Kwon, Eun Sook (Grady PhD alum) and Jooyoung Kim, “Exploring Brand Humanization on SNSs: Brand personality and its influence on brand partner quality, brand attitude and consumer behavioral engagement,” International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, 16(3), 2022.
Abstract: This study explored whether consumers interacting with brands on SNSs attribute human-like personalities to brands and further examined the relationships between personality dimensions and brand performance measures. Responses from 922 research participants (530 brand followers and 392 brand non-followers on SNSs) were analyzed. Brand followers and brand non-followers attributed some of the same personality dimensions (Sophistication, Sincerity, and Competence) while there were differences between the two groups: Excitement only among brand non-followers; Agreeableness and Unpleasantness only among brand followers. The personality dimension Sincerity had a strong, positive influence on brand performance measures. Implications are discussed.
Abstract: This research examines how visual representation of social media influencers affects perceptions and attitudes toward influencers and their persuasive messages. Using the theoretical frameworks of the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) and the Behaviors from Interpersonal Affect and Stereotypes (BIAS) Map, Study 1 demonstrated that influencers with broad smiles were perceived as warmer and more competent and evaluated more positively than those with closed smiles. Study 2 revealed that warmth and competence judgments led to admiration toward the smiling influencers, which in turn resulted in positive attitudinal and behavioral responses to their persuasive messages. By investigating the mediating effects of judgments and emotional responses toward influencers, this study reveals social cognitive mechanisms underlying psychological processing of influencer messaging.
Eun Sook Kwon (Grady PhD Alum)and Jooyoung Kim (Forthcoming). Exploring Brand Humanization on SNSs: Brand Personality and Its Influence on Brand Partner Quality, Brand Attitude, and Consumer Behavioral Engagement. International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising.
Abstract: This study explored whether consumers interacting with brands on SNSs attribute human-like personalities to brands and further examined the relationships between personality dimensions and brand performance measures. Responses from 922 research participants (530 brand followers and 392 brand non-followers on SNSs) were analyzed. Brand followers and brand non-followers attributed some of the same personality dimensions (Sophistication, Sincerity, and Competence) while there were differences between the two groups: Excitement only among brand non-followers; Agreeableness and Unpleasantness only among brand followers. The personality dimension Sincerity had a strong, positive influence on brand performance measures. Implications are discussed.
