Social perception of brands: Warmth and competence define images of both brands and social groups

Abstract

AbstractPeople form impressions about brands as they do about social groups. The Brands as Intentional Agents Framework (BIAF) a decade ago derived from the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) two dimensions of consumers' brand perception: warmth (worthy intentions) and competence (ability). The BIAF dimensions and their predictive validity have replicated the general primacy of warmth (intentions) and developed the congruence principle of fit to context. BIAF domains include various brands, product design, and countries as origins of products and as travel destinations. Brand anthropomorphism plays a role in perceiving brands' morality, personality, and humanity. Consumer–brand relations follow from anthropomorphism: perceived brand‐self congruence, brand trust, and brand love. Corporate social (ir)responsibility and human relations, especially warm, worthy intent, interplay with BIAF dimensions, as do service marketing, service recovery, and digital marketing. Case studies describe customer loyalty, especially to warm brands, corresponds to profits, charitable donations, and healthcare usage. As the SCM and BIAF evolve, research potential regards the dimensions and beyond. BIAF has stood the tests of time, targets (brands, products, and services), and alternative theory (brand personality, brand relationships), all being compatible. Understanding how people view corporations as analogous to social groups advances theory and practice in consumer psychology.