The self and the brand

Whereas [Oyserman, D. 2009. Identity-based motivation: Implications for action-readiness, procedural-readiness, and consumer behavior. Journal of Consumer Psychology. (this issue)] highlights the importance of identity motivation, this commentary suggests that the interesting questions for consumer researchers are not about identity per se, but about the relationship between the self and brand-related consumption. Two broad areas of investigation that can form an agenda for further research are proposed. The first area concerns the relationship among brands, identity and goals. The second area concerns the potential negative effects of identity on brand choice and on perceptions of identity-related behavior. Consumer researchers are best positioned to pursue issues dealing with the intersection of identity and brands, which can lead to both theoretical and substantive insights.     

Recognition of seven spiritual identities and its implications on children

Seven spiritual identities are determined based on a study conducted on a group of 125 participants. The objective of the study was to examine (a) how spirituality is experienced individually and collectively; and (b) identify the commonalities and differences in spiritual experiences. The participants ranged in age from 17 to over 55, and were recruited from three sources. One group consisted of an on‐campus population of undergraduate students majoring in different disciplines. The second group consisted of faculty and students who attended annual seminars on ‘Spirituality and Children’. The third group consisted of participants at meetings and conferences who volunteered to participate in the study. Altogether they formed a self‐selected sample of 29 males and 96 females, representing different religious and non‐religious backgrounds. Based on the analysis seven spiritual identities are recognised and presented and broad classroom strategies for professionals working with children are discussed.     

Electronic Communication in Supervisory Relationships: A Mixed Data Survey

Much has been written about online communication between therapists and clients, particularly regarding the feasibility, ethics, and frequency of such practices. Little, however, has been published with regard to electronic communication patterns between therapists and their supervisors. The purpose of this study was to understand if and how electronic communication is used between marriage and family therapy (MFT) supervisees and supervisors. To accomplish this, we administered a mixed data survey to MFT supervisors and supervisees across the United States regarding frequency of interaction via electronic methods. We also assessed comfort level with online supervision, how supervisory participants make determinations when to use online supervision, and when online communication is believed to be most appropriate within MFT supervision. We report both qualitative and quantitative findings regarding the use of online technologies in supervision. Implications for research, training, and supervision are discussed.