Sense Of Pleasure Research Articles

Consumer enchantment through everyday consumption

PurposeThis study aims to investigate consumer enchantment through everyday consumption, focusing on how individuals seek virtue, reason and a sense of purpose in their consumption practices.Design/methodology/approachThis seven-year study was performed using a multimethod approach. Data collection involved netnography, participant observation, introspection and in-depth interviews with consumers and technical experts, resulting in extensive qualitative data analysis of craft beauty product consumption.FindingsDespite external constraints, consumers exercise discretion in their choices, seeking to achieve their ideal selves and full potential through their consumption practices. They prioritise personal health and sustainability, rather than pursuing material satisfaction, leading to enchantment. Craftsmanship plays a significant role in offering unexpected outcomes, symbolic meaning and fostering an affective connection with materials and processes.Research limitations/implicationsThis research contributes to consumption studies by distinguishing between hedonic consumption, rooted in sensory pleasure, and eudaimonic enchantment, which emphasises personal fulfilment and ethical engagement. This study expands the understanding of consumer enchantment associated with everyday consumption practices.Practical implicationsOrganisations should prioritise transparency in production processes, ingredient sourcing and formulations to align with consumer demands for ethical consumption and sustainability. By incorporating elements of craft consumption into their offerings, businesses can enhance consumer experiences, support consumer well-being and foster enduring relationships with those who value authenticity and sustainability.Originality/valueBy exploring consumer values, aspirations and involvement in the craftsmanship of everyday products, this study uncovers an underexplored path to consumer enchantment. The authors show how individuals, in their pursuit of self-development, achieve states of enchantment by engaging with the eudaimonic aspects of life, particularly in the consumption of crafted products.

Description of how men achieve multiple orgasms

In rare cases, men have reported being capable of achieving multiple orgasms (MOs) during sexual activities. Here, we qualitatively documented the experience of 12 such men (52 ± 15 years old) using an anonymous online survey. In a single sexual activity session, five claimed to experience three to ten orgasms, and seven reported experiencing uncountable orgasms. During MOs, four men felt pleasurable sensations localized in their genitals, and seven felt pleasurable sensations radiating beyond their genitals. Ten participants reported being able to achieve non-ejaculatory MOs; five of whom stated their orgasms were within the first 60 s. Those with ejaculatory orgasms claimed to have a large variation in the timing between orgasms. Six participants reported being able to reach MOs during both solo and partnered sex, and the other participants could achieve MOs only during either solo masturbation or partnered sex. Five participants were able to achieve MOs without any training or aid. The remaining participants reported using a variety of techniques to reach MOs, including abstinence before sex, sex toys, mental and breathing control, and pelvic floor contraction control. In conclusion, the MOs experiences in men varied widely. Future studies to better understand the mechanisms of MOs are warranted.

The pleasurable urge to move to music is unchanged in people with musical anhedonia.

In cognitive science, the sensation of "groove" has been defined as the pleasurable urge to move to music. When listeners rate rhythmic stimuli on derived pleasure and urge to move, ratings on these dimensions are highly correlated. However, recent behavioural and brain imaging work has shown that these two components may be separable. To examine this potential separability, our study investigates the sensation of groove in people with specific musical anhedonia. Individuals with musical anhedonia have a blunted ability to derive pleasure from music but can still derive pleasure from other domains (e.g., sex and food). People with musical anhedonia were identified as those with scores in the lower 10% of scores on the Barcelona Musical Reward Questionnaire, but who had no deficits in music perception, no symptoms of depression, average levels of physical and social anhedonia, and sensitivity to punishment and reward. We predicted that if the two components of groove are separable, individuals with musical anhedonia would experience lower levels of derived pleasure but have comparable ratings of wanting to move compared to controls. Groove responses were measured in an online study (N = 148) using a set of experimenter-generated musical stimuli varying in rhythmic and harmonic complexity, which were validated in several previous studies. Surprisingly, we found no significant differences in groove response between individuals with musical anhedonia (n = 17) and a matched control group (n = 17). Mediation analyses for the anhedonia sample found that wanting to move ratings fully mediated the effect of rhythmic and harmonic complexity on pleasure ratings. Taken together, these results indicate that the urge to move may compensate for the blunted pleasure sensation in those with musical anhedonia. More generally, these results suggest that the urge to move is a primary source of pleasure in the groove response.

