CSR and Brand Resonance: The Mediating Role of Brand Love and Involvement

Abstract

This article examines brand love and brand involvement to explain the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity of a firm and brand resonance. Previous studies have only considered the loyalty dimension of the resonance model regarding the relationship between a firm's CSR activity and brand attitudes. To have a clearer understanding of the relationship between ethicality and consumer attitudes, we consider the other aspects of customer attitudes-attitudinal attachment, sense of community, and active engagement which are encapsulated in the brand resonance model. Therefore, two studies are conducted in this research to test the hypothesized relationships using a PROCESS bootstrapping method. Results from the two studies provide evidence of the mediational role of brand love and involvement in the relationship between perceived ethicality and brand resonance. Whether a firm engages in an ethical or a philanthropic action, a sense of brand love, and involvement with the brand is evoked which subsequently affects consumers' attitude towards the brand.