Purpose: Drawing on the anthropological literature, this paper aims to develop a model of taboos (morality) that applies to the marketing, consumer behaviour and consumption contexts. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is mainly conceptual but illustrates the general premises of the model...

The purpose of crisis planning is to prepare for the inevitable. This paper examines BP's crisis response following the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and the subsequent environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. This event severely damaged BP's corporate standing, and the company's...

It is a truism that some industries are controversial either because the processes employed or the resulting products, for instance, can potentially harm the well-being of people. The controversy that surrounds certain industries can sharply polarise public opinion and debate. In this article,...

Social concern is increasing about the perceived negative effects from consuming a number of legal products including gambling, alcohol, and food. This study uses data from a clinic treating gambling and other behavioral disorders to test the theory that different motivations may exist in the...