Running Towards a Better Brand Attitude: How Gamification in Nike Run Club Can Help?

AbstractThe dynamics of the knowledge-based economy are intrinsically linked to the concept of gamification, which has been increasingly discussed in the context of companies’ marketing strategies. It is therefore necessary to understand how gamification can be strategically applied in different contexts to increase the performance and competitiveness of companies. This paper aimed to analyze how gamification impacts customers’ intention to participate in the gamification process and how this strategy influences customers’ attitudes towards the brand. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in a sample of 238 Portuguese consumers using the Nike Run Club application. The study revealed that gamification can be an effective tool to increase users’ interaction with brands. Perceived usefulness, perceived social influence, engagement intention and gamification performance were identified as the main predictors of gamification on brand attitude. Furthermore, social interaction is a key factor for the success of game systems, which should promote interaction between communities of players to share functionality and solve task problems. It was observed that attitude towards the brand is positively influenced by factors such as usefulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, intention to get involved, and gamification of performance, especially when these are mediated by the sensation of pleasure. This finding points to the importance of these elements in shaping consumers’ perceptions of brands. To maximize engagement with brands, gamification tools should allow sharing content and tasks, promoting discussions and broadening the connection between the gamers community. It is important to consider technological resources and innovation in the design of gamification tools, as well as to meet the different expectations of consumers, allowing different tasks and high connection between different information-sharing channels. This study contributes to the development of knowledge in gamification on brand attitude. Practical implications have been suggested to guide companies in implementing a successful gamified marketing strategy.

Metaphorical Perceptions of the Concept of "Game" from the Perspective of Students Studying in the Department of Recreation

Play is not just a form of entertainment and leisure activity; it is also one of the most important tools for socialization. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to reveal how students in the recreation department conceptualize their thoughts on “play” through metaphors. The study utilized qualitative research methods and employed a phenomenological design. The study group was selected using purposive sampling and determined through the convenience sampling technique. The study group consists of 32 students aged between 18-34 who are studying in the recreation department. Participants were asked one metaphor question. The findings revealed that the metaphors related to the concept of recreation included categories such as psychological well-being, learning by doing, fun, necessity, teamwork, socialization, time management, communication, and freedom. As a result, the concept of play was perceived by recreation students under various metaphorical categories as a multifaceted phenomenon that provides happiness, emphasizes the sense of pleasure, is considered necessary for making life livable, and is energizing.

The Impact of Pleasure and Pain on Frequent Substance Use During Receptive Anal Intercourse

ABSTRACT Sexualized drug use (SDU) describes use of any psychoactive substance before or during planned sexual activity to facilitate, intensify, or prolong intercourse. The impact of pain, pleasure, and other mediators on SDU is not well characterized. This study aimed to distinguish the motivations behind different classes and frequencies of substance use during receptive anal intercourse (RAI). Data were from an internet-based survey conducted between July 2022-January 2023. We measured the frequency of SDU for five substances: poppers, alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, and nicotine. Satisfaction with pleasurable sensations during RAI and any type of pain bother during RAI were assessed on a 5-point scale. Multivariable logistic regression was performed for 1,119 respondents. Our results showed a strong association between bothersome pain during RAI and frequent alcohol (aOR 2.1), marijuana (aOR 2.4), nicotine (aOR 3.1), and meth (aOR 5.9) use. None of the five substance classes studied was correlated with dissatisfaction with pleasure during RAI. Frequent popper use was associated with increasing lifetime RAI experience and number of sexual partners. The mechanism behind SDU during RAI is substance-specific and multifactorial. Bothersome pain during RAI is highly associated with frequent SDU. Inquiring about pain during RAI may offer avenues for intervention.

The expectations humans have of a pleasurable sensation asymmetrically shape neuronal responses and subjective experiences to hot sauce.

