Credit cues and impression management: a preliminary attempt to explain the credit card effect.
Prior research had suggested that individuals would estimate higher product values and even tip more in the presence of credit cues. In the absence of a clear theoretical interpretation of this credit card effect we propose that this tendency is an impression management strategy such that credit cue exposure influences perceptions of the self and focuses attention on individual wealth. Thus, in the presence of others, credit cues serve to enhance images of the self. Preliminary data in support of this alternative theoretical perspective are presented.
McCall
Michael
M
Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Ithaca College, NY 14850-7170, USA.
Trombetta
Jessica
J
Gipe
Aimee
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D004467:Economics; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D012147:Restaurants; D012649:Self Concept; D012930:Social Dominance; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013561:Symbolism