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Previous research indicates that short work breaks in nature can facilitate emotional recovery, but during a workday nature is not always accessible. We conducted two intervention studies (N = 51; N = 101) applying virtual reality technology in a short work break and examined the effect of the degree of immersion into nature and the type of nature (stimulating vs. calming) on the restorative experience and, in turn, on affective states. The results revealed that high immersion promotes being away and perceived fascination. Being away mediated the effect of high immersion on increased positive and decreased negative affect. Perceived fascination mediated the effect of stimulating nature on increased positive affect in both studies and decreased negative affect in Study 2. The present research highlights the unique benefits of virtual realities, degrees of immersion and different types of nature for recovery interventions in organisations. Practitioner Summary: Integrating virtual realities into the work environment is an emerging topic. The present research demonstrates that a short technology-based intervention via virtual reality enhances emotional recovery. The results provide interesting possibilities for the design of work breaks in situations where nature is not within reach or not accessible.
Der Arbeitsplatz – die räumlichen, physikalischen und ergonomischen Bedingungen, unter denen Menschen arbeiten – kann auf vielfältige Weise die Gesundheit fördern und gefährden. Neben der direkten Wirkung auf die physische Gesundheit kann der Arbeitsplatz die Durchführung der Arbeitsaufgaben erleichtern oder behindern und das Wohlbefinden durch eine bedürfnisgerechte Gestaltung erhöhen. Die Gestaltung gesundheitsförderlicher Arbeitsplätze beinhaltet den Arbeitsraum und die dort herrschenden physikalischen Bedingungen ebenso wie die Möblierung und IT-Ausstattung.
For successful digitalization of the public sector, insights into how digitalization affects the work of public sector employees must be attained. Hence, integrative conceptual models and metrics of digital work are needed. A five-dimensional model describing the degree of digitalization of administrative action (Kaesmayr, Schorn & Steidle 2021) provides the point of departure for this paper. To enable actual measurement, the development and validation of a corresponding questionnaire is presented. Its development includes the item formulation by specifying attributes, raters and objects of the underlying constructs as well as the formation of indices by means of a contrast weighting specifically augmented for this type of work. The validation of the scale includes component as well as confirmatory factor analyses based on data from 519 administrative employees in Germany. The scale provides the opportunity to describe and evaluate the degree of digitalization of administrative procedures and to evaluate measures to improve digital case processing. Furthermore, it enables research into conditions and consequences for a successful digital transformation. However, further research is required to verify the predictive validity and practical benefits of the scale.
Although good administration plays a crucial role for a state to function, to date no comprehensive and accepted conceptualization exists. Scholars and policymakers, however, are depending on a comprehensive and valid set of criteria to assess the quality of administrations and the effects of reforms and interventions. To develop an appropriate conceptualization, we draw on literature from jurisprudence, administrative, political, economic, as well as social sciences. Applying Rossiter’s C OAR SE approach to ensure content validity, 30 constructs underlying good administration were derived. The items formulated to measure these constructs were empirically validated in an online survey with 519 case workers in German municipal agencies. Principal components analysis yielded four components, i.e., diligence/mission, efficiency, information, and responsivity/support. Thereby, it becomes apparent that some of the criteria used in the literature, such as proportionality, load on multiple components.
Employee creativity is critical to organizational competitiveness. However, the potential contribution made by the workspace and the physical environment is not fully taken into account because, up to now, it has been rather unclear how aspects of the physical environment, especially light, can support creativity. Consequently, in six studies, the present research investigated the effect of light and darkness on creative performance. We expected that darkness would offer individuals freedom from constraints, enabling a global and explorative processing style, which in turn facilitates creativity. First, four studies demonstrated that both priming darkness and actual dim illumination improved creative performance. The priming studies revealed that the effect can occur outside of people's awareness and independent of differences in visibility. Second, two additional studies tested the underlying mechanism and showed that darkness elicits a feeling of being free from constraints and triggers a risky, explorative processing style. As expected, perceived freedom from constraints mediated the effect of dim illumination on creativity. Third, moderation analyses demonstrated the effects' boundary conditions: the darkness-related increase in creativity disappeared when using a more informal indirect light instead of direct light or when evaluating ideas instead of generating creative ideas. In sum, these results contribute to the understanding of visual atmospheres (i.e. visual messages), their importance for lighting effects, and their impact via conceptual links and attentional tuning. Limitations as well as practical implications for lighting design are discussed
Im Zeitalter der Wissensarbeit steigt die Bedeutung mentaler und psychologischer Faktoren wie Konzentrationsfähigkeit, Stimmung und Motivation für eine hohe Leistungsfähigkeit. Die physikalischen Bedingungen an Büroarbeitsplätzen können einerseits einen Stressor darstellen, der die Konzentration erschöpft und den Nutzer ermüdet, oder eine räumliche Ressource, die Arbeitstätigkeiten erleichtert oder Nutzerbedürfnisse befriedigt und dadurch Engagement und Stimmung bei der Arbeit steigert. Inwiefern bestimmte räumliche Bedingungen am Arbeitsplatz eine Ressource oder einen Stressor darstellen, lässt sich anhand der drei Ebenen des Komforts abschätzen: physischer, funktionaler und psychischer Komfort. Ein solcher Ansatz soll helfen, “psychisch nachhaltige“ physikalische Raumbedingungen zu schaffen, die die psychischen Ressourcen der Nutzer schonen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird dieses neue Verständnis von Komfort mithilfe der zugrunde liegenden psychologischen Prozesse erklärt und am Beispiel der bauphysikalischen Variablen “Beleuchtung“ illustriert.