Expectations shape our perception, profoundly influencing how we interpret the world. Positive expectations about sensory stimuli can alleviate distress and reduce pain (e.g., placebo effect), while negative expectations may heighten anxiety and exacerbate pain (e.g., nocebo effect). To investigate the impact of the (an)hedonic aspect of expectations on subjective experiences, we measured neurobehavioral responses to the taste of hot sauce among participants with heterogeneous taste preferences. By identifying participants who "liked" versus those who strongly "disliked" spicy flavors and by providing contextual cues about the spiciness of the sauce to be tasted, we dissociated the effects of positive and negative expectations from sensory stimuli (i.e., visual and gustatory stimuli), which were the same across all participants. Our results indicate that positive expectations lead to modulations in the intensity of subjective experience. These modulations were accompanied by increased activity in brain regions previously linked to information integration and the placebo effect, including the anterior insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, as well as a predefined "pleasure signature." In contrast, negative expectations decreased hedonic experience and increased neural activity in the previously validated "Neurological Pain Signature" network. These findings demonstrate that hedonic aspects of one's expectations asymmetrically shape how the brain processes sensory input and associated behavioral reports of one's subjective experiences of intensity, pleasure, and pain. Our results suggest a dissociable impact of hedonic information: positive expectations facilitate higher-level information integration and reward processing, while negative expectations prime lower-level nociceptive and affective processes. This study demonstrates the powerful role of hedonic expectations in shaping subjective reality and suggests potential avenues for consumer and therapeutic interventions targeting expectation-driven neural processes.

Using educational games in preparing children for school

The didactic game has become an essential component in the early education process, representing an interactive and effective method for preparing children for school. A game is not only an enjoyable and fun activity for children, but also a powerful means by which they can develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in school and in life. Through playing, children can explore their curiosity, make independent discoveries, and actively learn without feeling pressured or obligated. This approach to learning helps children develop a sense of pleasure and satisfaction associated with learning, which can help maintain motivation and interest in school in the future. This article explores the crucial role that didactic games play in developing children’s cognitive, social and emotional skills, preparing them for academic success and integration into the school environment. Through the diversity of didactic games, children are exposed to pleasant and stimulating educational experiences that encourage them to explore, learn and develop in a holistic way.

Loss, Lament, and Survival in the Poetry of C. P. Cavafy

Abstract: The question of loss and its relation to aesthetic form emerges in poems by C. P. Cavafy that deal specifically with the unacknowledged losses suffered by lives on the sexual margins, for whom the challenge of survival takes shape under punitive social forces. Finding in Greek literary tradition the aesthetic potential to manage what is unmanageable about loss under the historical conditions of modernity, Cavafy has recourse to the poetry of lament to reimagine the work of living with enduring loss. Cavafy's revisions to the poetry of lament facilitate the process of grieving for same-sex desiring subjects, especially when one does not know precisely what or how much has been lost. A number of these poems articulate new forms of pleasure that become possible in the aftermath of loss, thus proposing sensual pleasure as a mode of survival.

Preparing to play: a thematic analysis of bottom training in gay men’s fist-play

Anal fisting amongst gay men has been characterised as a risky form of sexual play, particularly for the bottoming (receptive) playmate. This view may be oversimplistic and fail to recognise how fist-bottoms ready themselves for fist-play through preparatory journeys of bottom training. This study explored how gay men who bottom in fist-play understand bottom training and how this understanding informs their personal sense of pleasure, risk, and safety. Unstructured individual interviews were conducted with 8 gay men who play as fist-bottoms. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted on the data, from which four main themes were developed: (1) training the body to play; (2) training for headspace; (3) training to understand pleasure; and (4) training by rules. Taken together, the findings highlight how fist-bottoms understand their bottom training as both a formative and transformative process that shapes their corporeal, psychological, erotic, and subcultural knowledge and skills to navigate play. Through bottom training, fist-bottoms explore and attune their understanding of what is safe and pleasurable, as well as riskier play.

