Abstract
Recently developed normative versus informative interpersonal influence scales were modified and extended to explore interpersonal influences in teen apparel shopping. Three major influence sources were considered—peers, parents, and the media. Major findings indicated that teens receive significantly more parental influences during special shopping than ordinary shopping; parent- and media-informative influences exceed almost all others whereas media-normative influence is dominated by almost all other influences. These findings suggest that advertisers and marketers could avoid targeting teens with normative messages, since they are more likely to reach teens through informative messages specifically directed at their parents. Teen age, gender, family size, and gift money to teens were found to significantly affect the level and type of teen apparel shopping influences.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bearden, William O., Richard G. Netemeyer, and Jesse E. Teel. 1989. “Measurement of Consumer Susceptibility to Interpersonal Influence.”Journal of Consumer Research 15 (March): 473–482.
Bearden, William O. and Rose L. Randall. 1990. “Attention to Social Comparison Information: An Individual Difference Factor Affecting Consumer Conformity.”Journal of Consumer Research 16 (March): 461–471.
Bodec, Ben. 1981. “Marketing Paradox: Fewer Teens, More Spending.”Marketing and Media Decisions 16 (April): 76–78, 116–118.
Brittain, Clay V. 1963. “Adolescent Choices and Parent-Peer Cross Pressures.”American Sociological Review 28 (June): 385–391.
Burnkrant, Robert E. and Alain Cousineau. 1975. “Informational and Normative Social Influence in Buyer Behavior.”Journal of Consumer Research 2 (December): 206–215.
Churchill, Gilbert A., Jr. and George P. Moschis. 1979. “Television and Interpersonal Influences on Adolescent Consumer Learning.”Journal of Consumer Research 6 (June): 23–35.
Churchill, Gilbert A., Jr. and J. Paul Peter. 1986. “Relationships among Research Design Choices and Psychometric Properties of Rating Scales: A Meta-analysis.”Journal of Marketing Research 23 (February): 1–11.
Gatignon, Hubert and Thomas S. Robertson. 1985. “A Propositional Inventory of New Diffusion Research.”Journal of Consumer Research 11 (March): 849–868.
Graham, Lawrence and Lawrence Hamdan. 1988. “Youth Trends: Capturing the $200 Billion Youth Market.”Children Today 17 (March–April): 29–31.
Grossbart, Sanford, Les Carlson, and Ann Walsh. 1991. “Consumer Socialization and Frequency of Shopping with Children.”Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 19 (Summer): 155–164.
Hall, Carol. 1987. “Teen Power: Youth’s Middle Tier Comes of Age.”Marketing and Media Decisions 22 (October): 56–62.
Hamilton, Janice and Jessie Warden. 1966. “Student’s Role in a High School Community and His Clothing Behavior.”Journal of Home Economics 58 (December): 789–791.
Hurt, Mary Lee. 1961.Teenagers and Their Money. Washington, DC: National Education Association.
McNeal, James U. 1987.Children as Consumers. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
Mahajan, Vijay, Eitan Muller, and Roger A. Kerin. 1984. “Introduction Strategies for New Products with Positive and Negative Word-of-Mouth.”Management Science 30 (December): 1389–1404.
Moore, Roy L. and George P. Moschis. 1981. “The Effects of Family Communications and Mass Media Use on Adolescent Consumer Learning.”Journal of Communication 31 (Fall): 42–51.
Moschis, George P. 1985. “The Role of Family Communication in Consumer Socialization of Children and Adolescents.”Journal of Consumer Research 11 (March): 898–913.
Moschis, George P. and Gilbert A. Churchill, Jr. 1978. “Consumer Socialization: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis.”Journal of Marketing Research 15 (November): 599–609.
Moschis, George P. and Roy L. Moore. 1979. “Decision Making Among the Young: A Socialization Perspective.”Journal of Consumer Research 6 (September): 101–112.
Moschis, George P., Roy L. Moore, and Lowndes F. Stephens. 1977. “Purchasing Patterns of Adolescent Consumers.”Journal of Retailing 53 (Spring): 17–26, 92.
Nunnally, Jum C. 1978.Psychometric Theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Psathas, George. 1957. “Ethnicity, Social Class and Adolescent Independence from Parental Control.”American Sociological Review 22 (August): 415–423.
Robertson, Thomas S. 1979. “Parental Mediation of Television Advertising Effects.”Journal of Communication 29 (Winter): 12–25.
Stern, L. Aimee. 1985. “Companies Target Big-spending Teens.”Dun’s Business Month 125 (March): 48–52.
Sternthal, Brian, Lynn W. Phillips, and Ruby Dholakia. 1978. “The Persuasive Effect of Source Credibility: A Situational Analysis.”Public Opinion Quarterly 42 (Fall): 285–314.
Ward, Scott. 1980. “Consumer Socialization.” InPerspectives in Consumer Behavior. Eds. Harold H. Kassarjian and Thomas S. Robertson. Glenville, IL: Scott Foresman, 380–396.
Ward, Scott and Daniel B. Wackman. 1973.Effects of Television Advertising on Consumer Socialization. Cambridge, MA: Marketing Science Institute.
Ward, Scott, Daniel B. Wackman, and Ellen Wartella. 1977.How Children Learn to Buy; The Development of Consumer Information Processing Skills. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Zollo, Peter. 1989. “Teens Believe in American Dream: Are Bigger Spenders than Ever.” Northbrook, IL: Teenage Research Limited.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
He is also the founding Director of the Kellstadt Consumer Research Center, University of Detroit Mercy. His doctoral work has been published by Arno Publications, New York, under the titleTowards Measuring Technological Impact of Multinational Technology Transfers to Developing Countries. His recent books includeWasteland Management (Nataraj Publishers, 1982) andNew Product Development: Its Marketing Research and Development (Oxford, 1987). He has published in theJournal of Academy of Marketing Science and theJournal of Consumer Affairs, as well as various conference proceedings. His research interests are marketing ethics, marketing research philosophical orientations, and consumer behavior. Currently he is engaged in a major project related to teenage shopping behavior.
She has published inInformation and Management and theJournal of Midwest Marketing, as well as various conference proceedings. Her current research interests are in the areas of consumer behavior, channel strategy, and marketing strategy. She is currently involved in research on teen shopping behavior.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mascarenhas, O.A.J., Higby, M.A. Peer, parent, and media influences in teen apparel shopping. JAMS 21, 53–58 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1177/0092070393211007
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0092070393211007