Die Umgebungstemperatur übt einen vielfältigen Einfluss auf Gesundheit, Wohlbefinden und Leistungsfähigkeit des Menschen aus. Durch die zunehmende Verlagerung von Arbeitsplätzen in Büros rückt der Bereich der moderaten Wärmebelastung, wie er beispielsweise in natürlich belüfteten Gebäuden im Sommer auftritt, in den Fokus. Hierzu ist aus der bisherigen empirischen Forschung ein Zusammenhang zwischen Raumtemperatur und Arbeitsleistung ermittelt worden, der allerdings verschiedene Nachteile für die Tauglichkeit als Planungskriterium für Gebäude aufweist. Der in der Psychologie weit verbreitete Ansatz der Meta-Analyse kann dabei einen wertvollen Beitrag zur Lösung dieses Problems leisten. In dem Beitrag wird systematisch die Methode der Meta-Analyse aufgezeigt und anhand einiger konkreter Beispiele das Potential für eine Integration von nutzerbasierten Verhaltensmustern in eine Gebäudesimulation dargestellt.
Grounded and embodied cognitions have gained increasing interest in explaining the effects of the physical environments on social cognition and behavior. However, the very nature of the processes underlying embodiment is largely unknown. The current research aims at contributing to this issue by (1) differentiating between the embodiment of contents and procedures, (2) unfolding the processes underlying mechanism of an embodied procedure, and (3) showing its boundary conditions. Seven experiments investigated these refinements using the examples of darkness, self-construal, and cooperation in social dilemmas. The results provided consistent evidence that darkness triggers interdependent self-construal, which in turn promotes cooperation. Moreover, the individual's internal context and external context moderated the darkness-cooperation effect. These results contribute to the understanding of embodied and situated social cognition and behavior and provide a consistent explanation for the mixed findings of lighting on cooperation in particular and prosocial behavior in general.
Impulse and reflection jointly drive people's behavior. However, the impact of the physical environment, especially light and brightness, on reflective and impulsive behavior and the underlying processes have not been understood. We expected that light and brightness would increase self-awareness and, in turn, lead to a reflective and controlled self-regulation. Five studies confirmed our assumptions. Particularly, participants in a brightly lit room reported a higher public self-awareness than those in a dim room. Moreover, brightness triggers more controlled and reflective forms of self-regulation independent of whether lighting conditions (Study 2) or priming methods (Study 3) were used to manipulate brightness. Finally, two additional studies revealed that brightness facilitates the suppression of desires and socially undesirable impulses which signals high self-control. Overall, these results contribute to the understanding of automatic effects of light and brightness and effortless self-control. Limitations as well as practical implications for lighting design in therapeutical settings and retail spaces and are discussed.
Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) in the work context aim to enhance the experience of work for individuals and improve wellbeing through developing psychological resources. This chapter reviews four types of positive interventions: gratitude, mindfulness, positive reflection, and positive reappraisal, and discusses their effectiveness based on past research. We then discuss several key considerations for implementing positive psychology interventions in the workplace, considering when and for whom they are beneficial. Finally, we conclude with our reflections on what future research and the practical application of positive psychology interventions in the workplace should strive for.