Fabrication of copper tungstate nanoparticles on screen printed carbon electrode: A disposable strip for the electrochemical detection of the food additive tertiary Butylhydroquinone

Food additives enhance sensory pleasure and improve marketability in food product formulations, yet their potential health risks are highly consequential. Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), in this regard, has a controversial reputation owing to its neurotoxic effects, which include convulsions and other chronic issues. This situation underscores the need for an advanced electrochemical sensing platform. The current study advocates the utilization of copper tungstate nanoparticles to enhance the sensitivity, selectivity, and efficiency in TBHQ detection, thus addressing the challenges posed by the excessive use of additives and safeguarding the integrity of the food supply chain. Hydrothermally synthesized CuWO4 nanoparticles exhibited superior physicochemical and morphological characteristics, bringing about wide linear response ranges (0.01 to 789 μM), high selectivity, excellent anti-interference capabilities, and a low detection limit of 0.9 nM (S/N = 3). The CuWO4 modified screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) presents promising recovery ranges in food samples, facilitating real-time monitoring and streamlining the quality assessment of food additives.

What are the reasons for injected methadone use? A qualitative study of people who use drugs parenterally in Barcelona.

Oral methadone maintenance is a widely adopted and effective treatment for heroin and other opioid dependencies. However, injectable methadone usage may pose greater risks than heroin itself. Despite decades of oral methadone treatment in Spain, there is limited understanding of the motivations for parenteral consumption. This study aimed to examine the reasons for methadone injection, delineate its specific advantages and disadvantages compared with those of heroin use, and assess the benefits and drawbacks of supervised methadone injection within a harm reduction service from the perspective of people who inject drugs. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted in 11 patients at a safe injection facility in Barcelona. Semistructured interviews revealed that the reasons for injecting methadone were its provision of a euphoric rush, the pleasurable sensation of needle insertion, and the avoidance of gastrointestinal discomfort associated with oral methadone use. The main attraction of methadone injection was its accessibility as a legal and fully state-funded treatment option in Spain, coupled with its effectiveness in relieving withdrawal symptoms. However, notable disadvantages included the risks inherent in injection. The benefits of supervised consumption rooms were its provision of immediate medical assistance in overdose situations, ease of access, and physical safety. Drawbacks included waiting times, limited opening hours, neighborhood stigmatization, and the distance people who inject methadone had to travel when obtaining methadone from the illicit market. Based on these findings, we make several recommendations aimed at reducing the harm associated with methadone injection and emphasize the need for comprehensive harm reduction strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

An Affect “That Shudders Me”: An Approach to Husserl’s Phenomenology of Joy

In the texts collected in the second volume of the Studien zur Struktur des Bewusstseins, Husserl extensively discusses experiences of joy (Freude). By considering Husserl’s examples related to joy not as mere illustrations, but as a guiding thread for the identification of experiential structures, this article shows how these examples are not only significant for the general theory of intentionality of affective and emotional non-objectifying acts, but also provide valuable insights into the specific phenomenon of joy itself. Specifically, the article demonstrates how the distinction between joy, sensory pleasure, and liking provides insights into the intentional structure of joy as a responsive affect. On the basis of these distinctions, the article raises the normative question about the appropriateness of affective and emotional responses. It argues that the appropriateness of joy should be assessed from two perspectives: in relation to the value that justifies an affective response and in relation to a personal motivational nexus. From the former perspective, joy can be normatively assessed. However, when only considering the latter perspective, joy cannot be assessed according to objective normative standards. Finally, building on these findings, the article explores how the phenomenology of joy and motivation may be connected to the specific experience of depth and discusses the role of joy for a phenomenological investigation of the personal self.

