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This article examines brand love and brand involvement to explain the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity of a firm and brand resonance. Previous studies have only considered the loyalty dimension of the resonance model regarding the relationship between a firm’s CSR activity and brand attitudes. To have a clearer understanding of the relationship between ethicality and consumer attitudes, we consider the other aspects of customer attitudes—attitudinal attachment, sense of community, and active engagement which are encapsulated in the brand resonance model. Therefore, two studies are conducted in this research to test the hypothesized relationships using a PROCESS bootstrapping method. Results from the two studies provide evidence of the mediational role of brand love and involvement in the relationship between perceived ethicality and brand resonance. Whether a firm engages in an ethical or a philanthropic action, a sense of brand love, and involvement with the brand is evoked which subsequently affects consumers’ attitude towards the brand.

PurposeThis research investigates three major research questions. First, how does brand alliance type, defined by a partner's location and brand quality, affect consumers' emotional value perceptions of higher education brand alliances for dual-degree programs? Second, does perceived brand fit mediate the relationship between brand alliance type and emotional value perceptions? Third, do individual differences in world-mindedness moderate the influence of brand alliance type on emotional value perceptions?Design/methodology/approachIn total, two experiments are performed. Experiment one examines the effect of brand alliance type, at varying combinations of partner brand quality and partner location (domestic or foreign), on consumers' emotional value perceptions. Experiment two examines the moderating role of world-mindedness in the relationship between brand alliance type and consumers' emotional value perceptions.FindingsResults provide evidence that consumers' perception of brand fit mediates the relationship between brand alliance type and consumers' emotional value perceptions of the alliance. Results also indicate that world-mindedness moderates the relationship between brand alliance type and emotional value perceptions.Originality/valueThis research extends the previous literature on higher education dual-degree brand alliances and introduces world-mindedness as an important consumer-based characteristic to consider in this line of research. It answers calls for more research on higher education branding and calls for research into the potential mediating role and importance of brand fit. It provides several theoretical and managerial implications relevant to the higher education brand alliances, particularly in dual-degree programs.

The modern-day corporate sector implements various forms of socially responsible programs, perhaps with different motives. Nevertheless, harnessing potential support towards such initiatives from stakeholders is vital. In this regard, researchers previously uncovered that the processes of psychological reaction to the request of time and money donations are different, yet the influence of psychological distance on time and money donation behavior has not been explicitly explored. Hence, this research investigates how temporal distance and value accessibility lead to different types and sizes of donation. The findings reveal that when individuals jointly evaluate donation options, temporal distance evokes dissimilar mental processes, subsequently leading them to provide time donations (near future) or money donations (distance future). With respect to the size of the donation, temporal distance has an impact on donating money, but not on time. Notably, the self-construal level interacted with temporal distance more so than that of personality traits to bring about strong donation behavior. This interaction is more pronounced and visible in relation to money donation than to time donation. In addition, implications of this research are also considered and discussed.

Purpose This study aims to examine how brand transgression (BT) affects brand relationship quality (BRQ). Brand forgiveness (BF) and brand evangelism (BE) are tested as mediators between BT and BRQ. This study advances knowledge in consumer behavior by showing how consumers offer to deal with their relationships with brands through BE and BF. This provides relevant information to managers to seek strategies to obtain forgiveness from consumers in case the unfortunate happens. Not only must they seek to obtain forgiveness but also seek ways to ensure BE of their brands. These act as buffers for the brands in case a transgression happens. Design/methodology/approach Using a survey approach, this study tests whether forgiveness mediated the relationship between BT and BRQ. Also, whether BE mediated the relationship between BT and BRQ was examined. The test was conducted using PROCESS bootstrapping method (Model 4 of Hayes [2018]). Findings Consistent with the predictions, this study finds that, following a BT, consumers engage in BE and BF to maintain the relationship they have already established with their brands. Originality/value This study extends the existing literature by showing that after a BT, response from consumers may take different forms. The consumer’s response or the relationship with the brand may be affected by whether the consumer forgives the brand or evangelizes about the brand. Based on the cognitive dissonance theory, the results of this study imply that, forgiveness and BE act as important mechanisms in understanding consumer-brand relationships after brands act unacceptably. Further, this study contributes to the social media brand management literature by investigating a real-world BT case of social media.