The role of active and passive resistance in new technology adoption by final consumers: The case of 3D printing

• Only benefit and risk barriers affect active resistance to 3D printing. • Benefit, economic and complexity barriers associated to 3D printing decrease the intentions to adopt this technology. • We find 3 clusters of passive resistance-type users (situational, low and dual passive resistance users) for 3D printing. The moderating role of passive resistance in the adoption of 3D printing differs from one group to another. • From a theoretical perspective, these findings contribute to a further general understanding of active and passive resistance to innovation while examining resistance to the adoption of 3D printing. • From a managerial perspective, these findings suggest the need of companies and agents in the 3D printing sector to overcome first, passive resistance and then, the effect of benefit and risk barriers on active resistance, which are moderated by the former.