Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books Saylor.org
- Openness. How open you are to new experiences.
- Conscientiousness. How diligent you are.
- Extraversion. How outgoing or shy you are.
- Agreeableness. How easy you are to get along with.
- Neuroticism. How prone you are to negative mental states.
The question marketing professionals want answered is do the traits predict people’s purchasing
behavior? Can companies successfully target certain products at people based on their personalities? And
how do you find out what personalities they have? Are the extraverts you know wild spenders and the
introverts you know penny pinchers? Maybe not.
The link between people’s personalities and their buying behavior is somewhat unclear, but market
researchers continue to study it. For example, some studies have shown that “sensation seekers,” or
people who exhibit extremely high levels of openness, are more likely to respond well to advertising that’s
violent and graphic. The practical problem for firms is figuring out “who’s who” in terms of their
personalities.
The Consumer’s Self-Concept
Marketers have had better luck linking people’s self-concept to their buying behavior. Your self-
concept is how you see yourself—be it positive or negative. Your ideal self is how you would like to see
yourself—whether it’s prettier, more popular, more eco-conscious, or more “goth.”
Marketing researchers believe people buy products to enhance how they feel about themselves—to get
themselves closer to their ideal selves, in other words. The slogan “Be All That You Can Be,” which for
years was used by the U.S. Army to recruit soldiers, is an attempt to appeal to the self-concept.
Presumably, by joining the U.S. Army, you will become a better version of yourself, which will, in turn,
improve your life. Many beauty products and cosmetic procedures are advertised in a way that’s supposed
to appeal to the ideal selves people are searching for. All of us want products that improve our lives.