ScienceDaily: Consumer Behavior News

Through the eyes of a burglar: Study provides insights on habits and motivations, importance of security

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:09:09 EDT

One way to understand what motivates and deters burglars is to ask them. A researcher did just that. He led a research team that gathered survey responses from more than 400 convicted offenders that resulted in an unprecedented look into the minds of burglars, providing insight into intruders’ motivations and methods.

Political motivations may have evolutionary links to physical strength

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:55:55 EDT

Men's upper-body strength predicts their political opinions on economic redistribution, according to new research. The researchers collected data on bicep size, socioeconomic status, and support for economic redistribution from hundreds of people in the United States, Argentina, and Denmark. In line with their hypotheses, the data revealed that wealthy men with high upper-body strength were less likely to support redistribution of wealth, while less wealthy men of the same strength were more likely to support it.

Learning to recycle: Does political ideology matter?

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Some targeted messages based on political orientation are more effective at persuading consumers to recycle according to a new study.

Illusion of control: Why sports fans prefer 'lucky' products

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Consumers engage in superstitious behavior when they want to achieve something but don’t have the power to make it happen, according to a new study.

Advertising product results? Put images closer together

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Consumers believe a product is more effective when images of the product and its desired outcome are placed closer together in advertisements, according to a new study.

Relationship troubles? Some sad music might help you feel better

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Consumers experiencing relationship problems are more likely to prefer aesthetic experiences that reflect their negative mood, according to a new study.

Do markets erode moral values? People ignore their own moral standards when acting as market participants, researchers say

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:45:45 EDT

Many people express objections against child labor, exploitation of the workforce or meat production involving cruelty against animals. At the same time, however, people ignore their own moral standards when acting as market participants, searching for the cheapest electronics, fashion or food. Thus, markets reduce moral concerns, new research shows.

Would you ‘Like’ a drink? Youth drinking cultures, social networking and alcohol marketing

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:54:54 EDT

Preventing alcohol abuse, especially among young people, has long been a focus of public-health campaigns. But despite the well-publicized social and medical consequences of drinking too much it’s clear that for many, heavy drinking has become a normal part of life.

Why we love it or hate it: Key to brand affinity and brand aversion for brands like Apple and Manchester United

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

Why do brands such as Manchester United and Apple capture hearts and minds? How do marketers make consumers develop a strong attachment for a product or service? According to a recent study it is achieved by appealing to people's aesthetic needs (enticing/annoying to the self), functional needs (enabling/disabling for the self) and spiritual needs (whether something is enriching/impoverishing).

Benefit vs. risk of facial recognition technology

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:32:32 EDT

Law enforcement agencies are using facial recognition software as a crime-fighting tool. Now businesses are looking to use the technology to reach customers. But a professor questions whether customers are ready for it.

Children's 'healthy' foods marketed at children are higher in fat, sugar and salt

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:44 EDT

Foods being marketed to children in UK supermarkets are less healthy than those marketed to the general population according to researchers who question whether more guidelines may be needed in regulating food marketed to children.

Millions pass up free health subsidy

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:17:17 EDT

Low-income Medicare beneficiaries with poorer cognitive abilities are less likely to enroll in the Low Income Subsidy program, which provides nearly free prescription drug coverage for low-income adults. The findings suggest that even when presented with a single dominant option in the form of free additional drug coverage, many seniors fail to act in their own economic interests.

Consumers almost always buy in the same shops, international study finds

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:53:53 EDT

In a new study, researchers in Spain attempted to identify just how predictable consumers are with respect to shopping patterns. As explained by one of its authors, "the main conclusion we have drawn is that people’s behavior is repetitive when it comes to visiting and spending in shops, and as such it is possible to have some success in predicting where we are going to buy in the future."

Unethical advertising at launch of new antidepressants in Sweden

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:36:36 EDT

The new feature of the antidepressant drugs of the 1990s was that they had milder side-effects than their predecessors. Combined with aggressive marketing, this meant that annual sales in Sweden increased from just under EUR 18 million to over EUR 100 million in the space of just a few years.

