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Advertising-induced embarrassment

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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2015
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Advertising
Issue number1
Volume44
Number of pages9
Pages (from-to)71-79
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date11/06/14
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Consumer embarrassment is a concern for many advertisers. Yet little is known about ad-induced embarrassment. The authors investigate when and why consumers experience embarrassment as a result of exposure to socially sensitive advertisements. The theory distinguishes between viewing potentially embarrassing ads together with an audience that shares the social identity targeted by the ad and viewing the same ads together with an audience that does not share the targeted social identity. Four studies provide support for the theory, demonstrating that advertising targeting and social context jointly influence feelings of embarrassment and advertising effectiveness. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications for advertisers.