Design-Mediated Positive Emotion Regulation: The Development of an Interactive Device that Supports Daily Practice of Positive Mental Time Traveling

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper investigates how positive emotions can be effectively regulated through the design of interactions and how design-mediated positive emotions could contribute to well-being. With a proposition that the pathway to effective positive emotion regulation is a deliberate engagement in the activities that contribute to positive experiences, this paper explores how design can inspire and enable emotion-regulating activities. To illustrate how interactions can be systematically designed to support positive emotion regulation, the paper introduces the development of Purpal, a self-administered interactive device that stimulates Positive Mental Time Traveling (PMTT) in the context of consumption. PMTT is an emotion regulation strategy in which a user vividly remembers or anticipates positive events. The paper reports an in-lab experimental study that assessed the effectiveness and usefulness of Purpal in (1) engaging users in PMTT, (2) facilitating positive emotional experiences, (3) motivating them to use it in their daily lives, and (4) increasing their well-being. The results showed that Purpal enables users to immerse themselves in PMTT by serving as a source of self-reflection on their purchase intentions and future experiential values. Interacting with Purpal proved effective in fostering positive emotional experiences and well-being. Moreover, its potential for long-term use was well accepted.