Growing gap between teens' materialism and willingness to work hard

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

New research shows a growing gap between materialism and the desire to work hard in young people today. Researchers studied results of surveys of 355,000 US high school seniors from 1976 to 2007, examining the materialistic values of three generations with questions focused on the perceived importance of having a lot of money and material goods, as well as the willingness to work hard.

Environmental labels may discourage conservatives from buying energy-efficient products

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:16:16 EDT

When it comes to deciding which light bulb to buy, a label touting the product's environmental benefit may actually discourage politically conservative shoppers.

Economic downturn affecting wellbeing of 'asset rich, cash poor' older people

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:24:24 EDT

The economic downturn is having a marked impact on the wellbeing of ‘asset rich, cash poor’ older people, researchers have found.

Pathological gambling caused by excessive optimism

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:24:24 EDT

Compulsive gamblers suffer from an optimism bias that modifies their subjective representation of probability and affects their decisions in situations involving high-risk monetary wagers.

Weight loss programs via virtual reality

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:56:56 EDT

There are many barriers that can interfere with weight loss. For those attending face-to-face weight loss programs, barriers can include travel, conflict with work and home, need for childcare, and loss of anonymity. In a new study investigators continue to explore alternative weight management delivery methods to eliminate some of these barriers. The solution they are investigating -- virtual reality for weight loss and weight maintenance.

'When in Rome': Monkeys found to conform to social norms

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

The human tendency to adopt the behavior of others when on their home territory has been found in non-human primates. Researchers observed 'striking' fickleness in male monkeys, when it comes to copying the behavior of others in new groups. The study has been hailed by leading primate experts as rare experimental proof of 'cultural transmission' in wild primates to date.

Early dialogue between parents, children stems teen smoking

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Early, substantive dialogue between parents and their grade-school age children about the ills of tobacco and alcohol use can be more powerful in shaping teen behavior than advertising, marketing or peer pressure, a researcher has shown.

Anti-smoking ads with strong arguments, not flashy editing, trigger part of brain that changes behavior

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:17:17 EDT

Researchers have shown that an area of the brain that initiates behavioral changes had greater activation in smokers who watched anti-smoking ads with strong arguments versus those with weaker ones, and irrespective of flashy elements, like bright and rapidly changing scenes, loud sounds and unexpected scenario twists. Those smokers also had significantly less nicotine metabolites in their urine when tested a month after viewing those ads, the team reports.

People care about source of money, attach less value to 'tainted' wealth

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

It's no accident that money obtained through dishonest or illegal means is called "dirty money." A new study suggests that when people perceive money as morally tainted, they also view it as having less value and purchasing power, challenging the belief that "all money is green," and that people will cross ethical boundaries to amass it.

What drives activity on Pinterest?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:57:57 EDT

Researchers have released a new study that uses statistical data to help understand the motivations behind Pinterest activity, the roles gender plays among users and the factors that distinguish Pinterest from other popular social networking sites.

Honor among (credit card) thieves?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:12:12 EDT

A criminologist dug into the seamy underbelly of online credit card theft and uncovered a surprisingly sophisticated network of crooks that is unique in the cybercrime domain.

Impact of portion size on overeating is hard to overcome

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

People given large servings of food eat more than those given smaller servings, even after they have been taught about the impact of portion size on consumption, research shows. Learning how to engage in mindful -- rather than mindless -- eating also did not decrease food intake by a significant amount in those given large servings. The study highlights the need to find new ways to reduce the effect of portion size.

What happens in the brain to make music rewarding?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:30:30 EDT

A new study reveals what happens in our brain when we decide to purchase a piece of music when we hear it for the first time. The study pinpoints the specific brain activity that makes new music rewarding and predicts the decision to purchase music.

Individual donation amounts drop when givers are in groups

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:17:17 EDT

An anthropologist recently found that even when multiple individuals can contribute to a common cause, the presence of others reduces an individual's likelihood of helping.