Digitalization affects public servants’ job demands and resources. The current paper investigates which measures managers can employ to optimize digital work on administrative procedures. Building on a previous study on the impact of digitalization on work experiences and performance in public agencies and on a literature research regarding leadership instruments, we derived two sets of measures on job design and digital communication management. The proposed measures were validated conducting expert interviews with actual and prospective managers from various municipal agencies. Overall, our analyses revealed heterogenous patterns regarding the prevalence of the proposed measures. Experts reported various potential benefits and challenges as well as suitable recommendations regarding their implementations which indicates that the proposed measures could indeed contribute to facilitating digital work on administrative procedures. Finally, the practical implications as well as limitations of our approach are discussed.
Digitalization affects public servants’ job demands and resources. The current paper investigates which measures managers can employ to optimize digital work on administrative procedures. Building on a previous study on the impact of digitalization on work experiences and performance in public agencies and on a literature research regarding leadership instruments, we derived two sets of measures on job design and digital communication management. The proposed measures were validated conducting expert interviews with actual and prospective managers from various municipal agencies. Overall, our analyses revealed heterogenous patterns regarding the prevalence of the proposed measures. Experts reported various potential benefits and challenges as well as suitable recommendations regarding their implementations which indicates that the proposed measures could indeed contribute to facilitating digital work on administrative procedures. Finally, the practical implications as well as limitations of our approach are discussed.
Promoting integrative negotiations – an experimental approach for using colored lighting in negotiation situations. Employees' negotiating skills substantially contribute to organizational success. In this context, recent research shows that the physical environment may influence interpersonal behavior for example in negations. The present study investigated the importance of colored light for cooperative behavior in integrative negotiations. The authors assumed that red light creates a pleasant, socially friendly atmosphere and thus promotes negotiation success. In an experimental study, the light color (red vs. blue and white) was varied. The results confirmed the assumption. The theoretical value, limitations and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
This research explores stakeholders' perspectives on administrative procedures, focusing on basic psychological needs. The goal is to understand the motives driving evaluations of administrative quality and performance, particularly for constitutive administrative acts. Using a multi-method approach, the study analyzes five stakeholder groups' central motives at different stages of administrative procedures. To achieve this, the user experience journey technique is adapted to identify stakeholders' motivations, including achievement, affiliation, and power. Guided workshop discussions, qualitative expert interviews, and a review of legal sources are utilized to determine stakeholders' urgencies at each step of the process. Through qualitative content analysis of expert interviews, the study deduces the central concepts underlying these urgencies. The findings provide valuable insights into stakeholders' perspectives, motivations, and urgencies regarding administrative procedures and thus important attributes of good administration. This understanding is crucial for evaluating administrative performance and shaping potential goals for administrative reforms.
Der Arbeitsplatz – die räumlichen, physikalischen und ergonomischen Bedingungen, unter denen Menschen arbeiten – kann auf vielfältige Weise die Gesundheit fördern und gefährden. Neben der direkten Wirkung auf die physische Gesundheit kann der Arbeitsplatz die Durchführung der Arbeitsaufgaben erleichtern oder behindern und das Wohlbefinden durch eine bedürfnisgerechte Gestaltung erhöhen. Die Gestaltung gesundheitsförderlicher Arbeitsplätze beinhaltet den Arbeitsraum und die dort herrschenden physikalischen Bedingungen ebenso wie die Möblierung und IT-Ausstattung.
This article investigates the interplay between darkness, construal level, and psychological distance based on the link between environmental lighting conditions and visual perception. In the dark, visual perception becomes less focused and detailed, leading to more abstract representations. We argue that this link between physical darkness and a global perceptual processing style spills over to the conceptual level. In three experiments, darkness triggered a more global perceptual and conceptual processing style than did brightness, regardless of whether the darkness was physically manipulated or primed. Additionally, two Implicit Association Tests (IATs) showed that darkness is more strongly associated with high-level construal than with low-level construal. Moreover, drawing on the generalized link between construal level and psychological distance, we proposed that darkness is also linked to perceived psychological distance because the lack of detail information and the abstract representations in the dark remove objects and other persons from people’s direct, detailed experience. Eight IATs confirmed the implicit link between darkness and four dimensions of psychological distance. These implications of these results are discussed with regard to thinking styles and social processes like stereotyping and cooperation.
Not Motivated to Act During Goal Pursuit: Powerlessness Blocks Motivation Transfer in Goal Systems
(2013)
The current research investigates a motivational mechanism that contributes to the inferior goal striving and attainment of powerless individuals: the transfer of motivation from goals to means. We expected that this mechanism would work effectively only in powerful individuals. The results of an experiment and a field study confirmed our assumptions. The more motivated powerful people were to attain the goals, the more they engaged in self-determined action and, in turn, the more positively they experienced goal-related activities. No such relation was found for their powerless counterparts. Implications for power research and goal systems theory are discussed.