What a Difference a Chair Cushion Makes (06-25-10)

Ackerman and his colleagues have completed an interesting series of experiments linking tactile experiences and social judgments/behaviors.  Their results show how significantly our sense of touch influences our worldview.  Study participants who reviewed resumes when they were attached to heavy clipboards were more likely to evaluate the experience described on those resumes as substantive than people who read the same resume when it was attached to a lighter weight clipboard.  The study finding that will have the most significant influence on place design is that negotiators sitting in soft chairs did not drive as hard a bargain as ones sitting on harder chairs without cushions.  The researchers conclude, “First impressions are liable to be influenced by the tactile environment, and control over this environment may be especially important for negotiators, pollsters, job seekers, and others interested in interpersonal communication.”

Joshua Ackerman, Christopher Nocera, and John Bargh.  2010.  “Incidental Haptic Sensations Influence Social Judgments and Decisions.”  Science, vol. 328, 5986, pp. 1712-1715.