Skip to main content
Log in

Towards a Holistic Approach of the Attitude Behaviour Gap in Ethical Consumer Behaviours: Empirical Evidence from Spain

  • Published:
International Advances in Economic Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper explores alternative understandings of the attitude behavior gap, a well documented phenomenon, both in ethical consumer behavior and social research in general. A multi-method, qualitative approach is adopted, aiming at greater internal validity of data. The findings broaden current knowledge on the attitude behavior gap, showing how ethically minded consumers rationalize their inconsistent behavior. The last section of the paper integrates existing knowledge on the attitude behavior gap with the empirical findings of the present study into a conceptual model. Relevant implications for marketers are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. We have underlined the new concepts that are based solely on the empirical findings of the present study. For concepts that have emerged before in the literature and are further confirmed by our findings, we place an asterisk besides the respective construct.

References

  • Ahluwalia, R., Burnkrant, R., & Unnava, H. R. (2000). Consumer response to negative publicity: the moderating role of commitment. Journal of Marketing Research, 37(2), 203–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Auger, P., Devinney T., & Louviere J. (2004). Consumer social beliefs: An international investigation using best-worst scaling methodology. Working Paper, Melbourne Business School.

  • Bekin, C., Carrigan, M., & Szmigin, I. (2007). Beyond recycling: commons-friendly waste reduction at new consumption communities. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 6, 271–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berry, H., & Mc Eachern, M. (2005). Informing ethical consumers. In R. Harrison, T. Newholm, & D. Shaw (Eds.), The ethical consumer. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhate, S. (2001). One world, one environment, one vision: are we close to achieving this? An exploratory study of consumer environmental behaviour across three countries. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 2(2), 169–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boulstridge, E., & Carrigan, M. (2000). Do consumers really care about corporate responsibility? Highlighting the attitude-behaviour gap. Journal of Communication Management, 4(4), 355–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, L., Shaw, D., & Shiu, E. (2008). The impact of ethical concerns on family consumer decision-making. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 32, 553–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrigan, M., & Attalla, A. (2001). The myth of the ethical consumer-do ethics matter in purchase behaviour? Journal of Consumer Marketing, 18(7), 560–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrigan, M., Szmigin, I., & Wright, J. (2004). Shopping for a better world? An interpretive study of the potential for ethical consumption within the older market. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 21(6), 401–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatzidakis, A., Hibbert, S., & Smith, A. (2007). Why people don’t take their concerns about fair trade to the supermarket: the role of neutralisation. Journal of Business Ethics, 74(1), 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherrier, H. (2007). Ethical consumption practices: co-production of self-expression and social recognition. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 6(5), 321–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowe, R., & Williams, S. (2000). Who are the ethical consumers? UK: Cooperative Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creyer, E., & Ross, W. (1997). The influence of firm behaviour on purchase intention: do consumers really care about business ethics? Journal of Consumer Marketing, 14(6), 421–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Pelsmacker, P., Janssens, W., Sterckx, E., & Mielants, C. (2005). Consumer preferences for the marketing of ethically labelled coffee. International Marketing Review, 22(5), 512–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devinney, T., Eckhardt, D., & Belk, R. (2006). Why don’t consumers behave ethically? The social construction of consumption. Working Paper, Australian Graduate School of Management.

  • Dragon International. (1992). Corporate reputation: Does the consumer care? London: Dragon International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ethical Consumerism Report. (2008). The UK ethical consumerism report. UK: Cooperative Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Kranz, D., & Merino-Castello, A. (2005). ¿Existe disponibilidad a pagar por responsabilidad social corporativa? Percepción de los consumidores’. Universia Business Review, 7, 38–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkes, V., & Kamins, M. (1999). Effects of information about firms ethical and unethical actions on consumers attitudes. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 8(3), 243–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freestone, O., & McGoldrick, P. (2008). Motivations of the ethical consumer. Journal of Business Ethics, 79(4), 445–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunter, B., & Furnham, A. (1999). Children as consumers: A psychological analysis of the young people’s market. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, R., Skinner, S., & Taylor, V. (2005). Consumers’ evaluation of unethical marketing behaviors: the role of customer commitment. Journal of Business Ethics, 62(3), 237–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Low, W., & Davenport, E. (2007). To boldly go…exploring ethical spaces to re-politicise ethical consumption and fair trade. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 6(5), 336–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, L. A., & Webb, D. J. (2005). The effects of corporate social responsibility and price on consumer responses. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 39(1), 121–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, L. A., Webb, D. J., & Harris, K. E. (2001). Do consumers expect companies to be socially responsible? The impact of corporate social responsibility on buying behaviour. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 35(1), 45–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newholm, T. (2005). Case studying ethical consumers’ projects and strategies. In R. Harrison, T. Newholm, & D. Shaw (Eds.), The ethical consumer. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newholm, T., & Shaw, D. (2007). Studying the ethical consumer: a review of research. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 6(5), 253–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, S., & Bhattacharya, C. B. (2001). Does doing good always lead to doing better? Consumer reactions to corporate social responsibility. Journal of Marketing Research, 38(2), 225–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, D., & Clarke, I. (1999). Belief formation in ethical consumer groups: an exploratory study. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 17(2), 109–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, D., & Shiu, E. (2003). Ethics in consumer choice: a multivariate modelling approach. European Journal of Marketing, 37(10), 1485–1498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, D., Grehan, E., Shiu, E., Hassan, L., & Thomson, J. (2005). An exploration of values in ethical consumer decision making. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 4(3), 185–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheeran, P. (2002). Intention-behavior relations: a conceptual and empirical review. European Review of Social Psychology, 12(1), 1–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo, O., & Oksanen, R. (2004). Ethical consumerism: a view from Finland. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 28(3), 214–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eleni Papaoikonomou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Papaoikonomou, E., Ryan, G. & Ginieis, M. Towards a Holistic Approach of the Attitude Behaviour Gap in Ethical Consumer Behaviours: Empirical Evidence from Spain. Int Adv Econ Res 17, 77–88 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-010-9288-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-010-9288-6

Keywords

JEL

Navigation