A Closer Look at the Influence of Age on Consumer Ethics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1995

Department

Marketing and Fashion Merchandising

Abstract

Shoplifting is among the most serious and common aberrant consumer behaviors (ACB), yet has been largely ignored in the consumer behavior literature. This study empirically examines this topic, treating shoplifting as a behavior with ethical consequences, thus bringing together research on ACB with emerging research on ethical decision making. This research makes two important contributions to the current literature: (1) multiple age groups are considered to identify the differences between adolescents, young adults, and fully mature adults, and (2) individual difference characteristics are tested as mediators of the age-shoplifting relationship. The results support the position that adolescents are most prone to shoplifting behavior, but illustrate that this relationship is mediated by other factors.

Publication Title

Advances in Consumer Research

Volume

22

First Page

668

Last Page

673

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