Deciphering Consumer Commitment: Exploring the Dual Influence of Self-Brand and Self-Group Relationships

Consumer-brand relationships are highly valued as brand-committed consumers are thought to deliver many positive outcomes for affiliated brands. However, in addition to connections between individuals and brands, consumer-brand relationships also involve relationships between individuals and other brand users. Little attention has been given to the potential consequences associated with commitment to other brand users as compared to the brand itself. Therefore, our framework establishes two distinct types of consumer-brand relationships (i.e., self-brand relationships vs. self-group relationships) that differentially influence brand commitment versus group commitment, leading to contrasting effects on both desirable and undesirable brand outcomes. Specifically, our studies illuminate that while brand commitment is largely associated with favorable brand-related outcomes, group commitment does not protect against brand switching and is negatively related to willingness to pay price premiums and positive word-of-mouth. Our main contribution is uncovering how consumer-brand relationships face tradeoffs between brand and group attachments, whereby commitment provides both conditional benefits as well as unintended consequences

The Effect of Brand Crises on Endorser Reputation and Endorsement Portfolios

We often hear about a brand dropping a celebrity after the endorser has negative publicity. However, endorsers are not the only ones who are responsible for negative news; many brands also generate negative publicity as well. The growing frequency of brand crises and the demonstrated relationship between brand‐ and endorser‐reputation begs the question: What impact might a severe brand crisis have on a celebrity endorser\u27s reputation and endorsement portfolio? Study 1 finds that negative publicity only impacts the brand\u27s moral reputation if internal locus attributions are made. In turn, moral reputation positively impacts attitudes toward the brand, endorser, and other brands in their endorsement portfolio. Next, Study 2 discovers that endorsers may be perceived to have greater authenticity, leading to more favorable consumer attitudes, if they “drop” the offending brand. Finally, Study 3 finds that “dropping” the offending brand can mitigate negative spillover effects on attitudes toward bystander brands

Magnetoelastic coupling in URu2Si2: Probing multipolar correlations in the hidden order state

Time-reversal symmetry and magnetoelastic correlations are probed by means of high-resolution volume dilatometry in URu 2 Si 2 at cryogenic temperatures, and magnetic fields sufficient to suppress the hidden order state at H HO ( T = 0.66 K ) ≃ 35 T. We report a significant magnetoelastic volume expansion at and above H HO ( T ) , and even above T HO , possibly a consequence of field-induced f -electron localization. We investigate in detail the magnetostriction and magnetization as the temperature is reduced across two decades in temperature from 30 K where the system is paramagnetic, to 0.5 K in the realm of the hidden order state. We find a dominant quadratic-in-field dependence Δ L / L ∝ H 2 , a result consistent with a state that is symmetric under time reversal. The data shows, however, an incipient yet unmistakable asymptotic approach to linear ( Δ L / L ∝ 1 − H / H 0 ) for 15 T < H < H HO ( 0.66 K ) ∼ 40 T at the lowest temperatures. We discuss these results in the framework of a Ginzburg-Landau formalism that proposes a complex order parameter for the HO phase to model the ( H , T , p ) phase diagram.Fil: Wartenbe, Mark. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados Unidos. Florida State University; Estados UnidosFil: Baumbach, Ryan E.. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados Unidos. Florida State University; Estados UnidosFil: Shekhter, Arkady. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados Unidos. Florida State University; Estados UnidosFil: Boebinger, Gregory S.. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados Unidos. Florida State University; Estados UnidosFil: Bauer, Eric D.. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Corvalán Moya, Carolina del Huerto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Harrison, Neil. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: McDonald, Ross D.. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Salamon, Myron B.. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Jaime, Marcelo. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados Unido

Two Rare Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables with Extreme Cyclotron Features Identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Two newly identified magnetic cataclysmic variables discovered in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), SDSSJ155331.12+551614.5 and SDSSJ132411.57+032050.5, have spectra showing highly prominent, narrow, strongly polarized cyclotron humps with amplitudes that vary on orbital periods of 4.39 and 2.6 hrs, respectively. In the former, the spacing of the humps indicates the 3rd and 4th harmonics in a magnetic field of ~60 MG. The narrowness of the cyclotron features and the lack of strong emission lines imply very low temperature plasmas and very low accretion rates, so that the accreting area is heated by particle collisions rather than accretion shocks. The detection of rare systems like these exemplifies the ability of the SDSS to find the lowest accretion rate close binaries.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal, vol. 583, February 1, 2003; slight revisions and additions in response to referee's comments; 17 pages, 6 figures, AASTeX v4.