The positive impact of irrational beliefs?: A mutual connection with justice sensitivity

Rational-Emotive-Behavior Therapy (REBT, Ellis, 1962, 1994) postulates that irrational thinking implies demanding thoughts about punishing people for their evil activities. Hence, irrational thinking should be associated with increased individual sensitivity concerning unfair social events. Results of our study (N = 108) confirm this hypothesized correlation between Irrationality and Justice Sensitivity. Notably, the strongest correlation was found between low frustration tolerance, a subdimension of irrationality, and justice sensitivity from the perspective of a victim. This indicates that easily frustrated individuals are particularly prone to suffer when being treated unfairly and are, therefore, eminently susceptive to justice sensitivity

Criterion validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Irrational Beliefs (MSIB) with respect to anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction

Using a sample of 200 participants, this study seeks to establish criterion validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Irrational Beliefs (MSIB), a newly developed, purely cognitive measure of irrational beliefs. As predicted by Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, scores on the MSIB are correlated highly and positively with scores on Beck’s Depression Inventory and the trait scale of the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory. Moreover, analyses revealed medium-sized negative correlations with life satisfaction. Each of these relations is shown to be unaffected by age, sex, and social desirability. Differential associations between subdimensions of the MSIB with criteria are discussed regarding the separability of irrationality concepts

Gender roles and implicit causality

Numerous studies investigated the phenomenon of implicit verb causality (cf. Rudolph & Försterling, 1997). This research revealed the robust finding that different types of interpersonal verbs lead to systematic causal attributions to one of the interacting persons. However, few studies addressed the interaction between verb causality and context variables. The present cross-cultural study investigates implicit gender roles in action and state verbs comparing two samples from Germany and China. Results show that the German sample perceived actions to be caused by men whereas states were causally attributed to women. However, our Chinese sample perceived men and women rather equally accountable

Development of the Multidimensional Scale of Irrational Beliefs (MSIB)

The Multidimensional Scale of Irrational Beliefs (MSIB) is a brief and theoretically founded measure of irrational thinking as conceptualized by Albert Ellis in his most recent works on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (e.g., Ellis, 2003). With a total of 18 items, it captures demandingness, negative self-evaluation, and low frustration tolerance as the three core aspects of irrationality. Unlike previous irrationality instruments, it is a highly reliable, purely cognitive measure and avoids measuring aspects which are consequences or correlates of irrational thinking (e.g., emotions). Three studies (N = 757) are reported that repeatedly indicate high internal consistency of all subscales (Cronbach’s alpha: .85-.90), factorial validity, and convergent validity with earlier measures

Brand personality and its influence on brand loyalty - Do sophisticated brands have more brand loyal customers?

Objectives. Creating loyal customers is one of the most important aims organisations have. However, most marketing departments try to create loyal customers through customer loyalty programmes only. This study aims at investigating the influence of the brand’s image (i.e., brand personality; Aaker, 1997) on brand loyalty. Method. Study 1 (N = 360) was used to derive a valid single-item measure from a multi-item scale for the three inter-culturally stable brand personality dimensions (sincerity, excitement, sophistication; Aaker, Benet-Martinez, & Garolera, 2001). Study 2, using an automobile customer sample (N = 1032), assessed the influence of brand personality on brand loyalty while controlling for previous purchases and customer personality. Results. Previous purchases and customers’ conscientiousness were significant determinants of brand loyalty. Additionally, all three brand personality dimensions explained incremental variance (ΔR² = .28) of customers’ loyalty. Conclusion. Practical implications for the application of brand personality in loyalty campaigns are derived

Match them, if you can! The similarity between brand personality and endorser personality as determinant of perceived fit and purchase intentions

Objectives. The match-up hypothesis states that endorsements will be more effective in advertisements when there is congruence between endorser (i.e., a celebrity) and endorsed product (e.g., Till & Busler, 2000). Unlike most previous research, which has mainly dealt with attractiveness and expertise, this study examines the match-up hypothesis based on personality. Methods. The three cross-culturally stable (sincerity, excitement, sophistication; Aaker, Benet-Martinez, & Garolera, 2001) dimensions of Aaker’s (1997) Brand Personality Scale were tested in a 3 (brand) X 2 (endorser) between-subjects design, in which participants (N = 360) assessed one brand and one endorser on the same personality dimensions. Results. In manifest regression analyses high similarity between brand and endorser personality predicted high perceived fit between brand and endorser. High perceived fit increased purchase intentions; similarity had no direct effect on purchase intentions. A structural equation model was in line with these results. Conclusion. Practical implications for marketing campaigns are derived

Gutes Image, hohe Loyalität? Zum Einfluss der Markenpersönlichkeit auf Markenloyalität

