Synthesis: Enduring Object Relationships - Preventing Habituation through Dynamic Interaction

Humans adapt expertly — and soon become accustomed to the environments and things that surround us. Objects that at one time were novel transition to mundane. Habituation is this diminishing pleasure obtained upon successive occasions of having a particular experience. There are only two mechanisms to counteract habituation - variety of experiences and time between an experience.

I am investigating ways in which a single dynamic object can create variety and prevent habituation, including: unexpectedness, responsiveness, captivation, and wear.

All 187 Things I Touched Today

The following list mentions each item only once, not every time it was touched:
alarm
door knob
drinking glass
pill container
pill
coffee mug
sugar jar
sugar spoon
coffee carafe
fridge handle
cream container
cream lid
kitchen sink faucet
dish drainer
coffee machine
bread
bread knife
toaster oven handle
door
laptop
laptop case
frietag bag
books
notebooks
computer mouse
camera
camera case
plate
coffee table
laundry basket
socks
long underwear
jeans
cell phone
light switch
t-shirt
sweatshirt
katrina
water
facewash tube
facewash
self
towel
toilet seat cover
toilet seat
toilet handle
bathroom sink faucet
bar soap
vanity mirror
toothbrush
toothpaste
plastic bag
shoes
coat
gloves
hat
keys
door handle
building door
outside car door handle
inside car door handle
outside car door
subway railing
wallet
subway card
subway turnstile
train railing
subway exit cage turnstile
elevator button
id card
studio door handle
studio chair
laptop power button
studio table
mini-fridge door handle
mini-fridge door
laptop trackpad
laptop keyboard cover/keys
padlock
locker
power adapter
power strip
sigg
sigg cap
water fountain button
doorlock
toilet paper
toilet paper dispenser
toilet flush button
soap dispenser
soap
paper towel
hand lotion tube
hand lotion
rubber stick-on furniture feet
pen
glass container
emergen-c packet
foil
pizza
napkin
corian
denim
headphones
ipod
gum packaging
gum wrapper
gum
newspaper
bank revolving door
atm card
atm buttons
atm screen
cash
receipt
train station swinging door
bus stop button
bus doors
glass coffee shop door
glass coffee shop counter
coins
paper bag of coffee beans
front door knob
coat hook
cat
drawer pull
bag of quarters
laundry basket
laundry detergent container
back door deadbolt
ice
quarters wrapper
quarters
washing machine lid
washing machine buttons
leather boot
vinegar bottle
rag
wooden hanger
dryer door
dryer buttons
coffee maker lid
coffee filter
garbage can foot pedal
cabinet knob
coffee grinder lid
coffee grinder dial
coffee grinder
coffee grinder hopper
brita pitcher
oven temperature dial
baking sheet
tortilla chips bag
tortilla chips
saucepan
stove dial
garlic
chef knife
spatula
bowl
spoon
twist tie
lime
kosher salt container
kosher salt
remote control
remote control buttons
shirts
boxers
sweaters
cabinet pull
mini dust pan
mini dust broom
litter box lid
litter box scoop
litter box
shower curtain
shower faucet handle
washcloth
body wash bottle
body wash
shampoo bottle
shampoo
q-tip
sheets
bed
pillow

Becoming Ordinary: A Double-Take on Habituation

One of the reasons we buy new things is that we become bored with what we have. The object that at one time was novel transitions to mundane. On successive occasions of having a particular experience, Gilbert writes, "we quickly begin to adapt to it, and the experience yields less pleasure each time. Psychologists call this habituation, economists call it declining marginal utility." He suggests there are two mechanisms to counteract habituation - variety and time, although variety isn't necessary if there is sufficient time separating experiences.

Although Gilbert doesn't make the connection explicitly, presentism, or the tendency for current experience to influence one's views of the past and the future, also seems to play a role in stimulating purchases. Upon an initial novel experience with an object, we assume we will continue to have the same positive feelings for long after we purchase it - forgetting to take habituation into account. Gilbert does propose that comparisons have a similar effect. When considering the purchase of a new item, we compare it to our current, habituated, mundane possession - rendering the new, novel and/or the current, outdated. However, we fail to consider that after purchase and the discarding of the old, the delight produced by that initial contrast is gone. Styling, and perceived obsolescence, takes advantage of this phenomenon to persuade essentially unnecessary upgrade purchases.

Gilbert's theories don't sufficiently explain the existence of favorite, long-standing, frequently used possessions, as he doesn't account for contained memory, attachment, and meaning in objects. However, Michael Pollan, in Omnivore's Dilemma, proposes a framework for eating that transfers well to objects. (One of many concepts in this book that translates smoothly into material culture.) He suggests humans' "innate neophilia - the pleasure of variety, and neophobia - the comfort of the familiar," motivate the contradictory inclinations for the new and the known. We sometimes seek the excitement of novel experiences and stimulations and other times prefer the safe reassurance of the familiar.

Relationship Cycles

There is a common path that a relationship with an object can take - markedly similar to relationships with people. First, we see, covet, or desire - the crush. Then we research, read reviews, and shop around - flirting and initial dates. Next comes purchase - committed serious dating, but still very much in the honeymoon phase. Adaptation and possibly the onset of mundanity - marriage. As many marriages end in divorce, an object relationship is fairly likely to end with disposal, or at least an extended separation in the closet or basement, while a new object takes its place. Fairly rare is the reconnection or revitalization of the relationship.

Human-Object Relations

Objects play signficant roles in our lives. But there are two ends of the spectrum of human-object relations: the extreme and the mundane. At the extreme, there exists the super-collectors, addicts, and brandwhores that actively consume, use, and collect. As mentioned in the brand allegiance post, user forums are a great source of information about these relationships. At the mundane, the relationship is so passive, the objects are so much a part of our world, that we do not acknowledge them. Fukasawa and Morrison call these objects Supernormal and Bruno Munari called them anonymous. But by any name these "quietly extraordinary" objects are so essential and pure that they are invisible. However, these are the most enduring objects because they are timeless and never go out of fashion.