Caring for Things Helps Humans Grow: Effects of Courteous Interaction with Things on Pro-Environmental Behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of courteous interaction with familiar objects on pro-environmental behavior and well-being. We explored the process of interaction with everyday objects, such as pens and glasses in a preliminary study (N = 64), and to reveal two aspects that define these interactions, namely active care for objects and awareness of learning from the interaction (N = 687; Study 1). The more people cared for and learned through their interactions with a particular object, the more they perceived a connectedness to it (N = 195; Study 2). Furthermore, caring for and learning with familiar objects promoted various environmentally conscious behaviors and contributed to individual well-being (Study 3; N = 600). In this way, we discussed the relationship between interaction with everyday objects, the aspects of these interactions, and the influence of these interactions on an individual’s perspective toward the wider environment.

Human–object interaction, connectedness with nature, and life satisfaction: a cross-sectional study

“…As previously documented, the act of caring for everyday objects is associated with acquisition of knowledge through interactions with these objects ( Kamide and Arai, 2021 ). Individuals can grow through the appreciation of objects not only in terms of specialized activities such as robotics, tea ceremonies, and calligraphy ( Mori, 1991 , 2009 , 2023 ; Kao, 1992a ) but also in everyday interactions with objects in our surroundings.…”

“…We adopted eight items with high factor loadings from the scale used to assess human–object interaction with the selected objects ( Kamide and Arai, 2021 ). The scale has a two-factor structure (Care and Learning) with four items each on a 7-point scale, ranging from “completely disagree” (1) to “completely agree” (7).…”

“…The first dimension pertains to human actions directed toward objects, encompassing elements such as conscientious handling and care of objects. The second dimension involves the learning aspect, wherein individuals develop self-awareness and a heightened appreciation of objects through their interactions with them ( Kamide and Arai, 2021 ). Connectedness with nature refers to the subjective sense of being part of and interconnected with the natural world ( Schultz, 2001 ; Mayer and Frantz, 2004 ), while pro-environmental behavior entails actively engaging in actions to preserve nature ( Brick et al, 2017 ).…”

“…As observed throughout history, objects have often been treated merely as instruments of utility or monetary value. However, just as individuals gain insights through the care of objects ( Kamide and Arai, 2021 ), there lies the potential for objects to influence and even foster personal growth through interaction with humans.…”

Research Participant Selection Bias in the Workshop Using Socially Assistive Robots for Older Adults and Its Effect on Population Representativeness

“…As for "(2) the impressions of the life support robots", eight items were set, referring to the study by Kamide et al [26] (Table 1). (1) Do you feel at ease with this robot?…”