Positive Emotional Connection Research Articles

PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPES OF PARENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS PUPILS OF SENIOR SCHOOL AGE AS DETERMINANTS OF CHILDREN’S AGGRESSIVENESS (IN A PARADIGM OF ADAPTIVE AND MALADAPTIVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS)

Parents’ orientation towards autonomy, collaboration, cooperation and the desire to build relationships with the child on a democratic basis, as a rule, does not cause manifestations of malignant aggressiveness of children. In terms of content, this educational strategy and the type of parental relationships are revealed in such a way: the parent is interested in the child’s affairs and plans, tries to help, empathizes, trusts him/her, respects and encourages him/her, and takes into account the child’s opinion. Cooperation is a psychologically optimal and socially desirable type of parental attitude towards children. Our research has shown that the reluctance or inability of parents to establish positive emotional connections with their children largely determines the nature of manifestations of children’s aggressiveness. We have identified indicators of emotional manifestations of parental attitudes towards children: sympathy-antipathy, acceptance-rejection, respect-disdain, rejection and refusal. In our empirical research we identified some main components of general manifestation of parental love: the interest in our life and the development of the child, the manifestation of responsibility and care, close attention to the child’s interests, problems and attitudes, awareness of his/her uniqueness, unconditional acceptance of him/her as the child is. With a lack of these components in the manifestations of parental attitude towards children, the child begins to consider every request or demand as a duty and show resistance. The role of deprivation of a child’s basic needs, which forms a hostile personality is incapable of establishing trusting relationships, and it has to be emphasized in our further research. We think, that according to the theories of childhood aggressiveness, the child’s desire to establish himself/herself with the help of a universal instrument of superiority, such as direct aggression, is explained by his/her experience of a feeling of inferiority associated with a deficiency of parental love. According to our empirical research, a child’s psychological discomfort is due to a lack of parental love, and it increases the destructive element in his/her person, leading to the formation of low self-esteem, aggressiveness, and a tendency toward auto-aggression. Rejection is the most unfavorable, socially and psychologically unacceptable type of parental attitude, indicative according to the development of destructive manifestations of aggressiveness in the period of childhood for senior pupils.

Integrating green image with relationship marketing: A moderating role of green image

This study integrates social exchange theory, the biophilia hypothesis, the hierarchy of effects model, and self-congruency theory to examine how relational benefits and green image influence positive emotion, customer loyalty, and customer green behavior (CGB). Data were collected from 314 respondents via an online marketing research firm and analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0. The results show that customers’ perceptions of relational benefits have a direct impact on both customer loyalty and positive emotions. While green image significantly affects customer loyalty, it does not have a direct impact on positive emotions or CGB. However, green image enhances the positive association between customer emotions and CGB, suggesting that customers are more likely to engage in green behavior when they feel a positive emotional connection with a company they perceive as environmentally responsible. These findings suggest that restaurant firms should implement marketing strategies to improve their green image by emphasizing the value of relational benefits. Both theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Online Education Benefits Instructors’ Emotional Labor Management

The growth in online education preceded the pandemic, however, COVID-19 drastically altered the educational landscape by forcing the unprecedented shift of education from in-person to remote learning. This change heightened concerns over student outcomes due to a lack of emotional engagement that is critical to academic outcomes. To create a positive emotional connection in any learning environment, teachers must actively manage their emotions within professional guidelines. Studies on instructors’ emotional experiences are sparse, leading to a lack of understanding as to how instructors adapt their strategies and emotional labor in online versus in-person teaching modalities to build deep emotional connections with students. This study addresses this gap in the literature by asking instructors about their comparative experiences of emotional empathy and emotional labor in person and online. Nineteen qualitative interviews with higher education instructors experienced in both settings revealed three key findings: 1) creative use of empathy-building strategies online reduced instructors’ concerns over platform limitations, 2) the time lag in asynchronous online courses allowed instructors to more meaningfully address all student concerns and 3) contrary to expectations, emotional labor was experienced more intensely in face-to-face classes than online, suggesting that online settings gave instructors more space to manage emotional labor. This research centers on the debate between technological determinism and social constructionism: Are empathetic bonds and fulfilling professional experiences shaped by the teaching modality, or are they the result of adaptive pedagogies and strategies?

