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How Does Brand Age Influence Consumer Attitudes Toward a Firm’s Unethical Behavior?

Author

Listed:
  • Chi Zhang

    (University of Indianapolis)

  • Saim Kashmiri

    (The University of Mississippi)

  • Melissa Cinelli

    (The University of Mississippi)

Abstract

This paper identifies brand age as an important factor in consumers’ brand evaluations following unethical firm behavior. In two experiments, we assess the effect of brand age on three types of brand evaluations: perceived quality, brand credibility, and behavioral intentions following a brand crisis. The findings suggest that disclosing an older brand’s age can not only improve consumers’ brand evaluations in general, but can also provide a buffering effect when the firm is involved in unethical behavior. Moreover, the relationship between brand age and consumers’ post-crisis intentions is mediated by perceived brand credibility. By exploring consumers’ attitudes following the most common firm response strategies, this research also identifies a boundary condition of the mitigating effect of brand age. Several significant implications for practitioners are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chi Zhang & Saim Kashmiri & Melissa Cinelli, 2019. "How Does Brand Age Influence Consumer Attitudes Toward a Firm’s Unethical Behavior?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 699-711, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:158:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3696-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3696-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Valor, Carmen & Antonetti, Paolo & Zasuwa, Grzegorz, 2022. "Corporate social irresponsibility and consumer punishment: A systematic review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1218-1233.
    3. Neureiter, Michael & Bhattacharya, C.B., 2021. "Why do boycotts sometimes increase sales? Consumer activism in the age of political polarization," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 64(5), pages 611-620.

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