B.B.A.

VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

SYLLABUS
Class: - B.B.A. VI Semester

Subject: - Consumer Behaviour

Unit-I Introduction and concept:-Introduction market strategy and consumer behaviour,
Market Analysis, consumer decision process.

Unit-II Culture and consumer behaviour: - Meaning of culture, Characteristics of culture,

function of culture. types of culture, Cross-cultural consumer analysis:- cross
cultural marketing objectives, Basic areas for cross-cultural marketing, problem in
cross cultural marketing.
Motivation and consumer behaviour: - Introduction, motives and motivation,
positive or negative motivation, Consumer motives:- personal ,social motives,
Involvement:-types of involvement, measuring involvement, values , values and
attitudes, means and end chain model.

Unit-III Perception and consumer behavior:- Introduction, of groups , advantages and

disadvantage of groups, reference group, types of reference group, social class
and consumer behavior- Introduction social class categorization, social class life
style and buying behavior, social class and market segmentation, social factors,
social class and consumer behavior.

Unit-IV Perception and consumer behaviour: - Introduction, meaning, nature, Importance

and limitation of perception, Barriers to accurate perception, Sensation,
perception of values, perception of process. Determining consumer buying
Behaviour:-Consumer purchase decision, types of decision, types of decision
behaviour, buying stage and situational influence, models of consumer behaviour-
Economic model, learning model, sociological model, Howard Sheth model of
buying.

Unit-V Attitude and consumer behaviour:- Meaning of attitude, nature and characteristics
of attitude, types of attitude, learning of attitude, sources of influence on attitude
formation, Model of attitude- Tricomponent attitude model, multiattribute attitude
model, Consumer decision making process:- Introduction, levels of consumer
decision ,consumer information processing model ,Hierarchy of effects model.

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

Unit 1
INTRODUCTION AND CONCEPT

Meaning of consumer Behaviour

Consumer behaviour is the study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select,
secure, and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these
processes have on the consumer and society. It blends elements from psychology, sociology, social
anthropology and economics. It attempts to understand the decision-making processes of buyers, both
individually and in groups. It studies characteristics of individual consumers such as demographics and
behavioural variables in an attempt to understand people's wants. It also tries to assess influences on the
consumer from groups such as family, friends, reference groups, and society in general.

"Consumer behaviour can be defined as the decision-making process and physical activity involved in
acquiring, evaluating, using and disposing of goods and services."

This definition clearly brings out that it is not just the buying of goods/services that receives attention in
consumer behaviour but, the process starts much before the goods have been acquired or bought. A process
of buying starts in the minds of the consumer, which leads to the finding of alternatives between products that
can be acquired with their relative advantages and disadvantages. This leads to internal and external
research. Then follows a process of decision-making for purchase and using the goods, and then the post
purchase behaviour which is also very important, because it gives a clue to the marketers whether his
product has been a success or not.

To understand the likes and dislikes of the consumer, extensive consumer research studies are being
conducted. These researches try to find out:
 What the consumer thinks of the company's products and those of its competitors?
 Flow can the product be improved in their opinion?
 How the customers use the product?
 What is the customer's attitude towards the product and its advertising?
 What is the role of the customer in his family?

Marketing Strategy and Consumer Behaviour

Consumer behaviour is a complex, dynamic multidimensional process, and all marketing decisions are based
on assumptions about Consumer behaviour.
Marketing strategy is the game plan which the firms must adhere to, in order to outdo the competitor or the
plans to achieve the desired objective. In formulating the marketing strategy, to sell the product effectively,
cost-benefit analysis must be undertaken. There can be many benefits of a product, for example, for owning a
motor bike one can be looking for ease of transportation, status, pleasure, comfort and feeling of ownership.
The cost is the amount of money paid for the bike, the cost of maintenance, gasoline, parking, risk of injury in
case of an accident, pollution and frustration such as traffic jams. The difference between [Ids total benefit and
total cost constitutes the customer value. The idea is to provide superior customer value and this requires the
formulation of a mark ding strategy. The entire process consists of market analysis, which leads to target
market selection and then to the formulation of strategy by juggling the product, price, promotion and
distribution, so that a total product (a set of entire characteristics) is offered. The total product creates an
image in the mind of the consumer, who undergoes a decision process which leads to the outcome in terms of
satisfaction or dissatisfaction, which reflects on the sales and image of the product or brand.