Development of dark chocolate with inulin and sweetened with stevia extract obtained by pressurized hot water

Because of its taste, texture, and aroma, chocolate is consumed as a way to generate pleasant sensations. Due to its high caloric density, moderate consumption is recommended. Seeking to offer the benefits of this product to a more selective public, the aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition and sensory properties of a sugar-free dark chocolate added with inulin and sweetened with stevia extract obtained by pressurized hot water, which was compared with a commercial dark chocolate and accompanied by a sensory analysis of the samples. A completely randomized statistical experimental design was used to compare the properties of the alternative and commercial chocolates. The treatments were carried out in triplicate and the results obtained were analyzed by descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance with 95 % confidence level. The results showed that the treatment of stevia leaves with hot pressurized water allowed an extraction of 41.51 g of steviol glycosides for rebaudioside A and 6.76 g for stevioside per 100 g of leaves subjected to processing. The chemical analysis of the alternative and commercial chocolates indicated that the fat and total dietary fiber contents showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the dark chocolates, unlike the other components. Moisture, ash, fat, and protein contents were slightly higher in the two types of chocolate, and carbohydrate content was 4.1 % lower than in the commercial chocolate. Both products had 0 % added sugars and high dietary fiber content (> 37 %), and there was a reduction of 100 kcal/100 g compared to the commercial brand. Consumer sensory evaluation showed a higher level of liking (p < 0.05) for the elaborated chocolate with respect to the commercial product in attributes such as appearance, color, and texture. These findings suggest the use of stevia extracts obtained by pressurized hot water as a non-caloric sweetener for healthy, alternative dark chocolates suitable for people with diabetes.

Assessment of Sugarcane Varieties at Various Maturity Levels Using Physical Properties

The objective of the study was to extract sugarcane juice, identify the ideal stage of maturity and assess its acceptability using sensory analysis. From Rudrur, Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station in Nizamabad provided the sugarcane cultivars Co86032, 85R186 and 83R23 for the study which was carried out in 2021–2022. These types were gathered in the eighth, tenth and twelve months of maturity. The findings showed that physical characteristics like sucrose in brix% and juice obtained grew more prominent as one aged. Thus, for sensory examination 12thmonth maturity stage was chosen. Out of all the varieties that were evaluated the experimental sample SCR2-83R23 showed better acceptability than the experimental sample SCR1-85R186 and control SCO-Co86032. Because of improved sweetness, a deeper flavor profile and superior overall juice obtained are important components of consumer choice and sensory pleasure the SCR2-83R23 variant is probably more widely accepted.

Teacher’s Verbal and Nonverbal Communication on Students’ Motivation in Learning English

This study focuses on the teacher's verbal and nonverbal communication as well as the student's motivation in EFL classes. The goals of this study were to (1) assess the types of verbal and nonverbal communication used by teachers in EFL classrooms and (2) investigate how verbal and nonverbal communication influences students' motivation. The descriptive-qualitative method was utilized in this study. The research subjects were a teacher and 4 students selected from two classes in tenth-grade at MAN 3 Tasikmalaya. Data were gathered through observation (video recording) and interviews. The findings of this study revealed that the verbal type of FIACS and Schmitz has been fulfilled. There are the seven types of teacher verbal communication used in the classroom by the teacher. However, the researcher discovered that the most dominant type of teacher verbal communication is asking question in this study. In addition, the researcher engages in fourth sorts of nonverbal communication. Regarding the teacher's nonverbal communication, the researcher discovered that the most dominant type is kinesics such us body movement and gestures in this study. The findings also revealed that the teacher's verbal and nonverbal communication had a beneficial impact on their motivation to learn English. Positive effects include a sense of caring, a better understanding, a sensation of pleasure or comfort, an eagerness to learn, a sense of being appreciated and respected, as well as a sense of respect.

It makes me happy: anthropomorphism increases consumer preference for healthy food

