Search Conferences

Type in any word, words or author name. This searchs through the abstract title, keywords and abstract text and authors. You may search all conferences or just select one conference.


 All Conferences
 EMAC 2019 Annual Conference
 EMAC 2020 Annual Conference
 EMAC 2020 Regional Conference
 EMAC 2021 Annual Conference
 EMAC 2021 Regional Conference
 EMAC 2022 Annual
 EMAC 2022 Regional Conference
 EMAC 2023 Annual
 EMAC 2023 Regional Conference
 EMAC 2024 Annual
 EMAC 2024 Regional Conference

EMAC 2022 Annual


Self versus Silicone: How identity motives influence the preferred breast reconstruction technique
(A2022-107262)

Published: May 24, 2022

AUTHORS

Fabienne Krywuczky, PhD Candidate, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Kobe Millet, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Jiska Eelen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

ABSTRACT

Women who lose a part of their breast to survive breast cancer face the important decision about whether and which reconstruction to undergo. Currently, two main reconstruction techniques exist: the autologous technique (reconstruction using own tissue) and the prosthetic technique (reconstruction using synthetic materials). We provide empirical evidence that women prefer autologous over prosthetic reconstruction, partly because their own tissue stays closer to the self than synthetic implants. Moreover, women believe autologous breast reconstruction is more helpful in restoring their identity than prosthetic reconstruction. As such, this research does not only contribute to a better understanding of consumer preferences in this important medical decision context, but it also more generally contributes to the identity literature by providing empirical evidence for the proposition that the body is an essential part of consumers’ identities.