1. Marketing Strategy and consumer Behaviour Marketing Analysis

a. Consumer c. Competition
b. Company d. Condition

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

2. Marketing Segmentation
a. Identify product related needs c. Describe each group
b. Group customers with similar need d. Service
sets
3. Marketing Strategy
a. Product d. Communication
b. Price e. Service
c. Distribution
4. Consumer Decision Process
a. Problem recognition d. Purchase
b. Information search—internal. external e. Use
c. Alternative evaluation f. Evaluation
5. Outcomes
a. Customer satisfaction c. Product/Brand image
b. Sales

MARKET ANALYSIS
Market analysis requires an understanding of the 4-Cs which are consumer, conditions, competitor and the
company. A study is undertaken to provide superior customer value, which is the main objective of the
company. For providing better customer value we should learn the needs of the consumer, the offering of the
company, vis-a-vis its competitors and the environment which is economic, physical, technological, etc.
A consumer is anyone who engages himself in physical activities, of evaluating, acquiring, using or disposing
of goods and services. A customer is out who actually purchases a product or service from a particular
organization or a shop. A customer is always defined in terms of a specific product or company. However, the
term consumer 1st broader term which emphasizes not only the actual buyer or customer, but also its users
i.e. consumers. Sometimes a product is purchased by the head of the family and used by the whole family, i.e.
a refrigerator or a car. There are some consumer behaviour roles which are played by different members of
the family.
Role Description
Initiator The person who determines that some need or want is to be met (e.g. a daughter indicating
the need for a colour TV).
Influence The person or persons who intentionally or unintentionally influence the decision to buy or
endorse the view of the initiator
Buyer The person who actually makes a purchase.
User The person or persons who actually use or consume the product.

The Consumer
To understand the consumer: researches are made. Sometimes motivational research becomes handy to bring
out hidden attitudes, uncover emotions and feelings. Many firms send questionnaires to customers to ask
about their satisfaction, future needs and ideas for a new product. On the basis of the answers received
changes in the marketing mix is made and advertising is also streamlined.

The External Analysis (Company)

The external analysis may be done by the feedbacks from the industry analyst and by marketing researches.
The internal analysis is made by the firms, financial conditions, the quantum of the sales, force and other
factors within the company. The study of these factors leads to a better understanding of the consumer and
his needs.
1. Geography 4. Sex
2. Population 5. Age factor
3. Urban-Rural 6. Literacy level