Affinity in Adversity: Examining Brand Love and Online Customer Engagement in the Restaurant Industry

Previous studies have investigated brand love in restaurants but have not considered the dynamics of online reviews about restaurant brands. To fill this gap, this study aims to understand how consumers with a high level of love towards restaurant brands defend them in the face of negative reviews on social media. This research, carried out in a Brazilian context, adopts a qualitative approach, analysing 3,979 customer reviews sourced from Instagram through sentiment and categorical content analysis. From the dimensions of brand love, the results showed that customers who love restaurant brands react to negative reviews about them on social media, expressing their positive emotional connection with the companies and acting as their defenders. The study shows that for the restaurant segment, it is relevant to have consumers who love the brand once they help mitigate the effects generated by negative comments online. Furthermore, the research highlights how brand love manifests in restaurant brands' digital context.

The Brand Emotion Model: Its Measurement and Impact on Purchase Intention

This study compares the impact of brand emotion and brand trust on consumers’ purchase intention. A structural equation model is used to investigate which of the seven core components of brand emotion: self-brand integration, passion-driven behaviors, positive emotional connection, long-term relationship, positive overall attitude valence, attitude certainty and confidence, and anticipated separation distress, has a more significant influence on consumers’ brand emotion. Furthermore, this study examines the differential impact of brand emotion and high quality on loyalty across various products and brands. The findings indicate that consumers attach greater importance to brand emotion irrespective of the product or brand, and positive emotional connection is the most crucial component of brand emotion. Regardless of the product category, the stronger the emotional connection with a brand, the more likely consumers will purchase it.

Digital Work, Emotion Commodification, and Moral Legitimacy: Transnational Bloggers on Chinese Social Media Platforms

Abstract Transnational bloggers, a rising breed of digital workers, foster emotional connections with followers, expand their influence through diverse digital interactions, and generate income through commercial activities. However, the commodification of emotions is met with resistance from select Chinese netizens, raising moral questions. This article explores how transnational bloggers integrate emotion and commerce within China’s platform economy. Our findings show that these bloggers establish positive emotional connections with Chinese followers, characterized by friendship, support, and sharing, which are crucial for sustaining their careers. In their quest for moral legitimacy in transnational digital commerce, they employ various strategies, including posting techniques, marketing strategies, and moral self-negotiation. This article encourages further research on emerging digital workers in the global platform economy, shedding light on their resources, actions, and competencies.

Is visual content modality a limiting factor for social capital? Examining user engagement within Instagram-based brand communities

AbstractIn the age of virtual cocreation of value by consumers, the role of the content modality in the development of social capital has been largely overlooked. Given that different modalities lead to varied forms of digital communication, this study examines whether a predominantly visual modality can enhance social capital and improve the collective value perceived by members of an online brand community. Through quantitative analysis, this study demonstrates that the visual modality of Instagram fosters social interactions, shaping the platform’s engagement dynamics. Affect-based visual imagery is persuasive in eliciting responses that match the hedonic nature of the platform. Therefore, fostering a positive emotional connection to both the community and the brand can lead to increased loyalty. This research proposes a different perspective on the interactive social exchange that facilitates the establishment of social capital. Value cocreation engagement is not necessarily dependent on the extensiveness of information depth. Adopting an affective orientation in persuasion has shown efficacy in forming attitudes towards attitudinal objects, particularly the community and brand.

The Application of The RATER Model in The Chinese Animal Feed Sales Services—Based on Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty

This comprehensive study explores the intricate dynamics of marketing strategies within the feed industry, focusing on the strategic positioning of N Group. Through an extensive literature review, various aspects of marketing, ranging from traditional methodologies to contemporary trends, were scrutinized. The insights gained contribute to a holistic understanding of the marketing landscape in the feed industry. Central to the discussion is the RATER model, comprising Reliability, Assurance, Tangibles, Empathy, and Responsiveness. This model serves as a robust framework influencing customer satisfaction and loyalty. The study delves into how the RATER model contributes to customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the RATER model is explored in the context of building customer loyalty. The study underscores how reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy, and responsiveness collectively foster customer loyalty. The positive emotional connections forged through tangible elements, empathetic engagement, and responsive interactions contribute to sustained customer commitment. The integration of the RATER model with Reciprocal Attitudinal Loyalty (RETAR) reveals a synergistic relationship. Relationship Equity, formed through the dimensions of the RATER model, influences RETAR, creating a dynamic loop of reciprocal loyalty between customers and N Group. Acknowledging the study's limitations, future research directions are proposed to explore the applicability of the RATER model in diverse industry landscapes, considering evolving customer preferences and technological advancements. Longitudinal studies are recommended to track customer behavior over extended periods, providing insights into the sustainability of the RATER model's impact on loyalty. In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights for enterprises in the feed industry seeking to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty through the strategic application of the RATER model. The findings offer a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the evolving marketing landscape and fostering enduring relationships with customers.

The Role Brand Personality Plays in Purchase Decisions

This research paper investigates the role of Brand Personality in Purchase Decisions in the Indian context. The study explores the perceptions of brand personality traits, their impact on purchase intentions, and the mediating role of emotional responses. A sample of 500 respondents from various age groups in India participated in the study. The research findings reveal five main brand personality traits perceived by consumers: sincerity, excitement, competence, sophistication, and ruggedness. Among these, sincerity, excitement, and competence demonstrate a significant positive correlation with purchase intentions, indicating their influential role in shaping consumer behaviour. The study further identifies emotional responses, particularly joy and trust, as mediators in the brand personality-purchase intention relationship. Moreover, age is found to moderate the impact of brand personality on purchase decisions, suggesting differences in perceptions among different age groups. These findings have significant theoretical implications for the understanding of brand personality and consumer behaviour in the Indian market. Marketers can leverage the insights to tailor branding strategies, evoke positive emotional connections, and enhance purchase intentions among diverse consumer segments.

Students’ Level of Engagement in Learning Technology and Livelihood Education in Blended Learning Modality

Student engagement is the amount of attention, interest, curiosity, and positive emotional connections that students have when they are learning whether in the classroom or on their own (Sousa, 2016). This study aimed to determine the students’ level of engagement in learning Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE). A survey was conducted among the randomly selected Junior High School Students of St. Paul University Surigao. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that the students were highly engaged in learning TLE in a blended learning environment, specifically in the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement. It was also concluded that the respondents’ age, sex, and grades are not significantly correlated to their level of engagement. Therefore, it is hereby recommended that teachers may continue to prepare tasks and activities that would engage the students in learning TLE, focusing more on their cognitive engagement. Similar studies may be conducted where additional variables will be included, and teachers may be taken as respondents for cross validation.

A Study on the Causes and Effects of Place Attachment - Based on the Perspective of Person

Place attachment studies the positive emotional connection between people and places. It is a comprehensive concept and has gained a lot of scientific attention in recent decades. There are many researchers exploring its influencing factors, but in terms of “person”, most researchers are limited to demographic variables. This study collected 519 data through questionnaires, excavated the possible predictors of residents’ place attachment based on the perspective of person, and constructed a structural equation model of place attachment to explore its causes and influence effects. The results of the study found that: 1) Possession, friend-tie, and self-identify positively affect residents’ place attachment; 2) place attachment positively affects residents’ subjective well-being, which in turn affects their recommendation intention.

