IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/journl/hal-02466675.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Intergenerational transmission in consumer behaviour: An integrative conceptual framework and future research directions

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel Guillemot

    (LEGO - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Gestion de l'Ouest - UBS - Université de Bretagne Sud - UBO - Université de Brest - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IBSHS - Institut Brestois des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société - UBO - Université de Brest - UBL - Université Bretagne Loire - IMT Atlantique - IMT Atlantique - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris])

Abstract

The concept of intergenerational transmission has given rise to a heterogenous body of research in consumer behaviour. It has been mobilised in domains as varied as consumer socialisation and heritage disposition. This article proposes an integrative conceptual framework for the intergenerational transmission of consumer behaviour. This framework has emerged from an interpretation of Erikson's (1959) theory of human personality development. Its first contribution is that it links the developmental concerns of the younger and older generations (learning, differentiating, taking care and preserving) around the notion of intergenerational capital. Its second contribution is that it puts forward the concepts of sociocultural, economic, psychological and genetic capital, which serve to enrich and clarify the nature of intergenerational capital. Finally, it opens up new research directions, including a much-needed focus on the central role of the 'pivot' generation (the 30-65 age group) and on taking into account the concept of attachment (Bowbly, 1978) in the study of the effect of inherited psychological resources on the adoption of consumer practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Guillemot, 2018. "Intergenerational transmission in consumer behaviour: An integrative conceptual framework and future research directions," Post-Print hal-02466675, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02466675
    DOI: 10.1177/2051570718774009
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.univ-brest.fr/hal-02466675
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hal.univ-brest.fr/hal-02466675/document
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/2051570718774009?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Downey, Hilary & Ellis, Sarah, 2008. "Tails of animal attraction: Incorporating the feline into the family," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 61(5), pages 434-441, May.
    2. Childers, Terry L & Rao, Akshay R, 1992. "The Influence of Familial and Peer-Based Reference Groups on Consumer Decisions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 19(2), pages 198-211, September.
    3. John L. Lastovicka & Karen V. Fernandez, 2005. "Three Paths to Disposition: The Movement of Meaningful Possessions to Strangers," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 31(4), pages 813-823, March.
    4. William G. Gale & John Karl Scholz, 1994. "Intergenerational Transfers and the Accumulation of Wealth," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(4), pages 145-160, Fall.
    5. Noble, Stephanie M. & Schewe, Charles D. & Kuhr, Michelle, 2004. "Preferences in health care service and treatment: A generational perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(9), pages 1033-1041, September.
    6. repec:dau:papers:123456789/408 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Grayson, Kent & Shulman, David, 2000. "Indexicality and the Verification Function of Irreplaceable Possessions: A Semiotic Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 27(1), pages 17-30, June.
    8. Carlson, Les & Grossbart, Sanford, 1988. "Parental Style and Consumer Socialization of Children," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 15(1), pages 77-94, June.
    9. Marsha L. Richins & Lan Nguyen Chaplin, 2015. "Material Parenting: How the Use of Goods in Parenting Fosters Materialism in the Next Generation," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 41(6), pages 1333-1357.
    10. repec:dau:papers:123456789/5804 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Aurélie Kessous & Isabelle Chalamon, 2014. "La transmission de remèdes de grand-mères de mère en fille: une extension temporelle de soi," Post-Print hal-01828663, HAL.
    12. André Masson, 2009. "Des liens et des transferts entre générations," Post-Print halshs-00754867, HAL.
    13. Beatty, Sharon E & Talpade, Salil, 1994. "Adolescent Influence in Family Decision Making: A Replication with Extension," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 21(2), pages 332-341, September.
    14. Aric Rindfleisch & James E. Burroughs & Nancy Wong, 2009. "The Safety of Objects: Materialism, Existential Insecurity, and Brand Connection," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 36(1), pages 1-16, June.
    15. Tonya Williams Bradford, 2009. "Intergenerationally Gifted Asset Dispositions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 36(1), pages 93-111, June.
    16. Samuel Guillemot, 2015. "La transmission intergénérationnelle : regard sur les services aux particuliers," Post-Print hal-02466699, HAL.
    17. Itamar Simonson & Aner Sela, 2011. "On the Heritability of Consumer Decision Making: An Exploratory Approach for Studying Genetic Effects on Judgment and Choice," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(6), pages 951-966.
    18. Samuel Guillemot & Bertrand Urien, 2016. "Legacy Writing and the Consumption of Biographic Services," Post-Print hal-02466648, HAL.
    19. Ward, Scott, 1974. "Consumer Socialization," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 1(2), pages 1-14, Se.
    20. Russell W. Belk, 2013. "Extended Self in a Digital World," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 40(3), pages 477-500.
    21. Belk, Russell W, 1988. "Possessions and the Extended Self," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 15(2), pages 139-168, September.
    22. Amber M. Epp & Linda L. Price, 2010. "The Storied Life of Singularized Objects: Forces of Agency and Network Transformation," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 36(5), pages 820-837, February.
    23. Rindfleisch, Aric & Burroughs, James E & Denton, Frank, 1997. "Family Structure, Materialism, and Compulsive Consumption," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 23(4), pages 312-325, March.
    24. repec:dau:papers:123456789/8898 is not listed on IDEAS