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

7. Incentive level 10. Dress, food

8. Linguistic diversity 11. Habits and fashion
9. Religion

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF INDIAN CONSUMER

The Competition
In the analysis of the market, a study of the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors, their strategies,
their anticipated moves and their reaction to the company’s moves and plans is to be made. The company
after getting this information reacts accordingly and changes its marketing mix and the offering is made in a
manner which can out do the competitor. 'This is a very difficult process and it is easier said than done. To
have correct information about the competitors and to anticipate their further moves is the job of the
researcher.
The Conditions
The auditions under which the firms are operating have also to be seriously considered. The factors to be
studied are the economy, the physical environment, the government regulations, the technological
developments, etc. 'These effect the consumer needs, i.e. the deterioration of the environment and its pollution
may lead to the use and innovation of safer products. People are health conscious and are concerned with
their safety. Hence, in this case, safer products have a better chance with the consumer. In case of recession
the flow of money is restricted greatly. This leads to the formulation of different marketing strategies.
Market Segmentation
The market divided into segments which are a portion of a larger market whose needs are similar and, they
are homogenous in themselves. Such segments are identified with similar needs.
Need Set
By need set, it is meant that there are products which satisfy more than one need. An automobile can fill the
transportation needs, Status need, fun needs or time saving needs. So the company tries to identify the need
sets which its product can fulfill. Then we try to identify the groups who have similar needs. i.e., some people
need economical cars, others may go or luxury cars.
Demographic mid Psychographic Characteristics
These groups are identified and they are described in terms of their demographic and Psychographic
characteristics. The company finds out how and when the product is purchased and consumed.
Target Segment
After all the above preliminary work is done, the target customer group known as the target segment is
chosen, keeping in mind how the company can provide superior customer value at a profit. The segment
which can best be served with the company's capabilities at a profit is chosen. It has to be kept in mind that
different target segments require different it marketing strategies and, with the change in the environmental
conditions the market mix has to be adjusted accordingly.
Consumer Decision Process
The decision-making process consists of a series of steps which the consumer undergoes. First of all, the
decision is made to solve a problem of any kind. This may be the problem of creating a cool atmosphere in
your home. For this, information search is carried out, too find how the cool atmosphere can be provided, e.g.
by an air-conditioner or, by a water-cooler. This leads to the evaluation of alternatives and a cost benefit-
analysis is made to decide which product and brand image will be suitable, and can take care of the problem
suitably and adequately. Thereafter the purchase is made and the product is used by the consumer. The
constant use of the product leads to the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the consumer, which leads to repeat
purchases, or to the rejection of die product.
The marketing, strategy is successful if consumers can see a need which a company's product can solve and,
offers the best solution to the problem. For a successful strategy the marketer must lay emphasis on the
product/brand image in the consumer’s mind. Position the product according to the customers, likes and
dislikes. The brand which matches the desired image of a target market sells well. Sales are important and
sales are likely to occur if the initial consumer analysis was correct and matches the consumer decision

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

process. Satisfaction of the consumer, after the sales have been affected, is important for repeat purchase. It is
more profitable to retain existing customers, rather than looking for new ones. The figure below gives an idea
of the above discussion

Problem Recognition

Information Search

External and internal

Evaluation and selection

Store choice and purchase

Post Purchase Behaviour

Decision Process purchase

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

UNIT-II

INTRODUCTION - CULTURE AND CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR

1. The study of culture is a challenging undertaking because its primary focus is on the broadest component
of social behavior in an entire society.
2. In contrast to the psychologist, who is principally concerned with the study of individual behavior, or the
sociologist, who is concerned with the study of groups, the anthropologist is primarily interested in
identifying the very fabric of society itself.

WHAT IS CULTURE?
1. Given the broad and pervasive nature of culture, its study generally requires a detailed examination of the
character of the total society, including such factors as language, knowledge, laws, religions, food customs,
music, art, technology, work patterns, products, and other artifacts that give a society its distinctive flavor.
2. In a sense, culture is a society’s personality. For this reason, it is not easy to define its boundaries.
3. Culture is the sum total of learned beliefs, values, and customs that serve to direct the consumer behavior
of members of a particular society.
4. Beliefs consist of the very large number of mental or verbal statements that reflect a person’s particular
knowledge and assessment of something.
5. Values also are beliefs, however, values differ from other beliefs because they must meet the following
criteria:
a) They are relatively few in number.
b) They serve as a guide for culturally appropriate behavior.
c) They are enduring or difficult to change.
d) They are not tied to specific objects or situations.
e) They are widely accepted by the members of a society.
6. In a broad sense, both values and beliefs are mental images that affect a wide range of specific attitudes
that, in turn, influence the way a person is likely to respond in a specific situation.

THE INVISIBLE HAND OF CULTURE

1. The impact of culture is so natural and automatic that its influence on behavior is usually taken for
granted.
2. Often, it is only when we are exposed to people with different cultural values or customs that we become
aware of how culture has molded our own behavior.
3. Consumers both view themselves in the context of their culture and react to their environment based
upon the cultural framework that they bring to that experience. Each individual perceives the world
through his or her own cultural lens.
4. Culture can exist and sometimes reveal itself at different perceived or subjective levels.
5. Those interested in consumer behavior would be most concerned with three “levels of subjective culture:
a) Supranational level – reflects the underlying dimensions of culture that impact multiple cultures or
different societies.
b) National level factors – such as shared core values, customs, personalities, and predispositional
factors that tend to capture the essence of the “national character” of the citizens of a particular
country.
c) Group Level factors – are concerned with various subdivisions of a country or society. They might
include subcultures’ difference, and membership and reference group differences.

CULTURE SATISFIES NEEDS

1. Culture exists to satisfy the needs of people within a society.
a) It offers order, direction, and guidance in all phases of human problem solving by providing “tried
and true” methods of satisfying physiological, personal, and social needs.

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

b) Similarly, culture also provides insights as to suitable dress for specific occasions (e.g., what to wear
around the house, what to wear to school, what to wear to work, what to wear to church, what to
wear at a fast food restaurant, or a movie theater).
2. Cultural beliefs, values, and customs continue to be followed as long as they yield satisfaction.
3. In a cultural context, when a product is no longer acceptable because it’s related value or custom does not
adequately satisfy human needs, it must be modified.
4. Culture gradually evolves to meet the needs of society.

CULTURE IS LEARNED
1. At an early age we begin to acquire from our social environment a set of beliefs, values, and customs that
make up our culture.
2. For children, the learning of these acceptable cultural values and customs is reinforced by the process of
playing with their toys.
a) As children play, they act out and rehearse important cultural lessons and situations.

How Culture Is Learned

1. There are three distinct forms of learning:
a) Formal learning—adults and older siblings teach a young family member “how to behave.”
b) Informal learning—a child learns primarily by imitating the behavior of selected others.
c) Technical learning—teachers instruct the child in an educational environment as to what, how, and
why it should be done.
2. Advertising and marketing communications can influence all three types of cultural learning..
a) It most influences informal learning by providing models of behavior to imitate.
b) This is especially true for visible or conspicuous products that are evaluated in public settings,
where peer influence is likely to play an important role.
3. The repetition of advertising messages creates and reinforces cultural beliefs and values.
4. Cultural meaning moves from the culturally constituted world to consumer goods and from there to the
individual consumer by means of various consumption-related vehicles (e.g., advertising or observing or
imitating others’ behavior.)

TYPES OF CULTURE :IT CAN BE IDENTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF:

 race  age  social class
 nationality  geographic location  Etc.
 religion  gender

CROSS CULTURAL CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR

Characteristic features of a firm going global:
1. High market share in the domestic market
2. Advantageous economies of scale
3. Access to marketing/manufacturing bases across global borders
4. Availability of resources and capability to absorb huge losses
5. Product/technology clout
6. Cost and differentiation advantages

Cross-cultural marketing is defined as “the effort to determine to what extent the consumers of two or more
nations are similar or
different. This will facilitate marketers to understand the psychological, social and cultural aspects of foreign
consumers they wish to target, so
as to design effective marketing strategies for each of the specific national markets involved.”

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

Cross cultural marketing Objectives and Policies

A company can enter a foreign market as a-
 Domestic exporter
 Foreign importer
 Foreign government-solicit the firm to sell abroad

The firm’s objectives could be:

 To determine how consumers in two or more societies are similar/different and devise suitable,
appropriate strategies
 Devise individualized marketing strategy if cultural beliefs, values and customs of a specific country
are different

Basic areas to be understood for cross cultural marketing

1. Language & meaning
2. Difference in market segmentation opportunities
3. Differences in the criteria for evaluating products and services: Apparel firms in India believe that that the
quality of the fabric determines the quality of the garment whereas, the Japanese think that every aspect of
the garment from sewing to packaging decides quality.
4. Differences in consumption pattern and perceived benefits of products and services: leather exports by
India
5. Differences in the economic and cultural social condition and family structure: Social class differences have
been useful in explaining differences in consumer behaviour in relation to
(a) preferences for products and brands
(b) store patronage or shopping behaviour
(c)exposure to promotion media and
(d) savings and the use of the credit for purchasing products

Problems in Cross Cultural marketing

1. Problems related to product selection: The marketer going for cross
cultural marketing has to select the customers/market not on the basis
of the superficial similarities of age or income, but by using the real
motivating factors that prompt them to accept or reject products.
2. Problems related to promotion/marketing communication: e.g. Ariel
in the Middle East and also Pepsi.
3. Problems related to pricing: the marketer has to adjust his pricing
policies according to the local economic conditions and customs.
4. Problems related to selection of distribution channels.

