Color effects in print advertising: A research update (1985-2012)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the literature published since 1985 regarding color effects in advertising and at setting an agenda for future research. Design/methodology/approach – Recent publications (1985-2012) regarding the effects of color in advertising on consumers’ attention, memory and emotional responses are reviewed and discussed. Findings – The review reveals that the effects of color on attention, emotion and memory still remain largely unknown, mainly due to the inherent complexity of the subject and lack of systematic research. At the same time, promising research venues and challenges for the future are identified in the form of research questions. Originality/value – The key potential contribution of this paper stems from the identification of promising research questions and challenges for investigating the role of color in advertising

Color effects in print advertising: a research update (1985-2012)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the literature published since 1985 regarding color effects in advertising and at setting an agenda for future research. Design/methodology/approach – Recent publications (1985-2012) regarding the effects of color in advertising on consumers’ attention, memory and emotional responses are reviewed and discussed. Findings – The review reveals that the effects of color on attention, emotion and memory still remain largely unknown, mainly due to the inherent complexity of the subject and lack of systematic research. At the same time, promising research venues and challenges for the future are identified in the form of research questions. Originality/value – The key potential contribution of this paper stems from the identification of promising research questions and challenges for investigating the role of color in advertising

The emotional value of arts-based initiatives: Strengthening the luxury brand–consumer relationship

This paper discusses how Arts-Based Initiatives offered to consumers can function as a source of value creation. The conceptual model proposes that brand connoisseurs’ despite not being physically present in such initiatives, derive emotional value which positively affects brand loyalty through the mediating role of brand attachment. The findings of a study investigating how consumers respond to this emerging practice by luxury brands reported, largely confirm the relevant hypotheses. Relevant theoretical implications include the extension of previous conceptualizations of this practice and the contribution to understanding relevant consumer responses, while the findings also suggest that luxury brand managers can use Arts-Based Initiatives as a relationship-strengthening tool that transcends geographical barriers

For you and for me: creative experiences as gifts

Contemporary consumers are increasingly valuing experiences over material possessions; experiences thus become desirable gifts. Simultaneously, the notion that creativity can result in substantial benefits for individuals has been gaining traction within the consumer behavior literature. In this context, it is proposed that creative experiences, namely the positive affective outcomes or hedonic benefits that stem from activities involving esthetic products, can be gifted. Esthetic products are hence seen as the means through which gifts of creative experiences are produced. Creative experiences can be gifted to a valued other, as an agapic love gift, celebrating the relationship and expressing the uniqueness of the receiver, and as a self-gift, spurred by the individual’s desire for self-actualization and eagerness to learn new things. The consequences in the context of the other-gift relate to strengthening the relationship between the two parties and representing the self for both the giver and the receiver, whereas in the self-gift context the consequences relate to notions of self-indulgence and self-expression

Attitudes toward ads portraying women in decorative roles and female competition: An evolutionary psychology perspective

The portrayal of women in advertising is a prolific research topic and extant studies have emphasized the negative attitudes of female consumers toward stereotypic depictions of women in advertising in general. However, empirical evidence regarding female consumers’ responses to specific ads depicting women in decorative roles is scarce and conflicting. Drawing on the principles of evolutionary psychology, the present paper proposes that women’s attitudes toward such ads are underlied by the evolved context-sensitive mechanism of intrasexual competition. Relevant hypotheses are tested through two experimental studies. The findings indicate that decorative portrayals in advertising elicit more favorable attitudes when female consumers compete through a self-promotion strategy with regard to a competitor derogation one. Additionally, the temporal orientation of self-referencing during ad processing emerges as a moderator of the influence of the motivational state elicited by the medium context on attitudes

Male and female attitudes towards stereotypical advertisements: a paired country investigation

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences in male and female attitudes and establish a causal relationship between general (a priori) attitudes towards female stereotypical advertisements and attitudes towards specific advertising stimuli, providing evidence from Greece and Cyprus. Design/methodology/approach: Male and female respondents (158 in Cyprus and 156 in Greece) indicated their general attitudes towards female stereotypes in advertising and were subsequently exposed to three stereotypical advertisements, to which they expressed their specific attitudes. Findings: The results of the study prove that in countries with similar cultural backgrounds, such as Greece and Cyprus, general attitudes towards stereotypes in advertising do not have significant differences. General attitudes towards sex role portrayal in advertising directly impact attitudes towards specific advertisements. Further, it was demonstrated that respondents' gender plays a key role in attitude formation. The age of the respondents is also of interest, given that differences exist in general attitudes towards stereotypes in advertising and in attitudes towards specific stereotypical advertisements within respondents of the same gender, but of a different age bracket. Originality/value: The key potential contribution of this study is threefold. First, it investigates the effect of gender and age on attitudes towards stereotypes in advertising. Second, it establishes a causal relationship between general attitudes towards stereotypical advertisements and attitudes towards specific advertising stimuli. Third, the study further validates the established relationship and the relevant measures across culturally similar countries. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Male and female attitudes towards stereotypical advertisements: A paired country investigation

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences in male and female attitudes and establish a causal relationship between general (a priori) attitudes towards female stereotypical advertisements and attitudes towards specific advertising stimuli, providing evidence from Greece and Cyprus. Design/methodology/approach: Male and female respondents (158 in Cyprus and 156 in Greece) indicated their general attitudes towards female stereotypes in advertising and were subsequently exposed to three stereotypical advertisements, to which they expressed their specific attitudes. Findings: The results of the study prove that in countries with similar cultural backgrounds, such as Greece and Cyprus, general attitudes towards stereotypes in advertising do not have significant differences. General attitudes towards sex role portrayal in advertising directly impact attitudes towards specific advertisements. Further, it was demonstrated that respondents' gender plays a key role in attitude formation. The age of the respondents is also of interest, given that differences exist in general attitudes towards stereotypes in advertising and in attitudes towards specific stereotypical advertisements within respondents of the same gender, but of a different age bracket. Originality/value: The key potential contribution of this study is threefold. First, it investigates the effect of gender and age on attitudes towards stereotypes in advertising. Second, it establishes a causal relationship between general attitudes towards stereotypical advertisements and attitudes towards specific advertising stimuli. Third, the study further validates the established relationship and the relevant measures across culturally similar countries. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited