A study on embarrassment associated with product use.
User interactions with products or systems can produce positive feelings, e.g. pleasing, encouraging or challenging; or negative ones, e.g. annoying, depressing or even abusive. This study attempted to explore reasons for negative emotions associated with product use by probing into the embarrassing emotions aroused in a product-use situation. The results showed that the embarrassment associated with product use was caused by two constructs: losing control of the product and inappropriate operation. Both of the two constructs have impacts on embarrassing emotions; however, the structural model showed that for the embarrassment associated with product use, inappropriate operation stands out as a more significant construct than losing control of the product. Users tended to blame themselves for the embarrassing situation, believing that the embarrassment was a result of their improper use of the product or carelessness.
Department of Industrial Design, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yung-Chin
YC
Tsao
Shaio-Chung
SC
Chan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult