Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
<mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 31/03/2022 |
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<mark>Journal</mark> | Journal of Business Research |
Volume | 141 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Pages (from-to) | 137-150 |
Publication Status | Published |
Early online date | 21/12/21 |
<mark>Original language</mark> | English |
Drawing on regret theory and the product-type literature, it is argued that emotions elicited during hedonic product consumption reduce the negative consequences of regret and brand betrayal, by amplifying consumers’ cognitive regret-regulation and attenuating behavioral regret-coping. An empirical survey of 807 participants who faced post-purchase regret as a result of brand betrayal supports the stronger (vs. weaker) emotional and behavioral effects of utilitarian (vs. hedonic) products. The findings reveal that brand betrayal for utilitarian (vs. hedonic) products leads to stronger (vs. weaker) feelings of regret. Further, the discovery of betrayal from others (vs. personal experience) intensifies the effect of brand betrayal, which is stronger for utilitarian (vs. hedonic) products. Moreover, consumers exhibit a higher intensity of brand avoidance, vindictive negative word-of-mouth, and vindictive complaining with utilitarian (vs. hedonic) products. The findings enrich regret theory and the product-type literature and provide managerial guidance for effective brand strategy formulation in brand transgressions.