Mr. Potato Head fights food waste: The effect of anthropomorphism in promoting ugly food

Using regulatory focus to encourage physical distancing in services: when fear helps to deal with Mr. Deadly COVID-19

“…Third, while past research has mostly used anthropomorphism as a tool to foster pro-environmental actions (e.g. Han et al, 2019;Karpinska-Krakowiak et al, 2020;Ketron & Naletelich, 2019;Shao et al, 2020;Tam et al, 2013;Williams et al, 2015), this current study deepens and expands our holistic understanding of anthropomorphism by applying it to the health context. Importantly, prior service studies have primarily discussed the concept of anthropomorphism within the stream of service robotics and artificial intelligence (e.g.…”

“…This loss-aversion's perspective implies that people are risk-seeking when confronted with loss-framed information associated with costs and risk-averse or risk-avoidant when presented with gain-framed information associated with benefits (De Bruijn, 2018). As such, negatively framed message is more motivating than positively framed message in changing behaviors that are considered risky, such as personal health issues (Meyerowitz & Chaiken, 1987), whereas positively framed message is more motivating than negatively framed message for low-risk behaviors (O'Keefe & Jensen, 2009), such as pro-environmental Chou and Lien (2012) Using regulatory-framed advertising appeals to promote travel destinations Promotion-framed appeal is more preferred for spatially distant travel destination, prevention-framed appeal is more preferable for spatially near travel destination Daryanto et al (2009) Using regulatory focus to influence buying intention in private health insurance Promotion-focused communication is more effective for premium deductible (discount) policy, preventionfocused communication is more effective for premium copayment (cost-sharing) policy Geng et al (2018) Examining impact of regulatory focus on restaurant employee creativity Promotion focus is positively associated with creativity, prevention focus is negatively associated with creativity Wang et al (2013) Using regulatory focus to understand outcomes of customized services Prevention focus leads to more retained options in the final customized offering than promotion focus behavior Shao et al, 2020). When individuals perceive high risk related to health behaviors, they are inclined to focus on the adverse health outcomes that represent the significant unpleasant aspects of the situation (Park, 2012).…”

From Waste to Taste: How “Ugly” Labels Can Increase Purchase of Unattractive Produce

“…For example, it is possible that "ugly" labeling is perceived as original, surprising, or amusing (Eisend 2009). Likewise, "ugly" labeling may anthropomorphize unattractive produce, increasing sympathy (Koo, Oh, and Patrick 2019;Shao et al 2020). "Ugly" labeling might also enhance the perceived credibility of the seller by conveying honest information about the produce.…”

“…Recent research has started to identify factors that might increase consumers' acceptance of unattractive produce, including marketing message framing (Grewal et al 2019;Shao et al 2020;Van Giesen and De Hooge 2019), reduced pricing (Aschemann-Witzel, Giménez, and Ares 2018), and individual differences in environmental awareness (De Hooge et al 2017;Makhal et al 2020;Xu et al 2021). Most relevant to the present investigation, Grewal et al (2019) proposed that consumers devalue unattractive produce, in part because imagining eating it negatively affects how they view themselves.…”

Visual Design Cues Impacting Food Choice: A Review and Future Research Agenda

“…Aggarwal and McGill [ 194 ] and Darriet [ 195 ] also showed that attitudes can increase by using anthropomorphic factors (in ads) of ugly food by creating a connection between consumers and products helping consumers feel greater moral care and trust toward the product [ 196 ]. Also Shao et al [ 197 ] confirmed that an ad showing anthropomorphic elements could increase purchase intentions for ugly-looking potatoes. It is possible that this effect would only hold for products with predictable/symmetric appearance and not for those that have a less symmetric appearance [ 186 ], for items that you peel (e.g., tangerine) and consume as is (e.g., strawberry).…”