Work

Functional and moral brand lapses sparking negative online brand engagement and anti-brand community growth

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Although brand negativity presents a significant challenge for managers, research has not fully engaged with brand-related factors that contribute to its emergence. Guided by attribution theory and social identity theory and using two online surveys targeting distinct groups (anti-brand communities’ non-members and members), this work examines how the perceptions of functional (brand failure severity, perceived brand quality) and moral (unacceptable brand behaviour) brand lapses shape engagement evolution from individual action (negative online brand engagement) to collective behaviour (intention to join or participate in anti-brand communities). Structural-equation modelling tests the intricate relationship between brand lapses and the four negative online brand engagement dimensions (negative cognition, negative affection, online constructive and destructive behaviours), further disclosing how individual online negativity can drive collective movements within anti-brand communities, showing how lone complaints can escalate into organised opposition. The results offer managers early-warning indicators and segment-specific tactics for containing functional and moral crises.

Source: Journal of Business Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116038

Authors: Xinyu Dong, Cleopatra Veloutsou, Anna Morgan-Thomas

Institutions: Yantai University, University of Glasgow

Language: English

Topic: Digital Marketing and Social Media

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,440

Funder: Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province