The impact of atmospheric cues on consumers’ approach and avoidance behavioral intentions in social commerce websites

Jian Tang, Ping Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Approach and avoidance are typical behavioral tendencies of consumers when exposed to a new environment. Drawing on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework, this study investigates the effects of atmospheric cues on consumers' approach and avoidance intentions in social commerce environments. We elucidate the interaction mechanisms between atmospheric cues (task, aesthetic and social cues) and consumers' evaluations through the lens of perceived affordances. Then we investigate how three types of perceived affordances (utilitarian, hedonic and connective) influence consumers’ approach and avoidance behavioral intentions. A three-way factorial experiment provides strong evidence that task cues, aesthetic cues and social cues elicit perceived utilitarian, hedonic and connective affordances, respectively. Approach behavioral intentions were affected by all three types of perceived affordances, yet avoidance intentions were only affected by perceived utilitarian and hedonic affordances. This paper discusses both theoretical and practical implications for social commerce research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number105729
JournalComputers in Human Behavior
Volume108
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020

Keywords

  • Approach
  • Atmospheric cues
  • Avoidance
  • Environmental psychology
  • Perceived affordances
  • S-O-R framework
  • Social commerce

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • General Psychology

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