Providing of a Model for Anti-Consumption Behavior in the Iranian
Market: A Grounded Theory Approach
Mohammad Nazarian
PhD Student in Business Management-Marketing Management, Department of Business Management, Faculty
of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Email: mohamadnazarian1060@gmail.com
Hossein Vazifeh Dust
*corresponding author. Professor, Department of Marketing Management, Department of Business
Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University,
Tehran, Iran. Email: vazifehdust@yahoo.com
Kambiz Heidarzadeh
Associate Professor, Department of Marketing Management, Department of Business Management, Faculty of
Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Email: kambizheidarzadeh@yahoo.com
Karim Hamdi
Associate Professor, Department of Marketing Management, Department of Business Management, Faculty of
Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Email: hamdi_karim1@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Although consumption represents individuals’ social and economic status, a large number
of consumers do prefer, for different reasons, to consume as little as possible. This paper
aims at answering this essential question: What are the factors affecting anti-consumption
behavior among consumers and its possible consequences? In order to answer a relevant
research question, a Grounded Theory research has been conducted with a qualitative
methodology and as for data analysis, we have resorted to the Atlas.ti software. The
sampling method has been of a snow-ball type whereby we reached the saturation with a
total of 20 interviews with professors and experts in the areas of marketing, management,
sociology, economics, psychology, and law. Findings indicate that brand mistakes are a
major factor affecting the anti-consumption behavior among the consumers. We have
also determined the factors leading, whether directly or indirectly, to the emergence of
such behavior among them we may refer to values and norms, improper advertisements,
negative imaging, economic conditions, product unacceptability, gossiping, deliberate
anti-consumption, un-prestigious consumption, consumers’ pessimism, fidelity to one’s
beliefs, etc. The paper has been ended in the recommendations of some solutions on how
to change anti-consumption behavior to be followed by brand owners.
Key words: Anti-Consumption Behavior, Marketing, Grounded Theory, Consumer Behavior
and Iran’s Market.
Citation: Nazarian, M., Vazifeh Dust, H., Heidarzadeh, K., & Hamdi, K. (2019). Providing of a Model for Anti-
Consumption Behavior in the Iranian Market: A Grounded Theory Approach. Consumer Behavior Studies Journal,
6(2), 333-352. (in Persian)
Consumer Behavior Studies Journal, 2019, Vol. 6, No.2, pp. 333-352
Received: July 19, 2019; Accepted: September 28, 2019
© Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan