Preferences for Specific Identity-based Message Type under A Chinese Cultural Background

The current research aims to explore which type of identity-based message can be more persuasive for Chinese consumers to form positive restaurant brand attitude based on their cultural orientation, and to examine the roles of brand objective relevance and psychological power state in the persuasive process. The study employs a 2(identity expression focus: warmth vs. competence) × 2(message description manner: identity-defining vs. identity-referencing) × 2(experienced power state: high vs. low) between-subjects design, and conducts an online survey where 240 Chinese participants in total has responded to the questionnaires. SPSS and AMOS programs have been used to examine the hypotheses. The findings suggest that, first, the warmth-focused messages (identity-defining messages) more positively affected Chinese consumers' object relevance than the competence-focused messages (identity-referencing messages); Second, high power-experienced Chinese consumers rather than low power consumers tend to perceive more object relevance at the warmth self-defining messages; Third, brand object relevance revealed a mediation effect in the process of the warmth-focused messages (identity-defining messages) affecting brand attitude. This research offers new insight into the relationships between consumers' cultural orientation, understandings of power, and identity-based consumer behavior, suggesting marketers should take those social influences and consumer diversities into account when developing the message to persuade consumers.