PurposePeople frequently experience a conflict between immediate pleasure and long-term health when consuming healthy food. This study investigates how anthropomorphizing healthy food influences consumers’ sense of pleasure and their subsequent food preferences.Design/methodology/approachUsing different samples and food items, the authors conducted five online or laboratory studies to provide empirical support for the research hypothesis, rule out potential alternative explanations, and demonstrate boundary conditions.FindingsBy conducting five empirical studies involving self-reported and actual eating preferences, this study found that anthropomorphism increases consumer preference for and actual intake of healthy food. Such an anthropomorphism effect is driven by the increased positive affect evoked by anthropomorphism. However, this positive effect is suppressed for consumers who experience low trust in their affective feelings. Additionally, the effect is weakened when consumers readily attribute their affective feelings to a target-irrelevant source.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on healthy consumption, anthropomorphism, and mood, revealing whether and how food anthropomorphism affects consumers. For marketers in the field of healthy food and relevant policymakers, anthropomorphic means can be employed, such as giving products human names, to enhance consumer preference for them. Moreover, anthropomorphizing can help alleviate consumers’ concerns about the relative lack of pleasurable taste in healthy foods and compensate for the lack of hedonic value that consumers may feel, thereby enhancing consumer welfare.HighlightsAnthropomorphism increases consumer preference for healthy food and actual intake of it.The anthropomorphism effect is driven by the increased positive affect evoked by anthropomorphism, through which affective feelings offer evaluative and decisional informativeness for judgments and decision-making.The positive effect of anthropomorphism is suppressed for consumers who experience low trust in their affective feelings.The anthropomorphism effect is weakened when consumers readily attribute their affective feelings to a target-irrelevant source.

Unconscious Pleasure as Dispositional Pleasure

ABSTRACT A good deal of recent debate over the nature of pleasure and pain has surrounded the alleged phenomenon of unconscious sensory pleasure and pain, or pleasures and pains whose subjects are entirely unaware of them while experiencing them. According to Ben Bramble, these putative pleasures and pains present a problem for attitudinal theories of pleasure and pain, since these theories claim that what makes something a sensory pleasure or pain is that one has a special sort of pro- or con-attitude toward it at the time one experiences it. In this paper, I look at the two existing defences of attitudinal theories against this worry and explain (following Bramble) that each is inadequate. I show that this inadequacy is in part a result of existing attitudinal theories failing to recognize an important distinction in pro- and con-attitudes, and I propose and defend an amended attitudinal view that does recognize this distinction. I then offer a more promising response to the objection from unconscious sensory pleasures and pains: that experiences of apparently unconscious pleasure or pain only seem pleasant or unpleasant because their subjects are disposed to experience pleasantness or unpleasantness. In this sense, unconscious pleasures and pains are not really pleasures or pains at all.

Experiential processing increases positive affect and decreases dampening appraisals during autobiographical memory recall in an anhedonic sample

Anhedonia is characterized by diminished reward processing, which may be explained in part by dampening appraisals, or thoughts that blunt positive emotions. Experiential processing, or attending to sensory and bodily experience, may curb dampening appraisals, as compared to analytical processing, or conceptually thinking about an event. In this study, 96 participants with elevated anhedonia completed writing tasks, in which they recalled positive autobiographical memories. Participants recalled the first memory as they naturally would to assess spontaneous use of processing mode and were then randomized to recall the second positive memory using either experiential, analytical, or control instructions. Both spontaneous and instructed experiential processing were associated with greater positive affect and less dampening compared to analytical processing. Clinical implications include savoring pleasant sensations to reduce dampening and enhance positive affect in anhedonia.

The Sublime Divinity: Erotic Affectivity in Renaissance Religious Art

In the context of the Catholic Reformation serious concerns were expressed about the affective potency of naturalistic depictions of beautiful, sensuous figures in religious art. In theological discourse similar anxieties had long been articulated about potential contiguities between elevating, licit desire for an extraordinarily beautiful divinity and base, illicit feeling. In the later fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, in the decades preceding the Council of Trent, a handful of writers, thinkers and artists asserted a positive connection between spirituality and sexuality. Leonardo da Vinci, and a group of painters working under his aegis in Lombardy, were keenly aware of painting’s capacity to evoke feeling in a viewer. Pictures they produced for domestic devotion featured knowingly sensuous and unusually epicene beauties. This article suggests that this iconography daringly advocated the value of pleasurable sensation to religiosity. Its popularity allows us to envisage beholders who were neither mired in sin, nor seeking to divorce themselves from the physical realm, but engaging afresh with age-old dialectics of body and soul, sexuality and spirituality.