본 연구는 Brenner et al.(2007)이 제안한 소유손실회피 개념의 적용이 제품유형(향상제품 vs. 방어제품)에 따라 달라지는지를 살펴보기 위해서 (1)각 제품유형 마다 방어적 속성 간 상쇄가 발생하는 현상프레이밍 의사결정문제에서 소비자의 선택 경향을 살펴보고, (2)손실회피와 후회회피 개념이 적용될 수 있는 조절요인들(정당화, 방어초점)을 파악하여 그 방향성을 제안하였다. 본 연구에서는 구체적으로 다음과 같은 가설들이 설정되었다. 우선, 향상제품에서 방어적 속성 간 상쇄가 발생하는 현상프레이밍 의사결정문제가 소비자에게 제시되면 방어적 속성은 향상제품에서 활성화되는 향상적 동기와 대조되어 제품 대안들이 제공하는 부정적인 면을 더욱 두드러지게 보여줄 것이다. 따라서 소유손실회피 개념에 의해 현상유지편향과 역전되는 소비자의 선택 경향이 나타날 것이다(가설 1-1). 또한 제품 대안의 선택 결정을 정당화하는 이유제시를 요구받은 소비자는 이유제시를 요구받지 않은 소비자에 비해서 유의성 손실회피가 더 강하게 발생하므로 현상유지편향과 역전되는 소비자의 선택 경향이 약화되어 사라질 것이다(가설 1-2). 그리고 예열방법에 의해 방어초점이 더 강하게 형성된 소비자는 그렇지 않은 소비자에 비해서 유의성 손실회피와 후회회피가 더 강하게 발생하므로 현상유지편향과 역전되는 소비자의 선택 경향이 약화되어 사라질 것이다(가설 1-3). 한편, 방어제품에서 방어적 속성 간 상쇄가 발생하는 현상프레이밍 의사결정문제가 소비자에게 제시되면 방어제품에서 활성화되는 방어적 동기와 일치하는 방어적 속성이 오히려 긍정적인 편익으로 해석될 수 있으므로 향상제품과는 달리 소비자의 선택 경향은 현상유지편향으로 나타날 것이다(가설 2-1). 또한 방어제품에서도 제품 대안의 선택 결정을 정당화하는 이유를 제시하라고 요구받은 소비자는 이유제시를 요구받지 않은 소비자에 비해 손실회피가 더 강하게 발생하므로 더 강한 현상유지편향을 보여줄 것이다(가설 2-2). 그리고 예열방법을 사용하여 방어초점이 더 강하게 형성된 소비자는 그렇지 않은 소비자에 비해서 손실회피와 후회회피가 더 강하게 발생하므로 현상유지편향이 더 강하게 나타날 것이다(가설 2-3). 가설 검증을 위해 두 차례의 실험이 진행되었으며, 구체적으로 실험 1에서는 향상제품인 레스토랑을 실험제품으로 사용하여 분석하였고 가설 1-1, 1-2, 1-3이 모두 지지되었음을 확인하였다. 실험 2에서는 방어제품인 구강청정제를 실험제품으로 사용하여 분석한 결과, 가설 2-1은 통계적으로 유의하지 않아 지지되지 않았다. 그러나 가설 2-3은 지지되었고 가설 2-2도 약하게나마 지지되었다. 마지막으로 본 연구결과가 제시하는 이론적·관리적 시사점을 제안하고, 연구의 한계와 미래 연구방향에 대해서도 논의하였다.