Place attachment and the expression of thematic imageries in an urban kampung in Surakarta, Indonesia

Place attachment refers to the inherent strength that enhances the desirability and likability of a particular location among both residents and visitors, thereby leading to social and economic benefits while also increasing competitiveness. This research endeavor aims to explore and comprehend the positive emotional connection between individuals or communities and their surroundings by examining thematic mural images that are created and painted on the walls of urban settlements. Through the utilization of qualitative research methods such as field surveys, in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and mapping techniques in an Indonesian kampung, this study seeks to analyze the interplay between the artist's creativity, the depicted imageries, the social-cultural objectives, and the economic advantages associated with place attachment. The findings of this study highlight that the strong emotional bond between the community and the location is greatly influenced by factors such as shared identity, the distinctiveness of the place, and its appeal. This research significantly contributes to the ongoing discussions surrounding place-making, city branding, and the competitive advantage of cities.

A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PETER OBI’S POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TWEETS AND READERS’ COMMENTS

The purpose of this study was to analyse the semantic characteristics of Peter Obi's political campaign tweets and comments on Twitter. This study is based on the semantic analysis theoretical framework. This study used a mixed method research design, focusing on Peter Obi's political campaign tweets and readers' comments on Twitter. Data collection involves retrieving tweets and extracting comments via Twitter's API or third-party tools. Data analysis includes rule-based methods, machine learning algorithms, or pre-trained models. A purposive random selection technique is adopted due to impracticality and space constraints. The study explores the themes in Peter Obi’s tweets, focusing on political reformation, ethnicity, and youth development. Obi addresses the political consequences of bad governance and emphasises the need for good governance. He uses ethnicity as a metaphor for national rebirth and progress, recognizing Nigeria’s multi-tribal nature. This research reveals key insights into the communication strategies used and the public's response. Through the analysis of language, sentiment, and themes, it becomes evident that Obi's tweets aimed to convey specific policy points while fostering a positive emotional connection with the audience. Reader comments reflect varying degrees of support, skepticism, and engagement with his message. This analysis sheds light on the effectiveness of his online campaign in conveying his political agenda and elicitingpublic reactions. By continually studying and analysing political discourse on social media from a semantic perspective, we can deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between language and persuasion in the realm of politics.

POSITIVE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION AND CAREGIVER WELL-BEING IN BEHAVIORAL-VARIANT FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA

Abstract Behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is characterized by impairment in socioemotional functioning. Spouses caring for individuals with bvFTD often experience profound health/well-being declines, compared to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) caregivers and non-caregiving older adults. We hypothesized that disrupted positive emotional connections between spousal caregivers and individuals with bvFTD contribute to caregivers’ lower emotional well-being. 23 bvFTD-caregiver, 23 AD-caregiver, and 17 control dyads had a 10-minute conflict conversation in the laboratory. Positive emotional connections were measured as the covariation of partners’ positive emotional behaviors during the conversation. Caregiver emotional well-being was assessed via questionnaire (SF-36). We found that bvFTD caregivers had lower emotional well-being than AD caregivers and controls (who did not differ from each other, t=.80, p=.43), c=-.70, p<.01. Importantly, this effect was fully mediated by bvFTD caregivers' lower positive emotional connections, c’=-.38, n.s. We speculate that lower positive emotional connections can cause social isolation and contribute to bvFTD caregivers’ health/well-being declines.

POSITIVE AFFECT IN DEMENTIA CARE DYADS

Abstract Positive affect is important for physical health, well-being, and relationships. Yet, most studies of dementia care dyads have focused on negative outcomes, such as depression and caregiver burden. We present findings from studies that address this important research gap. The first two speakers present findings from actor partner interdependence models using secondary data from a randomized controlled trial of persons with early-stage dementia (PWD) and their spouses. Specifically, Dr. Monin will show that actor quality of life is significantly related to positive affect cross-sectionally, controlling for functional status of each partner and PWD behavioral symptoms. Ms. Piechota will present longitudinal findings demonstrating that when spouses were high in difficulty regulating emotions, the PWD’s positive affect decreased over three months, controlling for intervention arm and covariates. The second two speakers will present findings from two different studies of persons living with behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and controls that engaged in laboratory conflict discussions. Dr. Brown will show that caregivers of individuals with bvFTD reported greater decreases in positive emotion across the discussion relative to caregivers of individuals with AD and language variants. She will also discuss how caregivers who reported greater decreases in positive emotion had higher levels of depressive symptoms, controlling for their partner’s diagnosis and level of cognitive impairment. Finally, Dr. Chen will provide evidence that bvFTD caregivers had lower emotional well-being according to the SF-36 than AD caregivers and controls, and this effect was fully mediated by bvFTD caregivers' lower positive emotional connections.

