Mere Exposure to Beauty-Related Words Promote Prosocial Behavior? Exploring the Mental Association between Beauty and Prosociality," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 5(1), pages 106-116.
    12. Gergana Y. Nenkov & Maura L. Scott, 2014. ""So Cute I Could Eat It Up": Priming Effects of Cute Products on Indulgent Consumption," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 41(2), pages 326-341.
    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. Wong, Amy & Wei, Joicey, 2023. "Persuasive cues and reciprocal behaviors in influencer-follower relationships: The mediating role of influencer defense," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    2. Zhou, Qi & Li, Bin & Li, Huajun & Lei, Yueqiu, 2024. "Mere copycat? The effects of human versus human-like virtual influencers on brand endorsement effectiveness: A moderated serial-mediation model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    3. Cheung, Man Lai & Leung, Wilson K.S. & Aw, Eugene Cheng-Xi & Koay, Kian Yeik, 2022. "“I follow what you post!†: The role of social media influencers’ content characteristics in consumers' online brand-related activities (COBRAs)," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Zhou, Fei & Su, Qiulai & Mou, Jian, 2021. "Understanding the effect of website logos as animated spokescharacters on the advertising: A lens of parasocial interaction relationship," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    5. Tafesse, Wondwesen & Wood, Bronwyn P., 2021. "Followers' engagement with instagram influencers: The role of influencers’ content and engagement strategy," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    6. Conde, Rita & Casais, Beatriz, 2023. "Micro, macro and mega-influencers on instagram: The power of persuasion via the parasocial relationship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    7. Barta, Sergio & Belanche, Daniel & Fernández, Ana & Flavián, Marta, 2023. "Influencer marketing on TikTok: The effectiveness of humor and followers’ hedonic experience," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    8. Xiuping Zhang & Jaewon Choi, 2022. "The Importance of Social Influencer-Generated Contents for User Cognition and Emotional Attachment: An Information Relevance Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    9. Andonopoulos, Vasiliki & Lee, Jenny (Jiyeon) & Mathies, Christine, 2023. "Authentic isn't always best: When inauthentic social media influencers induce positive consumer purchase intention through inspiration," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    10. Watanabe, Nicholas M. & Kim, Jiyeon & Park, Joohyung, 2021. "Social network analysis and domestic and international retailers: An investigation of social media networks of cosmetic brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    11. Wang, Nan & Xie, Wenxuan & Tiberius, Victor & Qiu, Yong, 2023. "Accelerating new product diffusion: How lead users serve as opinion leaders in social networks," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    12. Mukta Garg & Apurva Bakshi, 2024. "Exploring the impact of beauty vloggers’ credible attributes, parasocial interaction, and trust on consumer purchase intention in influencer marketing," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Bu, Yi & Parkinson, Joy & Thaichon, Park, 2022. "Influencer marketing: Homophily, customer value co-creation behaviour and purchase intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    14. Aw, Eugene Cheng-Xi & Chuah, Stephanie Hui-Wen, 2021. "“Stop the unattainable ideal for an ordinary me!” fostering parasocial relationships with social media influencers: The role of self-discrepancy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 146-157.
    15. Sardar, Sainaz & Tata, Sai Vijay & Sarkar, Subhro, 2024. "Examining the influence of source factors and content characteristics of influencers' post on consumer engagement and purchase intention: A moderated analysis," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Warinrampai Rungruangjit & Kitti Charoenpornpanichkul, 2022. "Building Stronger Brand Evangelism for Sustainable Marketing through Micro-Influencer-Generated Content on Instagram in the Fashion Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, November.
    17. Dogerlioglu-Demir, Kivilcim & Ng, Andy H. & Koçaş, Cenk, 2023. "Gracefully yours: Would snap judgments of one's subtle graceful movements lead to inferences about their emotional intelligence?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    18. Ooi, Keng-Boon & Lee, Voon-Hsien & Hew, Jun-Jie & Leong, Lai-Ying & Tan, Garry Wei-Han & Lim, Ai-Fen, 2023. "Social media influencers: An effective marketing approach?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    19. Nadroo, Zeeshan Majeed & Lim, Weng Marc & Naqshbandi, Mohd Asif, 2024. "Domino effect of parasocial interaction: Of vicarious expression, electronic word-of-mouth, and bandwagon effect in online shopping," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    20. Zhang, Peilin & Chao, Chih-Wei (Fred) & Chiong, Raymond & Hasan, Najmul & Aljaroodi, Hussain M. & Tian, Feng, 2023. "Effects of in-store live stream on consumers’ offline purchase intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

    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:tefoso:v:202:y:2024:i:c:s0040162524001045. 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.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    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.