Cross-Cultural Consumer Analysis

To determine whether and how to enter a foreign market, we need to
conduct some form of cross-cultural consumer analysis. Let us first
define what is cross-cultural consumer analysis and then move ahead in
knowing how to do it.
Cross-cultural consumer analysis can be defined as the effort to
determine to what extent the consumers of two or more nations are
similar or different. Such analysis can provide marketers with an
understanding of the psychological, social, and cultural characteristics of
the foreign consumers they wish to target, so that they can design
effective marketing strategies for the specific national markets involved.

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

Similarities and differences among people

A major objective of cross-cultural consumer analysis is to determine how consumers in two or more
societies are similar and how they are different. Shown in this figure:

MOTIVATION AND CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

Introduction: People are motivated by many things, some positive others not. Some motivating factors can
move people only a short time, like hunger which will last only until you are fed. Others can drive a person
onward for years.
Motivation is the driving force within individuals that impels them to action. Motivation is the activation or
energization of goal-oriented behavior. Motivation may be intrinsic or extrinsic. The term is generally used
for humans but, theoretically, it can also be used to describe the causes for animal behavior as well. According
to various theories, motivation may be rooted in the basic need to minimize physical pain and maximize
pleasure, or it may include specific needs such as eating and resting, or a desired object, hobby, goal, state of
being, ideal, or it may be attributed to less-apparent reasons such as altruism, morality, or avoiding mortality.
Needs :Needs are the essence of the marketing concept. Marketers do not create needs but can make
consumers aware of needs. A need is something that is necessary for humans to live a healthy life. Needs are
distinguished from wants because a deficiency would cause a clear negative outcome, such as dysfunction or
death. Needs can be objective and physical, such as food and water, or they can be subjective and
psychological, such as the need for self-esteem. On a societal level, needs are sometimes controversial, such as
the need for a nationalized health care system. Understanding needs and wants is an issue in the fields of
politics, social science, and philosophy.
Types of Needs

Innate Needs: Physiological (or biogenic) needs that are considered primary needs or motives
Acquired Needs: Learned in response to our culture or environment. Are generally psychological and
considered secondary needs

Goals :A goal or objective is a projected state of affairs that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve—
a personal or organizational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development. It is the sought-after
results of motivated behavior.
Types of goals:
 Generic goals: are general categories of goals that consumers see as a way to fulfill their needs
 Product-specific goals: Are specifically branded products or services that consumers select as their
goals

Positive and negative motivation:

Positive motivation is a response which includes enjoyment and optimism about the tasks that you are
involved in. Positive motivation induces people to do work in the best possible manner and to improve their
performance. Under this better facilities and rewards are provided for their better performance. Such rewards
and facilities may be financial and non-financial.
Negative motivation aims at controlling the negative efforts of the work and seeks to create a sense of fear
for the worker, which he has to suffer for lack of good performance. It is based on the concept that if a
worker fails in achieving the desired results, he should be punished. Negative motivation involves undertaking
tasks because there will be undesirable outcomes, eg. failing a subject, if tasks are not completed.

Rational versus Emotional Motives

 Rationality implies that consumers select goals based on totally objective criteria such as size,
weight, price, or miles per gallon. A conscious, logical reason for a purchase. A motive that can be
defended by reasoning or logical argument
 Emotional motives imply the selection of goals according to personal or subjective criteria. A feeling

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

experienced by a customer through association with a product.

The Dynamic Nature of Motivation

 Needs are never fully satisfied
 New needs emerge as old needs are satisfied
 People who achieve their goals set new and higher goals for themselves

Model of the Motivation Process:

The motivational process is the steps that you take to get motivated. It is a process, that when followed
produces incredible results. It is amazing what you can do if you are properly motivated, and getting properly
motivated is a matter of following the motivational process. Like any other process it takes a little work and
foresight and planning on your part. However, the return on your investment of time is significant, and it is
important when needing extra motivation that you apply the motivational process.

