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Virginia Tech

When Comparison Becomes Contrast: Choice in an Oppositional Framework

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In this dissertation, I propose that there are multiple factors, such as the education process and the consumption environment, which work to simultaneously create an opposition framework. People are constantly exposed to rival products, which are positioned to be opposites even when they are often extremely similar in chemical content and physical appearance. Thus, the implications of the recency-frequency model of activation (Higgins, Bargh and Lombardi 1985) would be that these proximal factors could, in some sense, prime dichotomous thinking. Dichotomous or oppositional thinking, as it is defined in this dissertation, pertains to the flattening of dimensions present in a choice set such that the items can be graphically depicted at two ends of one dimension (see Figure 2 and Figure 3). I will first explore the impact of a dichotomous mindset on making a decision and then expand to the realm of opposition in choice set structures.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Marketing
Department dc:contributor.department
Marketing
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2007

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Krishen, Anjala Selena
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Nakamoto, Kent
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Brinberg, David L.
  • Herr, Paul M.
  • Klein, Noreen M.

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-03282007-155556
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/26533

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Krishen, Anjala Selena. When Comparison Becomes Contrast: Choice in an Oppositional Framework. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26533