Information technology amplifies irrational group behavior

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:40:40 EDT

Web tools and social media are our key sources of information when we make decisions as citizens and consumers. But these information technologies can mislead us by magnifying social processes that distort facts and make us act contrary to our own interests. Companies such as Google and Facebook have designed algorithms that are intended to filter away irrelevant information -- known as information selection -- so that we are only served content that fits our clicking history. Researchers say this is, from a democratic perspective, a problem as you may never in your online life encounter views or arguments that contradict your worldview.

Selling concert tickets? Consider parking when setting the price

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Sellers mostly focus on the desirability of a product when setting prices. Buyers, however, focus evenly on the product itself and what’s entailed in using it, according to a new study.

Do you get what you pay for? It depends on your culture

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Consumers from less individualistic cultures are more likely to judge the quality of a product by its price, according to a new study.

No regrets: Close that menu and enjoy your meal more

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Certain physical acts of completion provide consumers with a sense of closure that makes them happier with their purchases, according to a new study.

Avoid impulsive acts by imagining future benefits

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EDT

Why is it so hard for some people to resist the least little temptation, while others seem to possess incredible patience, passing up immediate gratification for a greater long-term good? The answer, suggests a new study, is that patient people focus on future rewards in a way that makes the waiting process seem much more pleasurable.

Choosing less a form of protection, says new study on decision-making

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:27:27 EDT

New research shows that if a person is feeling threatened, or concerned with their status, they are more likely to choose the option that gives them less. And although this choice might seem irrational from an economic perspective, this choice satisfies an important psychological need.

Putting a human face on a product: When brand humanization goes wrong

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:12:12 EDT

When companies put a human face on their brand, the public usually responds positively. This advertising approach has brought us alarm clocks with sleepy faces and color-coated chocolate candies with legs and arms. But a new study finds there is a greater backlash by the public when a product branded with human characteristics fails.

Rewarding groups for losing weight more effective than rewarding individuals

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:13:13 EDT

A multi-institution study has found that tying financial incentives to group weight loss led to significantly greater weight loss than cash awards based on an individual's success in losing weight on his or her own.

Cash for weight loss? Works better when employees compete for pots of money

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:13:13 EDT

Do cash rewards for healthier habits work? Maybe, says a new study, if you add on one more condition -- peer pressure. A growing number of companies are offering employees an opportunity to boost earning power at work via cash incentives to stay healthy. Under the Affordable Care Act, employers will soon be able to offer even larger financial incentives to prod healthy lifestyle behaviors among their workforce, such as quitting smoking and losing weight. But people who are offered money for weight loss may be much more successful when awards are based on a group's performance -- rather than just their own -- according to the new research.

Organic labels bias consumers perceptions through the 'health halo effect'

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:15:15 EDT

In a new study, researchers show that an organic label can influence much more than health views: perceptions of taste, calories and value can be significantly altered when a food is labeled "organic". Certain people also appear to be more susceptible to this 'health halo' effect than others.

Quitting marshmallow test can be a rational decision

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:41 EDT

A psychological experiment known as "the marshmallow test" has captured the public's imagination as a marker of self control. This test shows how well children can delay gratification, a trait that has been shown to be as important to scholastic performance as traditional IQ. New research suggests, however, that changing one's mind about delaying gratification can be a rational decision in situations when the timing of the payoff is uncertain.

Women make better decisions than men, study suggests

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Women's abilities to make fair decisions when competing interests are at stake make them better corporate leaders, researchers have found. The study showed that women are more likely to consider the rights of others and to take a cooperative approach to decision-making. This approach translates into better performance for their companies.

Five year-olds who watch TV for three or more hours a day more likely to be antisocial: But the risk of this behaviour is very small

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:25:25 EDT

Five year-olds who watch TV for three or more hours a day are increasingly likely to develop antisocial behaviors, such as fighting or stealing by the age of seven, indicates new research.

Parkinsons' drug helps older people to make decisions

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:23:23 EDT

A drug widely used to treat Parkinson's disease can help to reverse age-related impairments in decision making in some older people, a new study has shown.