In the initiation a person starts feeling lacknesses. There is an arousal of need so urgent, that the bearer has
to venture in search to satisfy it. This leads to creation of tension, which urges the person to forget everything
else and cater to the aroused need first. This tension also creates drives and attitudes regarding the type of
satisfaction that is desired. This leads a person to venture into the search of information. This ultimately leads
to evaluation of alternatives where the best alternative is chosen. After choosing the alternative, an action is
taken. Because of the performance of the activity satisfaction is achieved which than relieves the tension in
the individual.

Arousal of Motives:
The arousal of any particular set of needs at a specific moment in time may be caused by internal stimuli
found in the individual’s physiological condition,by emotional or cognitive processes or by stimuli in outside
environment.
 Physiological arousal
 Emotional arousal
 Cognitive arousal
 Environmental arousal

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

1. Physiological Arousal Bodily needs at any one specific moment in time are based on the individual
physiological condition at the moment. Ex..A drop in blood sugar level or stomach contractions will
trigger awareness of a hunger need. Ex..A decrease in body temperature will induce shivering, which
makes individual aware of the need for warmth this type of thing, they arouse related needs that
cause uncomfortable tensions until they are satisfied. Ex..Medicine, low fat and diet
2. Emotional Arousal Sometime daydreaming results in the arousal (autistic thinking) or stimulation of
latent needs. People who are board or who are frustrated in trying to achieve their goals or often
engage in daydreaming, in which they imagine themselves in all sorts of desirable situations. Ex..A
young woman who may spend her free time in internet single chat room.
3. Cognitive arousal Sometime random thoughts can lead to a cognitive awareness of needs. An
advertisement that provides reminders of home might trigger instant yearning to speak with ones
parents.
4. Environment arousal The set of needs an individual experiences at particular time are often
activated by specific cues in the environment. Without these cues the needs might remain dormant.
ex. The 8’o clock news, the sight or smell of bakery goods, fast food commercials on television, all
these may arouse the need for food Ex..New cell phone model display in the store window.
Philosophies Concerned with Arousal of Motives
 Behaviorist School
o Behavior is response to stimulus
o Elements of conscious thoughts are to be ignored
o Consumer does not act, but reacts
 Cognitive School
o Behavior is directed at goal achievement
o Needs and past experiences are reasoned, categorized, and transformed into attitudes and beliefs

The Selection of Goals

The goals selected by an individual depend on their:
 Personal experiences
 Physical capacity
 Prevailing cultural norms and values
 Goal’s accessibility in the physical and social environment

Motivation theories and marketing strategy:

Abraham Maslow’s “Need Hierarchy Theory”:

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

One of the most widely mentioned theories of motivation is the hierarchy of needs theory put forth by
psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow saw human needs in the form of a hierarchy, ascending from the
lowest to the highest, and he concluded that when one set of needs is satisfied, this kind of need ceases to be a
motivator.

As per his theory this needs are:

(i) Physiological needs: These are important needs for sustaining the human life. Food, water, warmth,
shelter, sleep, medicine and education are the basic physiological needs which fall in the primary list of need
satisfaction. Maslow was of an opinion that until these needs were satisfied to a degree to maintain life, no
other motivating factors can work.
(ii) Security or Safety needs: These are the needs to be free of physical danger and of the fear of losing a job,
property, food or shelter. It also includes protection against any emotional harm.
(iii) Social needs: Since people are social beings, they need to belong and be accepted by others. People try to
satisfy their need for affection, acceptance and friendship.
(iv) Esteem needs: According to Maslow, once people begin to satisfy their need to belong, they tend to want
to be held in esteem both by themselves and by others. This kind of need produces such satisfaction as
power, prestige status and self-confidence. It includes both internal esteem factors like self-respect, autonomy
and achievements and external esteem factors such as states, recognition and attention.
(v) Need for self-actualization : Maslow regards this as the highest need in his hierarchy. It is the drive to
become what one is capable of becoming, it includes growth, achieving one’s potential and self-fulfillment. It
is to maximize one’s potential and to accomplish something.
As each of these needs are substantially satisfied, the next need becomes dominant. From the standpoint of
motivation, the theory would say that although no need is ever fully gratified, a substantially satisfied need no
longer motivates. So if you want to motivate someone, you need to understand what level of the hierarchy that
person is on and focus on satisfying those needs or needs above that level.