Consumers often must choose between a course of action that preserves the status quo and a course of action that is a departure from the status quo. Previous research has shown that individuals have a tendency to overweight the status quo, thus displaying an exaggerated preference for the current state of affairs (Samuelson and Zeckhauser 1988). The status quo bias has traditionally been attributed to loss aversion that losses tend to be exaggerated relative to corresponding gains (Kahnemann, Knetsch, and Thaler 1991). Brenner, Rottenstreich, Sood, and Bilgin (2007) have proposed a distinction between two types of loss aversion (or loss exaggeration) defined by two interpretations of loss: one focusing on valence asymmetries (VLA), and one focusing on possession asymmetries (PLA). According to valence loss aversion (VLA), valence losses are accentuated relative to corresponding valence gains: negative changes loom larger than positive changes. According to possession loss aversion (PLA), in contrast, possession losses are accentuated relative to corresponding possession gains; PLA states that transitions of items out of one`s possession are exaggerated relative to transitions into one`s possession: departures loom larger than arrivals. Crucially, PLA implies that possession losses are exaggerated regardless of their valence. As proposed in Brenner et al.`s (2007) study, both types of loss aversion imply an endowment effect for choices between goods (e.g., attractive items). However, for choices between bads (i.e., unattractive items), VLA pushes for staying with the possessed option, whereas PLA pushes for switching away from the possessed option (i.e., a reversal of the endowment effect). In a demonstration of the endowment effect and a reversal of the endowment effect implied by VLA and PLA, respectively, Brenner et al. (2007) have shown that in the case of the positively framed jobs, the negative aspects of giving up vacation days (or salary) are exaggerated and, hence, encourage a tendency to stay with the original job; conversely, in the case of the negatively framed jobs, the positive aspects of giving up weekend work (or the long commute) are exaggerated and, hence, encourage a tendency to switch. Moreover, when consumers are asked to justify their choices, they elaborate on possible reasons for them by processing available information particularly carefully (Lerner and Tetlock 1999), and they form an emotional attachment to the endowed object after such careful deliberation (Carmon, Wertenbroch, and Zeelenberg 2003). Thus, justification is expected to lead to a relatively greater degree of loss aversion (VLA). Furthermore, goal orientation influences consumers` sensitivity to gains and losses, such that prevention-focused consumers are more sensitive to potential losses (i.e., valence losses) while promotion-focused consumers are more sensitive to potential gains (Brendl, Higgins, and Lemm 1995). Thus, prevention-focused consumers are more likely to choose the status quo option due to VLA. Also, since anticipation of regret is likely to be affected by the goal orientation and more pronounced for prevention-focused individuals (Bell 1982; Ritov and Baron 1995; Simonson 1992), the preference for the status quo associated with regret aversion is likely to be a function of goal orientation as well (Chernev 2004). Thus, prevention focus is expected to induce a greater degree of loss aversion and regret aversion. Drawing on prior theories presented above, this research investigates the factors (i.e., justification, prevention focus) moderating the status quo bias by using the status quo framing decisions which can be manipulated as the choices between two options differing on negative dimensions and applying PLA suggested by Brenner et al. (2007) to the status quo framing decisions. In this research, the status quo framing decisions involve trade-offs between two prevention attributes. Specifically, our predictions are as follows: First, status quo framing decisions between two promotion-type products (i.e., products that consumers associate with a promotion concern) are likely to make the negative outcomes of the prevention attributes more salient because products associated with a promotion focus contrast well with the prevention attributes of the options. Hence, PLA suggested by Brenner et al. (2007) predicts a reversal of the status quo bias for promotion-type products (Hypothesis 1-1). And it is expected that a reversal of the status quo bias for promotion-type products will be more likely to be attenuated or eliminated when asked to provide reasons for their choice than when not asked to do so because justification increases VLA (Hypothesis 1-2). Furthermore, it is also predicted that a reversal of the status quo bias for promotion-type products will be more likely to be attenuated or eliminated when participants are prevention-focused by a priming method than when not prevention-focused because priming prevention (vs. promotion) orientation increases VLA as well as regret aversion (Hypothesis 1-3). We conduct Experiment 1 to test Hypotheses 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. In Experiment 1, we select a restaurant as a promotion-type product because consumers` main concerns when purchasing a dinner at a fine restaurant would be to achieve or maximize some positive outcomes (e.g., pleasure). As prevention attributes of a restaurant, the length of time to wait to be seated and prompt order fulfillment are chosen. The experimental results support Hypotheses 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. Second, status quo framing decisions between two prevention-type products (i.e., products that consumers associate with a prevention concern) are likely to make the positive benefits of the prevention attributes more salient because products associated with a prevention focus are well compatible with the prevention attributes of the options. Unlike promotion-type products, therefore, loss aversion and regret aversion imply the status quo bias for prevention-type products (Hypothesis 2-1). And, it is expected that the status quo bias for prevention-type products will be more likely to be accentuated when asked to provide reasons for their choice than when not asked to do so because justification increases loss aversion (Hypothesis 2-2). Furthermore, it is predicted that status quo bias for prevention-type products will be more likely to be accentuated when participants are prevention-focused by a priming method than when not prevention-focused because priming prevention (vs. promotion) orientation increases loss aversion as well as regret aversion (Hypothesis 2-3). To test Hypotheses 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3, we conduct Experiment 2. In Experiment 2, we select a mouthwash as a prevention-type product because consumers` main concerns when buying mouthwash would be to avoid or minimize some negative outcomes (e.g., bad breath). As prevention attributes of a mouthwash, antibacterial effect and cavity prevention are suggested. The results of experiment 2 support Hypothesis 2-3 and weakly support Hypothesis 2-2, whereas those do not support Hypothesis 2-1. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed, followed by the limitations and avenues for further research.