'Networked minds' require fundamentally new kind of economics

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:51:51 EDT

In their computer simulations of human evolution, scientists have discovered the emergence of the “homo socialis” with “other-regarding” preferences. The results explain some intriguing findings in experimental economics and call for a new economic theory of “networked minds”. On average, people behave more fairness-oriented and other-regarding than expected. A new theory now explains why.

When it comes to innovation, the customer isn't always right

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:48:48 EDT

If a company wants to develop something radically new they shouldn’t listen too much to what the customer wants, according to a study on service innovation.

Do we forgive television characters for their bad actions?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:48:48 EDT

When watching a television show, the bad decisions that characters make are more likely to be forgiven if you think they have a good reason for their behavior, according to a new study.

Knowledge of the game is not an advantage in sports gambling

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EDT

Scientist have found that neither betting experience nor knowledge of the details of the game provides an advantage to strategic sports gamblers. He says that they operate under an illusion of control and power unrelated to real-life outcomes.

It's in the cards: Human evolution influences gamblers' decisions

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:47:47 EDT

New research suggests evolution, or basic survival techniques adapted by early humans, influences the decisions gamblers make when placing bets. The findings may help to explain why some treatment options for problem gamblers often don't work, the researchers say.

'Practice' makes a perfect lure for Internet gambling

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:58:58 EDT

New research has studied the behavior of young people lured into Internet gambling through so-called 'free-play' or 'practice' modes.

International gender difference in math and reading scores persists regardless of gender equality

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:18:18 EDT

Even in countries with high gender equality, sex differences in math and reading scores persisted in the 75 nations examined by a new study. Girls consistently scored higher in reading, while boys got higher scores in math, but these gaps are linked and vary with overall social and economic conditions of the nation.

Punishment can enhance performance, academics find

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:33:33 EDT

The stick can work just as well as the carrot in improving our performance, a team of academics has found.

Why Irish people feel they have no alternative but to celebrate St Patrick's Day

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:24:24 EDT

Research into why Irish people feel they have no alternative but to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Kids exposed to millions of tobacco images/messages every week on prime time UK TV

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:11:11 EDT

UK children are being exposed to millions of tobacco images/messages every week on prime time television, indicates new research.

Online records could expose intimate details and personality traits of millions

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

Research shows that intimate personal attributes can be predicted with high levels of accuracy from "traces" left by seemingly innocuous digital behavior, in this case Facebook Likes -- raising important questions about personalized marketing and online privacy.

Celebrity endorsement encourages children to eat junk food

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:40:40 EST

Celebrity endorsement of a food product encourages children to eat more of the endorsed product, new research shows. It also found that children were prompted to eat more of the endorsed product when they saw the celebrity on TV in a different context.

Do-gooder or ne'er-do-well? Behavioral science explains patterns of moral behavior

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EST

Does good behavior lead to more good behavior? Or do we try to balance our good and bad deeds? The answer depends on our ethical mindset, according to new research.

When we have a low opinion of someone, we tend to reject their money, study finds

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:03:03 EST

Research done in Spain, Germany and the UK has demonstrated that when we have a low opinion of somebody, we are more likely to reject their money, even though the offer is attractive, because the social information we have on that person influences our decision. Furthermore, people are prepared to even lose money rather than accept it from those they do not hold in high consideration.

Targeting diet products: Why are more independent consumers better at delaying gratification?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:07:07 EST

Product benefits that occur later in time are more likely to appeal to more independent consumers than to those who are more group or family oriented, according to a new study.

Product promotion: When do emotional appeals trump celebrity spokespeople?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:07:07 EST

Emotional appeals could be more effective than celebrities when promoting products related to a consumer’s identity, according to a new study.

Is the iPad creative? It depends on who's buying it

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:07:07 EST

Encouraging consumers to feel ownership of products they haven’t yet purchased can backfire because consumers tend to see themselves in the products they own, according to a new study.

Limiting access to alcohol reduces violence, experts say

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:07:07 EST

Amending existing laws or adopting additional regulations to limit the availability of alcohol would reduce community violence, experts say.