Consumers may also perceive that the possibility for achieving a goal-congruent outcome lies with them when communications model similar others who have successfully achieved the yearned-for outcome. Such models evoke
hope because achievements by similar others are perceived as diagnostic of possibilities that a person may achieve himor
herself (Bandura 1997). For example, the weekly announcement of new lottery winners and before-and-after
pictures of similar others lead to the inevitable conclusion: “If it can happen to them, why not me?”