Bei der Schaffung loyaler Kunden wird in Unternehmen häufig nicht bedacht, dass neben Kundenbindungsmaßnahmen auch die Marke selbst einen direkten Einfluss auf die Loyalität des Kunden haben kann. Ziel dieser Studie ist es dementsprechend, den Einfluss des Markenimages, gemessen durch die Markenpersönlichkeit (Aaker, 1997), auf die Markenloyalität mittels eines ökonomischen Instruments zu bestimmen. In Studie 1 (N = 360) wurde für die drei interkulturell stabilen Markenpersönlichkeitsdimensionen (Aufrichtigkeit, Erregung, Kultiviertheit; Aaker, Benet-Martinez & Garolera, 2001) aus einem Multi-Item-Skalensystem das jeweils psychometrisch beste Item ermittelt, um somit eine ökonomische und dennoch valide Markenpersönlichkeitsskala zu erhalten. In Studie 2 wurde in einer anschließenden Kundenbefragung eines Automobilherstellers (N = 1032) der Einfluss der drei Markenpersönlichkeitsdimensionen sowie, als Kovariaten, der Kundenpersönlichkeit und des bisherigen Kaufverhaltens auf die Loyalität erfasst. Obwohl das bisherige Kaufverhalten sowie der Persönlichkeitsfaktor Gewissenhaftigkeit signifikante Determinanten der Loyalität darstellten, erklärten alle drei Markenpersönlichkeitsdimensionen erwartungsgemäß inkrementelle Varianz (ΔR² = .28) der Kundenloyalität

Match me, if you can – Zum Einfluss von persönlichkeitsbasierter Ähnlichkeit zwischen Marke und Testimonial auf die wahrgenommene Passung und die Kaufwahrscheinlichkeit

Die Match-up-Hypothese besagt, dass eine für ein Produkt werbende Person (Testimonial) dann besonders effektiv ist, wenn die Eigenschaften des Testimonials mit denen der Marke übereinstimmen (z. B. Till & Busler, 2000). Die spärliche Forschung hierzu hat sich bislang mit Attraktivität und Expertenwissen beschäftigt, das Image von Testimonial und Marke aber überraschenderweise nicht berücksichtigt. Ein hierfür geeigneter Ansatz ist die Analyse der Persönlichkeit von Testimonial und Marke. Drei kulturübergreifend stabile Markenpersönlichkeitsdimensionen (Aufrichtigkeit, Erregung und Kultiviertheit) aus der Brand Personality Scale (Aaker, 1997) wurden in einem experimentellen Design (N = 120) unter Verwendung zweier Testimonials untersucht. Die Versuchsteilnehmenden bewerteten die Marke und das Testimonial auf denselben Persönlichkeitsdimensionen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die wahrgenommene Passung zwischen Testimonial und Marke umso höher ist, je größer die Ähnlichkeit auf den Persönlichkeitsdimensionen ist. Zudem führt eine hohe wahrgenommene Passung zu einem Anstieg der Kaufwahrscheinlichkeit. Implikationen für die Anwendung in Werbekampagnen werden gegeben

Meta-Analytic Guidelines for Evaluating Single-Item Reliabilities of Personality Instruments

Personality is an important predictor of various outcomes in many social science disciplines. However, when personality traits are not the principal focus of research, for example, in global comparative surveys, it is often not possible to assess them extensively. In this article, we first provide an overview of the advantages and challenges of single-item measures of personality, a rationale for their construction, and a summary of alternative ways of assessing their reliability. Second, using seven diverse samples (N-total = 4,263) we develop the SIMP-G, the German adaptation of the Single-Item Measures of Personality, an instrument assessing the Big Five with one item per trait, and evaluate its validity and reliability. Third, we integrate previous research and our data into a first meta-analysis of single-item reliabilities of personality measures, and provide researchers with guidelines and recommendations for the evaluation of single-item reliabilities

Gameful Experience in Gamification: Construction and Validation of a Gameful Experience Scale [GAMEX]

Gamification has recently become a popular topic in marketing practice. It is perceived as being a promising way to provide improved consumer experiences and to positively influence consumer behavior. An inherent characteristic of gamification is the gameful experience of consumers when using a gamified application. However, no existing measure captures the gameful experience consumers feel when they engage with gamified applications. Based on an extensive literature review and six consecutive studies, the authors develop and validate a new gameful experience scale [GAMEX] for measuring gameful experience in gamification. The results confirm that the GAMEX is a reliable and valid measure, which is useful for both, researchers and practitioners, and easy to apply in different gamification settings. (C) 2018 Direct Marketing Educational Foundation, Inc. dba Marketing EDGE. All rights reserved