Concurrents – Environmental Psychology: Power, Design and Designing
How much power some people have, and how little is in the hands of others, is often a difficult topic to discuss – so we regularly ignore the effects of power on thoughts and behaviors. Overlooking relative power robs us of insights that help us achieve design goals. In the April issue of “Monitor on Psychology,” Weir reviews cognitive science research on how power influences what people do and think. Many of the insights shared are relevant to the design process as well as the final form of spaces and products. Weir reports, for example, that: >People with power interact with the physical world around themselves differently than those without; they are more likely to feel empowered to change it in some way than people who lack power. >Not surprisingly, people with power are more upbeat, experiencing more positive emotions than those who aren’t powerful. >With power comes more willingness …
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