Stronger Together: Positive Relationships at Work

The workplace in the 21st century has changed dramatically, as the internet connected the world, the “gig economy” changed work arrangements, globalization expanded the job market and individual work values such as autonomy and freedom became dominant (Rabenu, 2021). Just a few years ago, automation and technology were the heart of the conversation on the modern workplace and seemed to be replacing meaningful human connections. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, that required social distancing, demonstrated just how much people still need each other, and how technology cannot replace human relationships. The Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) movement that started in the early 2000’s seeks to understand the role of positive relationships at work. The place of work in our lives makes it a source of meaning, purpose and identity-building, that are often created through positive relationships (Ragins & Dutton, 2007). For example, high-quality relationships enable human flourishing that in turn benefits the organization (Dutton & Heaphy, 2003). Another notable outcome of the movement is the Reflected Best Self Exercise (Quinn, Dutton, Spreitzer, & Roberts, 2003) that helps understand individual strengths through feedback from significant others. The purpose of this symposium is to contribute to understanding the role of positive relationships in the workplace. This collection of papers explores different types of work relationships with leaders, coworkers and work friends to examine how positive emotional connections help overcome challenges and promote well-being. By looking at processes on different levels of analysis, this symposium offers a broader perspective on workplace relations and unique roles they can play for employees and for organizations. I’ll Stand by You: How Leaders Can Support Employees During a Pandemic Presenter: Mirit K. Grabarski; Lakehead U. Presenter: Maria Mouratidou; U. of Cumbria, UK LMX Differentiation and its Political Effects in the Context of Performance Appraisal Presenter: Silvia Dello Russo; Luiss U. Presenter: Atieh S. Mirfakhar; Instituto U. de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL) Presenter: Alison Legood; U. of Exeter Business School The Effects of Intersectionality on Evaluations of Interpersonal Citizenship Behaviors Ratings Presenter: Natalie Schneider; U. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Presenter: Xiaoxia Zhu; U. of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Presenter: Megha Yadav; U. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Presenter: Belle Rose Ragins; U. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Disappoint Friends or Downplay Organizational Norms?The Influence of Workplace Friendship Trajectory Presenter: Kun Wang; UCL School of Management Silver Lining: Unit Cohesion Offsets the Influence of Safety Concerns on Thriving at Work Presenter: Olivier Wurtz; ESCP Business School Presenter: Mihaela Dimitrova; WU Vienna Presenter: Mila Borislavova Lazarova; Simon Fraser U. Presenter: Margaret A. Shaffer; U. of Oklahoma

Political party as a derivative of the TV show in contemporary Ukraine: cultural technology of image versus ideology

The author analyzed the TV show "Servant of the People" and how it influenced the functioning process of political parties in Ukraine through the prism of the correlation of ideological and technological practices in the TV show. The methodology of the study is based not on the analysis of the content of political programs and organizations, but on the logic of hierarchies and transformations of cultural practices. The main marker of the dominance of technology over ideology in the 2019 presidential elections in Ukraine was the fact that a political party is created with the same name after it became clear that the success of the show ensured the victory of the protagonist's representative in the elections. Mass media is a form of cultural power of an ever-expanding group of educated people. It combines the elements of ideology and technology of image. The historical dynamics of the mass media demonstrates several historical stages in this process. The first stage is the print media: the text-centrism of this media creates an ideological dominant for unifying into large enough groups of people at the cost of the regulative idea of rational discourse. The decentralization of political positions, represented as variety of political parties, is carried out as rational criticism. The second stage is optical media (cinema and television): the circulation of images from this period creates a positive emotional connection to the political leader beyond the mediations of the rational bureaucracy. The dramaturgical style of media criticism does not assume an active position of a rational subject, but a passive mass viewer, who expresses an evaluative position on professionally produced images, including images of the political sphere. The technology of image production dominates the ideological narrative. The third stage is the reproduction of optical media in Internet practices. Here the simplification of production and circulation, of discourse and image, leads to a new level of immediacy in the connection between the political leader and his voters, on the one hand. On the other hand, the political, as well as other elite spheres, are beginning to lose their privileged status in the democratization of cultural capital production. Internet media suggest a de-differentiation of image and discourse, ideology and technology of image. There is a certain imbalance towards the production of images above narrative.

P–498 Patient’s pregnancy rates after IVF fresh embryo transfer positively correlates to the number of visual connections to live blastocyst development images of own embryos

Abstract Study question Looking at time-lapse images of own embryos during the five days of culture, as a patient’s active behaviour, may help to increase pregnancy rates? Summary answer The number of visual connections to live blastocyst development images of own embryos positively correlates to patient’s pregnancy rates after fresh single blastocyst transfer. What is known already In human reproduction, despite the evidence that infertility itself and reproductive treatments can produce anxiety and stress, the impact of emotions on pregnancy outcomes is unknown and probably underestimated. The interaction between psyche, nervous, immune and endocrine systems (PNIE) is well known and has been applied to understand and treat different pathological conditions. Patient’s active behaviour during IVF treatments appears to be a positive strategy to decrease women’s anxiety and stress, thus to increase fertility quality of life and pregnancy outcomes. Study design, size, duration Retrospective comparative study of 934 patients undergoing fresh IVF cycles during three years. To avoid any bias related to oocyte and embryo factors, we only included egg donation cycles in the study, and ≥3BB (Gardner score) single embryo transfers. All embryo cultures were performed in time-lapse incubator and patients could connect on-line to their embryo’s images before single blastocyst transfer. We evaluated the impact of visual connections to live embryo images on pregnancy rates. Participants/materials, setting, methods On day one of embryo culture, consenting patients received an individualized and secure link allowing them to connect on-line to images of their own embryos any time during the five days of culture. Patients were divided in five groups depending on the number of on-line visualisations (A = 0; B = 1–10; C = 11–20; D = 21–30; E > 30). Pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates were compared between the five groups. Chi-square test for a large contingency table was performed to compare all groups Main results and the role of chance The distribution of patients in the five groups, based on number of visualizations, resulted as follows: 287 in group A; 328 in group B; 156 in group C; 80 in group D; 83 in group E. The five groups were homogeneous and there were no statistically significant differences in recipient’s ages (A 42.8±3.9 years; B 41.9±3.9 years; C 41.8±4.5 years; D 42.8±4.1 years; E 41.9±4.4 years) and in donor’s ages (A 25.5±4.3 years; B 26.9±4.4 years; C 27.1±4.2 years; D 26.4±4.5 years; E 26.5±4.1 years) among the five groups. We observed a progressive positive trend between the number of on-line visualisations and pregnancy rates, reaching statistical significance for group E (>30 visualizations) compared to the others groups. In group E, pregnancy rates and clinical pregnancy rates per fresh single blastocyst transfer were respectively 72.3% and 65.1%, significantly higher when compared to the others groups (p < 0.01, p < 0.001): group A 61% and 50.9%, group B 63.1% and 56.1%, group C 64.1% and 55.1%, group D 65% and 53.8%. Limitations, reasons for caution Time-lapse incubator is needed as well as a strong informatics setting to ensure secure and personalised on-line connection to each patient at any time during the five days of culture. Endocrine and endometrial biomarkers should be proposed and evaluated in further clinical trials to better understand these results. Wider implications of the findings: Repeated on-line visualization of own embryos images before fresh blastocyst transfer enhances pregnancy rates in IVF cycles. We propose that repeated visual stimuli of images produces a positive emotional connection between patients and their own developing embryos, thus reducing anxiety and enhancing recipient’s endometrial receptivity. Trial registration number Not applicable

Is brand love materialistic?

