title: Replacement between conformity and counter-conformity in consumption decisions.
abstract: This study assessed, in a Chinese context, how self-esteem interacts with perceived similarity and uniqueness to yield cognitive dissonance, and whether the dissonance leads to self-reported conformity or counter-conformity behavior. Participants were 408 respondents from 4 major Chinese cities (M age = 33.0 yr., SD = 4.3; 48% men). Self-perceptions of uniqueness, similarity, cognitive dissonance, self-esteem and need to behave in conformity or counter-conformity were measured. A theoretical model was assessed in four situations, relating the ratings of self-esteem and perceived similarity/uniqueness to the way other people at a wedding were dressed, and the resultant cognitive dissonance and conformity/ counter-conformity behavior. Regardless of high or low self-esteem, all participants reported cognitive dissonance when they were told that they were dressed extremely similarly to or extremely differently from the other people attending the wedding. However, the conforming/counter-conforming strategies used by participants to resolve the cognitive dissonance differed. When encountering dissonance induced by the perceived extreme uniqueness of dress, participants with low self-esteem tended to say they would dress next time so as to conform with the way others were dressed, while those with high self-esteem indicated they would continue their counter-conformity in attire. When encountering dissonance induced by the perceived extreme similarity to others, both those with high and low self-esteem tended to say they would dress in an unorthodox manner to surprise other people in the future.
authors: Department of Marketing, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China.
authors: Ting-Jui
authors: TJ
authors: Chou
authors: En-Chung
authors: EC
authors: Chang
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Dai
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D012925:Social Conformity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires