IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v183y2023i3d10.1007_s10551-022-05114-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

True Consumer Autonomy: A Formalization and Implications

Author

Listed:
  • Michael R. Hyman

    (Institute for Marketing Futurology and Philosophy)

  • Alena Kostyk

    (University of Glasgow)

  • David Trafimow

    (New Mexico State University)

Abstract

Consumer autonomy is a fundamental topic for marketing ethics scholars. Nonetheless, autonomy’s philosophical treatment may have compromised its conceptual clarity. After reviewing the relevant ethics literature on consumer autonomy, the benefits of formally defining consumer autonomy are illustrated, and a novel formalization is adapted from potential performance theory mathematics. The goal is to transfigure a hitherto amorphous topic via a mathematical formalization that defines true autonomy, actual autonomy, reliability of wills, and reliability of product choice. The crucial and surprising result: an action that decreases true autonomy can increase actual autonomy if that action engenders a sufficient increase in one or both types of reliability. Relating the insights from the formalization to the long-standing debates in consumer autonomy suggests fruitful avenues for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael R. Hyman & Alena Kostyk & David Trafimow, 2023. "True Consumer Autonomy: A Formalization and Implications," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(3), pages 841-863, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:183:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05114-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05114-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-022-05114-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-022-05114-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mansur Khamitov & Yany Grégoire & Anshu Suri, 2020. "A systematic review of brand transgression, service failure recovery and product-harm crisis: integration and guiding insights," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 519-542, May.
    2. Sunstein, Cass R., 2016. "Fifty Shades of Manipulation," Journal of Marketing Behavior, now publishers, vol. 1(3-4), pages 213-244, February.
    3. M. Sirgy & Eda Gurel-Atay & Dave Webb & Muris Cicic & Melika Husic & Ahmet Ekici & Andreas Herrmann & Ibrahim Hegazy & Dong-Jin Lee & J. Johar, 2012. "Linking Advertising, Materialism, and Life Satisfaction," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 107(1), pages 79-101, May.
    4. Michael J. Zyphur & Dean C. Pierides, 2017. "Is Quantitative Research Ethical? Tools for Ethically Practicing, Evaluating, and Using Quantitative Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(1), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Shelby D. Hunt, 2012. "Explaining empirically successful marketing theories: the inductive realist model, approximate truth, and market orientation," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 2(1), pages 5-18, March.
    6. Maria R Servedio & Yaniv Brandvain & Sumit Dhole & Courtney L Fitzpatrick & Emma E Goldberg & Caitlin A Stern & Jeremy Van Cleve & D Justin Yeh, 2014. "Not Just a Theory—The Utility of Mathematical Models in Evolutionary Biology," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-5, December.
    7. Thomas Anker & Klemens Kappel & Peter Sandøe, 2010. "The Liberating Power of Commercial Marketing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(4), pages 519-530, June.
    8. Hu, Han-fen & Krishen, Anjala S., 2019. "When is enough, enough? Investigating product reviews and information overload from a consumer empowerment perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 27-37.
    9. Bishop, John Douglas, 2000. "Is Self-Identity Image Advertising Ethical?," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(2), pages 371-398, April.
    10. Tanya L. Chartrand & Joel Huber & Baba Shiv & Robin J. Tanner, 2008. "Nonconscious Goals and Consumer Choice," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 35(2), pages 189-201, April.
    11. Wertenbroch, Klaus, 2016. "From the Editor: Manipulation and Marketing: The Elephant in the Room?," Journal of Marketing Behavior, now publishers, vol. 1(3-4), pages 209-212, February.
    12. Bettman, James R & Luce, Mary Frances & Payne, John W, 1998. "Constructive Consumer Choice Processes," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 25(3), pages 187-217, December.
    13. M. Hyman, 2009. "Responsible Ads: A Workable Ideal," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 87(2), pages 199-210, June.
    14. Shafir, Eldar, 2016. "Manipulated as a Way of Life," Journal of Marketing Behavior, now publishers, vol. 1(3-4), pages 245-260, February.
    15. Payne, Collin & Niculescu, Mihai, 2018. "Can healthy checkout end-caps improve targeted fruit and vegetable purchases? Evidence from grocery and SNAP participant purchases," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 318-323.
    16. Claudia Groß & Dirk Vriens, 2019. "The Role of the Distributor Network in the Persistence of Legal and Ethical Problems of Multi-level Marketing Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(2), pages 333-355, May.
