Chill, Fiery, Slack, and Five Other Vibes

A Phenomenological Inquiry into Group Mood

Journal Article (2022)
Author(s)

A. Sönmez (TU Delft - Form and Experience)

PMA Desmet (TU Delft - Form and Experience, TU Delft - Human-Centered Design)

N. A. Romero Herrera (TU Delft - Codesigning Social Change)

Research Group
Form and Experience
Copyright
© 2022 A. Sönmez, P.M.A. Desmet, N.A. Romero Herrera
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sheji.2021.12.001
More Info
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Publication Year
2022
Language
English
Copyright
© 2022 A. Sönmez, P.M.A. Desmet, N.A. Romero Herrera
Research Group
Form and Experience
Issue number
1
Volume number
8
Pages (from-to)
93-117
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Abstract

Even though group mood has a significant impact on organizational functioning, there is no typology available to describe distinct group moods. We propose that designing products and services to facilitate beneficial group mood experiences requires a granular and experience-oriented understanding of the phenomenon. This article introduces an initial typology of eight group moods using a componential approach. The typology was generated via an exploratory study designed to identify aspects and qualities of group mood experienced in professional settings. We observed real-life meetings of five small workgroups. Group mood perceptions were self-reported in situ and later described collectively in a group session. By categorizing the group mood qualities in participants’ descriptions, we developed eight group mood types. This typology aims to facilitate a granular understanding of the group mood phenomenon for designers (practitioners and researchers). We envision this overview of eight group moods as the first step toward developing a systematic knowledge of group mood in the field of design.