Maslow’s need theory has received wide recognition, particularly among practicing managers. This can be
attributed to the theory’s intuitive logic and ease of understanding. However, research does not validate these
theory. Maslow provided no empirical evidence and other several studies that sought to validate the theory
found no support for it.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in marketing (application)

To help with training of Maslow's theory look for Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs motivators in advertising. This
is a great basis for Maslow and motivation training exercises:
Biological and Physiological needs - wife/child-abuse help-lines, social security benefits, Samaritans,
roadside recovery.
Safety needs - home security products (alarms, etc), house an contents insurance, life assurance, schools.
Belongingness and Love needs - dating and match-making services, chat-lines, clubs and membership
societies, Macdonalds, 'family' themes.
Esteem needs - cosmetics, fast cars, home improvements, furniture, fashion clothes, drinks, lifestyle products
and services.
Self-Actualization needs - Open University, and that's about it; little else in mainstream media because only
2% of population are self-actualizers, so they don't constitute a very big part of the mainstream market.

McGuire’s Classification of Motives

Active Passive
(Proactive) (Reactive)

Cognitive Preservation 1. Consistency 2. Attribution 3. 4.

(Thinking) Categorisation Objectification

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

Growth 5. Autonomy 6. Stimulation 7. Matching 8. Utilitarian

Affective Preservation 9. Tension Reduction 10. Self 11. Ego 12.

(Feeling) expression Defence Reinforcement
Growth 13. Assertion 14. Affiliation 15. 16. Modeling
Identification

Discovering purchase motives

Buying motives determine two things:
 what consumers want to do, and
 how much they want to do it.

To market successfully, purchase motives

 First have to be directed towards your goods, not someone else's.
 Second, the drive has to be strong enough so that people will act on it; they have to be willing to pay
the price in terms of dollars, time, and effort.

Latent and Manifest Motives

Marketing Strategies Based on Motivation Conflict

With (he many motives consumers have and the many situations in which these motives are activated, (here
are frequent conflicts between motives. The resolution of a motivational conflict often affects consumption
patterns. In many instances, the marketer can analyze situations that are likely to result in a motivational con

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

flict, provide a solution to the conflict, and attract the patronage of those consumers facing the motivational
conflict. There arc three lypes of motivational conflict of importance to marketing managers:
· Approach-Approach Conflict
· Approach-Avoidance Conflict
· Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict

Approach-Approach Motivational Conflict A consumer who must choose between two attractive al
ternatives faces approach-approach conflict. The more equal this attraction, the greater the conflict. A con
sumer who recently received a large cash gift for graduation (situational variable) might be ton) between a
trip to Hawaii (perhaps powered by a need for stimulation) and a new mountain bike (perhaps driven by the
need for assertion). This conflict could be resolved by a timely advertisement designed lo encourage one or
the other action. Or a price modification, such as "buy now, pay later." could result in a resolution whereby
both alternatives are selected.

Approach-Avoidance Motivational Conflict A consumer facing a purchase choice with both positive and
negative consequences confronts approach-avoidance conflict. A person who is concerned about gain ing
weight yet likes snack foods faces this type of problem. He or she may want the taste and emotional
satisfaction associated with the snacks (approach) but does not want to gain weight (avoidance). The
development of lower-caloric snack foods reduces this conflict and allows the weight-sensitive consumer to
enjoy snacks and also control calorie intake.

Avoidance-Avoidance Motivational Conflict A choice involving only undesirable outcomes produces

avoidance-avoidance conflict. When a consumer's old washing machine fails, this conflict may occur. The
person may not want to spend money on a new washing machine, or pay to have the old one repaired, or go
without one. The availability of credit is one way of reducing this motivational conflict. Advertisements
emphasizing the importance of regular maintenance for cars, such as oil tiller changes, also use this type of
motive conflict: "Pay me now. or pay me (more) later."