    17. Klaus Wertenbroch & Rom Y. Schrift & Joseph W. Alba & Alixandra Barasch & Amit Bhattacharjee & Markus Giesler & Joshua Knobe & Donald R. Lehmann & Sandra Matz & Gideon Nave & Jeffrey R. Parker & Stefa, 2020. "Autonomy in consumer choice," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 429-439, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yuli Zhang & Hyokjin Kwak & Marina Puzakova & Charles R. Taylor, 2021. "Space between products on display: the impact of interspace on consumer estimation of product size," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 1109-1131, November.
    2. Klaus Wertenbroch & Rom Y. Schrift & Joseph W. Alba & Alixandra Barasch & Amit Bhattacharjee & Markus Giesler & Joshua Knobe & Donald R. Lehmann & Sandra Matz & Gideon Nave & Jeffrey R. Parker & Stefa, 2020. "Autonomy in consumer choice," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 429-439, December.
    3. Haipeng (Allan) Chen & Woojin Choi & Yan (Lucy) Liu & Haoying Sun & Fu Liu, 2021. "More or Less? Consumer Goal Orientation and Product Choice," Customer Needs and Solutions, Springer;Institute for Sustainable Innovation and Growth (iSIG), vol. 8(1), pages 16-26, June.
    4. Kurt Carlson & Chris Janiszewski & Ralph Keeney & David Krantz & Howard Kunreuther & Mary Luce & J. Russo & Stijn Osselaer & Detlof Winterfeldt, 2008. "A theoretical framework for goal-based choice and for prescriptive analysis," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 241-254, December.
    5. Sylvie Borau & Jean-François Bonnefon, 2019. "The Imaginary Intrasexual Competition: Advertisements Featuring Provocative Female Models Trigger Women to Engage in Indirect Aggression," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(1), pages 45-63, June.
    6. Timothy Aylsworth, 2022. "Autonomy and Manipulation: Refining the Argument Against Persuasive Advertising," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(4), pages 689-699, February.
    7. Sylvie Borau & Marcelo Vinhal Nepomuceno, 2019. "The Self-Deceived Consumer: Women’s Emotional and Attitudinal Reactions to the Airbrushed Thin Ideal in the Absence Versus Presence of Disclaimers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 325-340, January.
    8. Alessio Emanuele Biondo & Alfio Giarlotta & Alessandro Pluchino & Andrea Rapisarda, 2016. "Perfect Information vs Random Investigation: Safety Guidelines for a Consumer in the Jungle of Product Differentiation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-26, January.
    9. Wörfel, Philipp, 2021. "Unravelling the intellectual discourse of implicit consumer cognition: A bibliometric review," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    10. Hyowon Kim & Dong Soo Kim & Greg M. Allenby, 2020. "Benefit Formation and Enhancement," Quantitative Marketing and Economics (QME), Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 419-468, December.
    11. Martinovici, A., 2019. "Revealing attention - how eye movements predict brand choice and moment of choice," Other publications TiSEM 7dca38a5-9f78-4aee-bd81-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    12. James Agarwal & Wayne DeSarbo & Naresh K. Malhotra & Vithala Rao, 2015. "An Interdisciplinary Review of Research in Conjoint Analysis: Recent Developments and Directions for Future Research," Customer Needs and Solutions, Springer;Institute for Sustainable Innovation and Growth (iSIG), vol. 2(1), pages 19-40, March.
    13. Michael Palanski & Alexander Newman & Hannes Leroy & Celia Moore & Sean Hannah & Deanne Den Hartog, 2021. "Quantitative Research on Leadership and Business Ethics: Examining the State of the Field and an Agenda for Future Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 109-119, January.
    14. Greenacre, Luke & Martin, James & Patrick, Sarah & Jaeger, Victoria, 2016. "Boundaries of the centrality effect during product choice," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 32-38.
    15. Somerville, Jason & McGowan, Féidhlim, 2016. "Can chocolate cure blindness? Investigating the effect of preference strength and incentives on the incidence of Choice Blindness," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-11.
    16. Komal Nagar, 2018. "Assessing the Impact of Online Retailer Models on Consumer’s Attitude and Purchase Intentions," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, January.
    17. Charles Cunningham & Ken Deal & Yvonne Chen, 2010. "Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 3(4), pages 257-273, December.
    18. Victor Stango & Jonathan Zinman, 2014. "Limited and Varying Consumer Attention: Evidence from Shocks to the Salience of Bank Overdraft Fees," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 27(4), pages 990-1030.
    19. Blut, Markus & Chowdhry, Nivriti & Mittal, Vikas & Brock, Christian, 2015. "E-Service Quality: A Meta-Analytic Review," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 91(4), pages 679-700.
    20. T. Poehlman & Ravi Dhar & John Bargh, 2016. "Sophisticated by Design: the Nonconscious Influence of Primed Concepts and Atmospheric Variables on Consumer Preferences," Customer Needs and Solutions, Springer;Institute for Sustainable Innovation and Growth (iSIG), vol. 3(1), pages 48-61, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:183:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05114-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.