IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nup/jrmdke/v4y2016i2p263-275.html

Stereotyping Effects on Cities: Measurement Scales for City's Warmth and Competence

Author

Listed:
  • Adriana ZAIÅ¢

    (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi)

  • Andreia Gabriela ANDREI

    (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi)

  • Ioana-Alexandra HORODNIC

    (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi)

  • Patricia Elena BERTEA

    (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi)

Abstract

In the endeavor of analyzing urban development perspectives, the current paper aims to find out how warmth and competence stereotypes would operate in the case of a city, predicting its future, as a direct consequence of people's positive or negative feelings and actions. Results of such analyses would be of strategic importance, knowing that various aspects of urban development (from tourism to business, well-being, active population growth and talents retention) depend on people’s decisions to visit that city, to invest, to work, to study, to settle down there, or to simply spread positive opinions about it. Therefore, relying on the well-known SCM - stereotype content model, the paper adapts previous warmth and competence scales, and develops a customized research instrument for analyzing connections between people's perceptions and the mental labels attached to a specific city. Considering warmth and competence dimensions, as well as the other variables of interest such as status, cooperation and competition, we use an exploratory procedure for item selection followed by a Q-sorting analysis for scale content validation. The paper adds to the literature in two main ways. It firstly advances an integrative view that connects the theories from social psychology, communication and branding with those from urban development. Secondly, it offers a content validated measurement instrument, as a necessary departure point for future analyses meant to identify challenges and to predict the potential for development of smart and sustainable cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriana ZAIÅ¢ & Andreia Gabriela ANDREI & Ioana-Alexandra HORODNIC & Patricia Elena BERTEA, 2016. "Stereotyping Effects on Cities: Measurement Scales for City's Warmth and Competence," Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, College of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, vol. 4(2), pages 263-275, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nup:jrmdke:v:4:y:2016:i:2:p:263-275
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.managementdynamics.ro/index.php/journal/article/download/177/126
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: http://www.managementdynamics.ro/index.php/journal/article/view/177/126
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. EUGENE J. McCANN, 2007. "Inequality and Politics in the Creative City‐Region: Questions of Livability and State Strategy," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 188-196, March.
    2. Björn Ivens & Alexander Leischnig & Brigitte Muller & Katharina Valta, 2015. "On the role of brand stereotypes in shaping consumer response toward brands: an empirical examination of direct and mediating effects of warmth and competence," Post-Print hal-01427971, HAL.
    3. Aaker, Jennifer & Vohs, Kathleen D. & Mogilner, Cassie, 2010. "Non-profits Are Seen as Warm and For-Profits as Competent: Firm Stereotypes Matter," Research Papers 2047, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    4. Björn Ivens & Brigitte Muller & Alexander Leischnig & Katharina Valta, 2015. "On the Role of Brand Stereotypes in Shaping Consumer Response toward Brands: An Empirical Examination of Direct and Mediating Effects of Warmth and Competence," Post-Print hal-01796284, HAL.
    5. Bernritter, Stefan F. & Verlegh, Peeter W.J. & Smit, Edith G., 2016. "Why Nonprofits Are Easier to Endorse on Social Media: The Roles of Warmth and Brand Symbolism," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 27-42.
    6. repec:nup:jrmdke:v:2:y:2014:i:3:p:472-479 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Andreia - Gabriela ANDREI & Adriana ZAIT, 2014. "Worthy Intentions on the Road to Brand Trust," Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, College of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, vol. 2(3), pages 472-479, December.
    8. Dumitru ZAIT & Adriana ZAIT, 2009. "Research Anticipation: the Methodological Choice," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 10(5), pages 902-909, December.
    9. Oana Vicol & Adriana Zaiţ, 2014. "A country's image as tourist destination for external intermediaries," Management & Marketing, Economic Publishing House, vol. 9(1), Spring.
    10. Elena BERTEA & Adriana ZAIT, 2013. "Scale Validity In Exploratory Stages Of Research," Management and Marketing Journal, University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 0(1), pages 38-46, May.
    11. John V. Winters, 2011. "Why Are Smart Cities Growing? Who Moves And Who Stays," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 253-270, May.