Purpose This paper aims to explore the relationship between brand love and materialism. Design/methodology/approach This research uses two survey studies that the love of money. In combination, these two studies include over 1,000 participants. Findings Materialism does not just make consumers more likely to love brands, it also alters the way they relate to brands. Specifically, brand love is associated with loving brands that one currently owns rather than wishing for brands that one cannot afford and vice-versa for materialism. Brand love is also more strongly related to the centrality and success dimensions of materialism than to its happiness dimension. Materialism is not just associated with loving brands; it is also strongly associated with loving money. Finally, there has been an active debate over whether brand love is applicable to a wide variety of brands or just a select few. This research finds that an extremely wide variety of brands are loved by consumers. Research limitations/implications The findings are limited by the cross-sectional nature of the survey approach, the use of a student sample and a MTurk sample and by a set of solely US participants. Practical implications This research explores the distinction between a brand love-based marketing strategy and a materialism-based strategy. A brand love-based strategy leverages positive emotional connections that consumers have with past purchases of a brand, whereas a materialism-based strategy seeks to make a brand an aspirational high-end purchase. Based on the research results, the authors make the case for a brand love-based strategy. In addition, this research partly challenges, yet also partly supports, the common view among marketing practitioners that brand love is only applicable to a few brands. On the one hand, this research finds that consumers love an extremely wide variety of brands. On the other hand, only a few brands have been successful in building brand love across a large group of consumers. Thus, brand love appears to be a more widely applicable strategy than sometimes thought yet also a very challenging strategy to get right. Social implications This research supports prior findings which suggest that the negative outcomes of materialism (e.g. unhappiness) are mostly associated with its happiness dimension (i.e. “I would be happier if I had more money”). In contrast, the findings also suggest that brand love is more weakly associated with its happiness dimension than its centrality and success dimensions. Thus, brand love may be a positive (or at least not a negative) expression of materialism. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical examination of the relationship between brand love and materialism and finds that although these two constructs are correlated, they are empirically distinct. This research is also the first to test the relationship between materialism and love for status brands and finds that materialistic individuals display greater love for these types of brands. This research also introduces the construct of “brand love tendency” which is defined as a consumer’s overall tendency to love brands. Finally, this research is also the first to relate the love of money to both materialism and brand love.

How Urban Identity, Affect, and Knowledge Predict Perceptions About Coyotes and Their Management

ABSTRACTGlobally, the number of humans and wildlife species sharing urban spaces continues to grow. As these populations grow, so too does the frequency of human–wildlife interactions in urban areas. Carnivores in particular pose urban wildlife conservation challenges owing to the strong emotions they elicit and the potential threats they can present to humans. These challenges can be better addressed with an understanding of the different factors that influence public perceptions of carnivores and their management. We conducted mail surveys in four cities in North Carolina (n =721) to explore how (a) city of residence, (b) affectual connections to coyotes (Canis latrans), and (c) biological knowledge predicted perceptions of the danger posed by coyotes, the support for wild coyotes living nearby, and the support for lethal coyote removal methods. Our results provide the first assessment of how public perceptions of carnivores and their management vary between cities of different types. Residents from a tourism-driven city were more supportive of coyotes than residents from an industrial city and less concerned about risk than residents from a commercial city. We found affectual connection to coyotes and city of residence were consistent predictors of coyote perceptions. Respondents’ knowledge of coyote biology was not a significant predictor of any perceptions of coyotes despite the relatively high statistical power of the tests. Affectual connection to coyotes had the greatest effect on predicting coyote perceptions, suggesting efforts to promote positive emotional connections to wildlife may be a better way to increase acceptance of carnivores in urban areas than focusing on biological knowledge.