Animosity, subjective norms, and anticipated emotions during an international crisis

Abstract

Purpose

This research seeks to add to the body of research pertaining to animosity by examining the additional roles of anticipated emotions and subjective norms on consumers' purchase intentions regarding foreign products when companies' or governments' actions cause negative repercussions. The paper also examines the role of group responsibility as an antecedent to animosity.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a snowball sampling technique among undergraduate students from a prominent university in Kuwait. Of the 460 questionnaires received, 13 were eliminated for incompleteness. Sample members were aged 18 and above, and 53.9 percent of the respondents were females.

Findings

Subjective norms related to buying Danish products – as well as the negative emotions expected from buying the product and the positive emotions expected from not buying the product – led to less willingness to buy Danish products. In addition, social pressure was found to be the more important factor in consumers' willingness to buy compared to anticipated emotions.

Originality/value

This paper suggests that, in addition to animosity, other factors influence a consumer's decision to withhold consumption. Therefore, managers need to assess the emotions and norms characterized by citizens of the target country to capitalize on such information when marketing their products.

Citation

Maher, A.A. and Mady, S. (2010), "Animosity, subjective norms, and anticipated emotions during an international crisis", International Marketing Review, Vol. 27 No. 6, pp. 630-651. https://doi.org/10.1108/02651331011088263