Psychology of Objects and Their Interaction with Our Culture and Society. Emotional Design

Abstract

Numerous designers, sociologists, and psychologists have written about the relationships we establish with objects. Some speak of emotional connections, while others completely distance themselves from the connotation of emotions, valuing only the object’s function. Also, it should be noted that we are talking about inanimate objects, which can only offer us experiences related to the function for which they were created. This article aims to investigate the relationship between the object and the consumer, considering the society in which we live. We are taking into account the psychology of objects and how they play such an essential role in our lives, from their origins to the present. The evolution of object design is parallel to that of society, and it must be so because it has to respond to the needs of each moment. Most of the objects are created for practical purposes, but despite not having a defined use, one could say that decorative objects also have their function: to embellish. The field of study of this article intends to demonstrate also that even practical objects, if they have an aesthetic aspect, are easier to use, respecting specific criteria to be listed. It is about searching, classifying and analyzing each criterion to find a tool for understanding and hierarchical organization with which the individual can order the surrounding stimuli within their world of values and concepts. The methodology used is monographic-theoretical (we are dealing with a topic, an “abstract problem that may or may not have been the subject of other reflections”). It is divided into two parts, one about the theory of objects and the other that deals with the interaction of the object, through its interface, with society, and its psychological qualities. We will also establish right from the beginning the concept of interface as a communicating form and as a communication context of the object. We will take the interface as a communicating aspect of the object with the world, a “language” specific to each object. Just as we humans have our language to communicate, each object has its interface corresponding to its destination (the function for which it was designed). And depending on the “language” used (the interface), we get one response or another from the interlocutor. Each interface represents an identity, the identity of each object through which it communicates with the outside. We will refer to an influential author, Donald Norman, among others, who speak of those emotional aspects that intervene in the functionality of the design. We will summarise by way of conclusion all the criteria mentioned, which could be considered criteria for good design, leaving a record of the research results for future designers, creators of objects and user experiences. Through this study, the possible bases for future research or practical projects that start with the theme of the functionality/attractiveness of objects are established.