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Although consumers often value minimalist aesthetics, little work has examined why and when simple packaging designs of consumable products enhance consumer outcomes. The authors theorize that simple packaging evokes a symbolic association whereby minimizing design complexity signals that the product contains few ingredients, which increases perceived product purity and willingness to pay (WTP). A field study examining a supermarket chain's product packages (N = 1,353) provided preliminary support for this increase in WTP and two boundary conditions. Six preregistered studies replicated these effects and tested the underlying process. Studies 1a and 1b showed that the increase in WTP for simple packaging is driven by few-ingredients inferences increasing perceived product purity. Study 2 demonstrated the increase in WTP using an incentive-compatible design. Study 3 reinforced the proposed process via moderated mediation. Lastly, Studies 4 and 5 tested the boundary conditions in the field study, showing that WTP for simple packaging decreases when the product is from a store (vs. nonstore) brand and when consumers have an indulgence (vs. health) goal. These findings offer theoretical and managerial insight into minimalist aesthetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers seek naturalness across many domains, including physical appearance. It seems that the desire for natural beauty would discourage artificial appearance-enhancement consumption, such as cosmetic use. However, across an analysis of the 'no-makeup movement' on Twitter and Nielsen cosmetic sales (Study 1a), an image analysis of #nomakeup selfies using machine learning approaches (Study 1b), and three experiments (Studies 2-4), we find that calls to look natural can be associated with increased artificial beauty practices. Drawing from attribution theory, we theorize that calls to look natural maintain the value of attractiveness while adding the consumer concern that others will discount their attractiveness if overt effort is present. Thus, rather than investing less effort, consumers may engage in a self-presentational strategy wherein they construct an appearance of naturalness to signal low effort to others, thereby augmenting their attractiveness. This work contributes to attribution and self-presentation theory and offers practical implications for naturalness consumption., Author(s): Rosanna K. Smith [sup.1] , Elham Yazdani [sup.1] , Pengyuan Wang [sup.1] , Saber Soleymani [sup.1] , Lan Anh N. Ton [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.213876.9, 0000 0004 1936 [...]

Summary Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) are a family of receptors that bind IgG antibodies and interface at the junction of humoral and innate immunity. Precise regulation of receptor expression provides the necessary balance to achieve healthy immune homeostasis by establishing an appropriate immune threshold to limit autoimmunity but respond effectively to infection. The underlying genetics of the FCGR gene family are central to achieving this immune threshold by regulating affinity for IgG, signaling efficacy, and receptor expression. The FCGR gene locus was duplicated during evolution, retaining very high homology and resulting in a genomic region that is technically difficult to study. Here, we review the recent evolution of the gene family in mammals, its complexity and variation through copy number variation and single‐nucleotide polymorphism, and impact of these on disease incidence, resolution, and therapeutic antibody efficacy. We also discuss the progress and limitations of current approaches to study the region and emphasize how new genomics technologies will likely resolve much of the current confusion in the field. This will lead to definitive conclusions on the impact of genetic variation within the FCGR gene locus on immune function and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage branding is a common marketing strategy that has been shown to increase product appeal. Here, we find that certain forms of heritage branding can also have potentially negative consequences by leading consumers to react negatively to changes made to the brand's original, flagship product—even if those changes objectively improve it. We demonstrate that when firms engage in heritage branding that emphasizes a brand's longevity, consumers evaluate enhanced products less favorably than the original versions of those same products due to decreased perceptions of continuity authenticity. We demonstrate this effect across a variety of product domains (e.g. cosmetics, cookware, and food products), using online experiments as well as in-person product trials. Moreover, we provide a framework that distinguishes between types of heritage branding cues that lead to negative evaluations of enhanced products versus those that do not. Finally, beyond identifying an important boundary condition based on specific aspects of heritage branding, we further show how the negative evaluations of enhanced products can be attenuated if brands reframe product changes as continuous with the brand's origins. Together, these studies contribute to existing theory regarding heritage branding and authenticity, while also providing a number of practical recommendations for heritage brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although consumers put substantial effort toward their appearance, engaging in beauty work is often seen as inauthentic, posing challenges for beauty companies that increasingly rely on social media-driven product promotion where authenticity perceptions are consequential. This article draws on existentialist notions of authenticity (wherein the true self is created rather than innate) to explore how framing beauty work as self-expression alters others' perceptions and, in turn, marketing outcomes. First, an archival analysis of Instagram posts demonstrates that rebranding beauty work as self-expression is positively associated with word-of-mouth about beauty products. Six studies then test how motivational information alters perceptions of people who engage in beauty work. Lowered authenticity perceptions arise from observers' default assumption that beauty work is motivated by self-enhancement and serves primarily to conceal appearances. By contrast, self-expression enhances authenticity by leading others to see beauty work as a form of creation rather than concealment. This pattern extends to when people engage in a variety of beauty work transformations but not when beauty work is designed to restore appearances or is framed as connected to the innate self. These findings provide insight into judgments of authenticity and the management of a stigma associated with product use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been assumed that seismogenic faulting is confined to cool, brittle rocks, with a temperature upper limit of ~600°C (ref. 1). This thinking underpins our understanding of volcanic [...]