← Search

When Busy Is Less Indulging: Impact of Busy Mindset on Self-Control Behaviors

Jeehye Christine Kim1; Monica Wadhwa2; Amitava Chattopadhyay3

1 Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong · 2 Fox School of Business, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States · 3 GlaxoSmithKlein Chaired Professor of Corporate Innovation and Professor of Marketing, INSEAD, 1 Ayer Rajah Avenue, Singapore

Journal of Consumer Research 2019

AbstractAn increasing number of consumers, in recent times, have reported feeling busier than ever. The current research examines how the subjective perception of busyness—which is referred to as a busy mindset in the current research —impacts consumers’ decision-making. Building on different streams of research in sociology and self-view, the current research proposes that a busy mindset bolsters people’s sense of self-importance, which, in turn, can increase self-control. Thus, a busy mindset is predicted to facilitate people’s ability to exert self-control. Seven studies, including a field study, provide support for this busy mindset hypothesis across various self-control domains. Findings from these studies provide support for the underlying process related to self-importance in multiple ways, while also addressing alternative accounts related to stress and the desire for productivity. Finally, findings from the current research delineate important managerially relevant boundary conditions for the proposed busy mindset effect.

DOI
10.1093/jcr/ucy069
Volume
45 (5)
Pages
933-952
Language
en
Export
BibTeX
Sources
crossref