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The effect of activity identity fusion on negative consumer behavior

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  • Matthew Hawkins

    (ICN Business School, CEREFIGE - Centre Européen de Recherche en Economie Financière et Gestion des Entreprises - UL - Université de Lorraine)

Abstract

Negative consumer behavior is an important research topic as it explores consumer behaviors that threaten a brand's image and financial stability. However, prior research offers conflicting findings on whether a strong consumer-brand relationship hurts or protects a brand following a market disruption or brand transgression. In order to offer clarity to this issue, this work argues that disrupting the consumer-activity relationship motivates consumers to re-affirm and protect their identity thereby leading to negative consumer behavior. The data reveal that, following a brand initiated market disruption, consumers with high activity identity fusion are more likely to spread negative word-of-mouth, boycott the brand, and avoid repurchasing the brand in the future. Moreover, the data suggest that high brand identity fusion protects the brand during market disruptions; therefore, prior conflicting results may be due to the fact that the consumer-activity relationship was not accounted for. Theoretically, this work establishes that a consumer's relationship with their consumption activities has significant impacts on consumer behavior. Brand managers and marketers are urged to develop strategies that focus on strengthening the consumer-brand relationship and not the consumer-activity relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Hawkins, 2019. "The effect of activity identity fusion on negative consumer behavior," Post-Print hal-02014635, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02014635
    DOI: 10.1002/mar.21186
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02014635
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