Frustration:
Failure to achieve a goal often result in feeling of frustration (inability to attain goal-frustration comes) --
Limited physical or Financial resources. --Obstacle in the physical or social environment such frustration
people are likely to adopt a defense mechanism to protect their egos from feelings of inadequacy.

Defense Mechanism: Methods by which people mentally redefine frustrating situations to protect their self-
images and their self-esteem
1. Aggression (attracting) may react with anger towards his/her boss for not getting enough money for
one trip so frustrated consumers have boycotted manufacturers in an effort to improve product
quality and have boycotted retailers in an effort to have price lowered.
2. Rationalization (Convince themselves)They may decide that goal is not really worth (reasoning for
being unable to attain their goals)
3. Regression—People react to frustrating situations with childish or immature behavior
4. Withdrawal—withdrawing from the situation. Ex..Person who has difficulty achieving officer status in
an organisation may simply quit the organisation or he may decide he can use his time more
constructively in other activities.
5. Projection—An individual may projecting blame for his/her own failure and inabilities on other
objects or persons. Ex..the driver who has an automobile accident may blame the other driver or the
condition of the road Ex..cricket player blame the ground / climate.
6. Autism or Autism thinking Day dream that enables the Individual to attain unfulfilled needs (
dreaming / thinking emotionally / romantically).

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B.B.A. VI Semester Subject: Consumer Behaviour

7. Identification Sometime people feel frustration by subconsciously identifying with other persons or
situation that they consider relevant.Ex.. Mouth wash, shampoo, soap..to attract opposite sex
8. Repression– Another way that individuals avoid the tension arising from frustration is by repressing
the unsatisfied need Ex..A couple who cannot have children may surround themselves with plants or
pets .

TYPES OF CONSUMER BUYING MOTIVES

CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT MODEL

Consumer involvement affects the ways in which consumers seek, process, and transmit information, make
purchase decisions and make post-purchase evaluation. As the level of consumer involvement increases, the
consumer has greater motivation to gather, comprehend, elaborate and assimilate on information. A marketer
needs to design his marketing mix in a manner that he can activate the involvement process to his favor, and
marketing communication has a key role to play. A few models have been proposed that are based on
consumer involvement; these are discussed below.

The Low-Involvement Learning Model: Marketing communication through audio visual media, i.e. TV and
radio follows this principle. Through the advertisement, the marketer educates the consumers about his
product offering and the brand; this may be a new product or a modified version of an existing product; he
tries to create awareness and form beliefs about the brand.

The Learn-Feel-Do Hierarchy Model :With implications for marketing communication, the learn-feel-do-
hierarchy model, was proposed by Vaughn and his colleagues in the 1980’s at Foote, Cone and Belding; thus, it
also acme to be known as the FCB Matrix,. According to the model, some purchases are backed by a lot of
cognition and thinking, while others are based on feelings and emotions. The combination of these reference
points produces a strategy matrix. The marketer has to choose appropriate strategies for different kinds of
product/service offerings. He needs to analyze the nature of his product, and design his promotion strategy
accordingly; the advertising medium should relate to the product category.

The Level of Message Processing Model :The level of involvement has an impact on the information
gathering and processing. Based on this premise, the level of message processing model states that a
consumer’s attention to advertising is influenced by varying levels of involvement, and runs across

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preattention, focal attention, comprehension, and elaboration. Each of these levels is indicative of different
level of message processing, and is explained as follows:
a) Preattention: This level of involvement requires only a limited processing and, thus the desire is just to
gain some amount of familiarity;
b) Focal attention: A degree greater than the first stage, here the consumer concentrates on the message
source and context, and becomes receptive to basic information like product/brand name and usage.
c) Comprehension: At this level, the consumer focuses on the message content and tries to understand it in
terms of features, attributes, benefits, price, availability etc.
d) Elaboration: During this highest stage of involvement, the consumer integrates the message into his
memory, forms beliefs and either adds to or modifies the information that already exists in his memory.
The Product versus Brand Involvement Model :According to the model, consumers can be classified into
four types according to their involvement with the product/service category and with the brand. These
categories are as follows: Brand loyalists, Information seekers, Routine brand buyers and, Brand switchers.
The model could hold relevance when involvement is used as a segmentation criteria.

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