    25. Wallendorf, Melanie & Arnould, Eric J, 1991. ""We Gather Together": Consumption Rituals of Thanksgiving Day," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 18(1), pages 13-31, June.
    26. John, Deborah Roedder, 1999. "Consumer Socialization of Children: A Retrospective Look at Twenty-Five Years of Research," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 26(3), pages 183-213, December.
    27. Richins, Marsha L, 1994. "Valuing Things: The Public and Private Meanings of Possessions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 21(3), pages 504-521, December.
    28. Aurélie Kessous & Isabelle Chalamon, 2014. "La transmission de remèdes de grand-mères de mère en fille: une extension temporelle de soi," Post-Print hal-02310913, HAL.
    29. Leong, Aliana Man Wai & Yeh, Shih-Shuo & Hsiao, Yu-Chen & Huan, Tzung-Cheng T.C., 2015. "Nostalgia as travel motivation and its impact on tourists' loyalty," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 81-86.
    30. Mathilde Gollety, 1999. "Lorsque parents et enfants s'apprennent mutuellement à consommer..," Post-Print halshs-02925772, HAL.
    31. Denis Guiot & Bertrand Urien, 2012. "Comprendre le consommateur âgé‎. Nouveaux enjeux et perspectives," Post-Print hal-01649770, HAL.
    32. Samuel Guillemot & Bertrand Urien, 2010. "Legacy writing among the elderly: conceptual bases, dimensioning and a proposed scale for measuring motivations," Post-Print hal-00587011, HAL.
    33. Price, Linda L & Arnould, Eric J & Curasi, Carolyn Folkman, 2000. "Older Consumers' Disposition of Special Possessions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 27(2), pages 179-201, September.
    34. Cai, Yuanyuan & Zhao, Guangzhi & He, Jiaxun, 2015. "Influences of two modes of intergenerational communication on brand equity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 553-560.
    35. Hirschman, Elizabeth C, 1985. "Primitive Aspects of Consumption in Modern American Society," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 12(2), pages 142-154, September.
    36. André Masson, 2009. "Des liens et des transferts entre générations," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-00754867, HAL.
    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. Masset, Julie & Decrop, Alain, 2016. "“God, I have so many ashtrays!” Dependences and dependencies in consumer–possession relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 94-109.
    2. Karin Brondino-Pompeo, 2021. "Mapping spheres of exchange: a multidimensional approach to commoditization and singularization," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 11(1), pages 81-95, June.
    3. Hogg, Margaret K. & Banister, Emma N. & Stephenson, Christopher A., 2009. "Mapping symbolic (anti-) consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 148-159, February.
    4. Mike Molesworth & Rebecca Watkins & Janice Denegri-Knott, 2016. "Possession Work on Hosted Digital Consumption Objects as Consumer Ensnarement," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(2), pages 246-261.
    5. Clinton Gudmunson & Sharon Danes, 2011. "Family Financial Socialization: Theory and Critical Review," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 644-667, December.
    6. Guillard, Valérie, 2009. "La tendance de certains consommateurs à tout garder," Economics Thesis from University Paris Dauphine, Paris Dauphine University, number 123456789/5480 edited by Pinson, Christian.
    7. Catherine A. Roster, 2015. "“Help, I Have Too Much Stuff!”: Extreme Possession Attachment and Professional Organizers," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(2), pages 303-327, July.
    8. Donald R. Lehmann & Jeffrey R. Parker, 2017. "Disadoption," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 7(1), pages 36-51, June.
    9. Fleura Bardhi & Giana M. Eckhardt, 2017. "Liquid Consumption," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 44(3), pages 582-597.
    10. Bradford, Tonya Williams & Sherry, John F., 2013. "Orchestrating rituals through retailers: An examination of gift registry," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 89(2), pages 158-175.
    11. Flurry, Laura A., 2007. "Children's influence in family decision-making: Examining the impact of the changing American family," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 322-330, April.
    12. Strizhakova, Yuliya & Coulter, Robin A. & Price, Linda L., 2008. "The meanings of branded products: A cross-national scale development and meaning assessment," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 82-93.
    13. Martin P. Fritze & Andreas B. Eisingerich & Martin Benkenstein, 2019. "Digital transformation and possession attachment: examining the endowment effect for consumers’ relationships with hedonic and utilitarian digital service technologies," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 311-337, June.
    14. Hsieh, Yi-Ching & Chiu, Hung-Chang & Lin, Chia-Chi, 2006. "Family communication and parental influence on children's brand attitudes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 59(10-11), pages 1079-1086, October.
    15. Bao, Yeqing & Fern, Edward F. & Sheng, Shibin, 2007. "Parental style and adolescent influence in family consumption decisions: An integrative approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 672-680, July.
    16. Samuel Guillemot & Bertrand Urien, 2016. "Legacy Writing and the Consumption of Biographic Services," Post-Print hal-02466648, HAL.
    17. Wang, Wangshuai & Yi, Yanxi & Li, Jie & Sun, Gong & Zhang, Mo, 2022. "Lighting up the dark: How the scarcity of childhood resources leads to preferences for bright stimuli," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1155-1164.
    18. Cagri Yalkin & Richard Rosenbaum-Elliott, 2014. "Talking Fashion in Female Friendship Groups: Negotiating the Necessary Marketplace Skills and Knowledge," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 301-331, June.
    19. Karanika, Katerina & Hogg, Margaret K., 2013. "Trajectories across the lifespan of possession-self relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(7), pages 910-916.
    20. Graul, Antje R.H. & Brough, Aaron R. & Isaac, Mathew S., 2022. "How emotional attachment influences lender participation in consumer-to-consumer rental platforms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1211-1217.

    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:hal:journl:hal-02466675. 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: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    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.