    12. Kate Deutsch-Burgner & Srinath Ravualaparthy & Konstadinos Goulias, 2014. "Place happiness: its constituents and the influence of emotions and subjective importance on activity type and destination choice," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(6), pages 1323-1340, November.
    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. Japutra, Arnold & Molinillo, Sebastian & Wang, Shasha, 2018. "Aesthetic or self-expressiveness? Linking brand logo benefits, brand stereotypes and relationship quality," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 191-200.
    2. Althuizen, Niek & Sánchez Sánchez, Carlos Raúl & Osburg, Victoria-Sophie & Batt, Verena & Falter, Mareike, 2026. "Purpose and profit: Understanding consumer reactions to social enterprises in retail and services," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    3. Ren, Shengnan & Karimi, Sahar & Bravo Velázquez, Alberto & Cai, Jianfeng, 2023. "Endorsement effectiveness of different social media influencers: The moderating effect of brand competence and warmth," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    4. Delgado-Ballester, Elena & Fernandez-Sabiote, Estela, 2024. "Brand Stereotypes: On the relationships with gendered brand personality and agentic and communal values in fostering Consumer–Brand identification," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    5. Kolbl, Živa & Diamantopoulos, Adamantios & Arslanagic-Kalajdzic, Maja & Zabkar, Vesna, 2020. "Do brand warmth and brand competence add value to consumers? A stereotyping perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 346-362.
    6. Halkias, Georgios & Diamantopoulos, Adamantios, 2020. "Universal dimensions of individuals' perception: Revisiting the operationalization of warmth and competence with a mixed-method approach," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 714-736.
    7. Portal, Sivan & Abratt, Russell & Bendixen, Michael, 2018. "Building a human brand: Brand anthropomorphism unravelled," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(3), pages 367-374.
    8. Benjamin Boeuf & Jessica Darveau, 2019. "An Ethical Perspective on Necro-Advertising: The Moderating Effect of Brand Equity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(4), pages 1077-1099, April.
    9. Dian Wang & Gary Davies & Wing Lam, 2025. "Market signalling by microenterprises when building reputational capital," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-23, December.
    10. Chen, Man & Ouyang, Jiaojie & Wang, Feng, 2026. "Collateral damage or effortless win? Spillover effects of competent and warm leader brands on copycats following product-harm crises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    11. Zhou, Zhimin & Ding, Yi & Feng, Wenting & Ke, Nianman, 2021. "Extending B2B brands into the B2C market: Whether, when, and how brands should emphasize B2B industry background," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 364-375.
    12. Chen Pang & Jie Zhou & Xiaofen Ji, 2022. "The Effects of Chinese Consumers’ Brand Green Stereotypes on Purchasing Intention toward Upcycled Clothing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    13. De Kerpel, Laura & Van Kerckhove, Anneleen & Tessitore, Tina, 2025. "Oops! Sorry, my bad: How apologizing for trivial mistakes in direct email campaigns leads to positive customer evaluations," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 752-767.
    14. Sharma, Monika & Rahman, Zillur, 2022. "Anthropomorphic brand management: An integrated review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 463-475.
    15. Wei, Zihan & Zhang, Mingli & Qiao, Tong, 2022. "Effect of personal branding stereotypes on user engagement on short-video platforms," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    16. Kolbl, Živa & Arslanagic-Kalajdzic, Maja & Diamantopoulos, Adamantios, 2019. "Stereotyping global brands: Is warmth more important than competence?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 614-621.
    17. Zhang, Yicong & Guo, Xiaoling, 2023. "“New and old†: Consumer evaluations of co-branding between new brands and Chinese time-honored brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    18. Aiello, Gaetano & Donvito, Raffaele & Acuti, Diletta & Grazzini, Laura & Mazzoli, Valentina & Vannucci, Virginia & Viglia, Giampaolo, 2020. "Customers’ Willingness to Disclose Personal Information throughout the Customer Purchase Journey in Retailing: The Role of Perceived Warmth," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 96(4), pages 490-506.
    19. Gadekar, Mahesh & Brandão, Amélia, 2025. "Consumers' perceptions of proximity to plastic pollution and support for environmentally friendly retail brands: An emerging market perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    20. Lee, Kuo-Wei & Li, Chia-Ying, 2023. "It is not merely a chat: Transforming chatbot affordances into dual identification and loyalty," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:nup:jrmdke:v:4:y:2016:i:2:p:263-275. 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: Cristian-Mihai VIDU (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/fmsnsro.html .

    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.