The Journal of the Korea Contents Association (한국콘텐츠학회논문지)

The Korea Contents Association (한국콘텐츠학회)
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The Effect of Consumers' Need for Uniqueness (CNFU) on Attitude Formation toward Experience versus Search Attributes of Products

소비자의 독특함에 대한 욕구가 제품의 경험적 및 탐색적 특징에 대한 태도 형성에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

  • 최민경 (서울대학교 경영연구소)
  • Received : 2017.05.25
  • Accepted : 2017.07.18
  • Published : 2017.08.28
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Abstract

The influence of information on other's preference on one's attitude formation can vary with consumer's uniqueness motive and product attributes. When high-CNFU individuals are given the information on the preference of others toward an experience attribute, the uniqueness aspect of their self-identity is aroused. As conforming to others' preference causes concern that their uniqueness-related self-esteem is threatened, they contrast away from the majority. On the other hand, they form their attitude toward search attributes regardless of the preference of others. In contrast, for low-CNFU individuals, knowing the majority's choice of experience attributes does not arouse the uniqueness aspect of their self-identity and not threaten their self-esteem. Thus, they tend to conform to the majority regardless of the type of product attributes. This study suggests whether or not the attribute signals the identity of a person as another criterion that distinguishes experience and search attributes. The results imply that when targeting a consumer with a strong desire for uniqueness, it would be more effective for a company to develop features that are not popular.

타인의 선호에 대한 정보가 개인의 태도 형성에 미치는 영향은, 소비자의 독특함에 대한 욕구와 제품 특징에 따라 달라질 수 있다. 독특함에 대한 욕구가 강한 사람의 경우, 경험적 특징에 대한 타인의 선호에 대한 정보를 접하면 정체성의 독특함과 관련된 측면이 환기되면서, 타인에게 동조하는 것이 독특함 관련 자존감을 위협한다는 우려 때문에 타인의 선호와 매우 다르게 태도를 형성한다. 탐색적 특징은 독특함 관련 측면을 환기시키지 않기 때문에, 이들은 타인의 선호와 관계없이 태도를 형성한다. 반면, 독특함에 대한 욕구가 낮은 소비자는 타인의 선호에 대한 정보가 정체성의 독특함 관련 측면을 환기시키지 않기 때문에, 제품 특징에 관계없이 타인의 선호에 동조하는 경향을 보였다. 본 연구는 경험적, 탐색적 특징을 구분하는 기준으로서 개인의 정체성을 표시하는지의 여부를 제안하였고, 독특함 욕구가 강한 소비자를 대상으로는 대중적이지 않은 제품 특징을 개발하는 것이 효과적일 수 있다는 실무적 시사점을 제공한다.

Keywords

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