RT Dissertation/Thesis
T1 Turning the spotlight on the role of light and colors in offices: How are performance, social interactions, and social perception affected?
A1 Kombeiz,Olga
WP 2017/01/24
AB Previous research has shown that light influences psychological functioning and subsequent performance, perception, and behavior in the work context. However, an overarching model of the impact of light on psychological processes and work-related outcomes is still lacking. The current doctoral thesis introduces an overall framework that explains the effects of light in the work context. Thus, the present research attempts to clarify the effects of artificial lighting on individual performance (i.e., creativity), social interaction (i.e., collaboration in negotiations), and social perception (i.e., person perception), and to uncover the mediating psychological processes and possible moderators. Building on different theories explaining the effects of the physical environment on psychological processes and work-related outcomes, as well as based on previous research, the thesis brings new insight into this topic. 
The first research project focused on clarifying the effects of light on conflict resolution. Building on research of light-induced cooperativeness, it was expected that self-oriented individuals would be influenced by the light in social situations. The results of two laboratory experiments confirmed that dim warm light promoted situative interdependent self-construal in self-oriented individuals, and, in turn, enhanced the preference for collaborative conflict resolution. These results contribute to the understanding of light-induced changes in social behavior. Limitations as well as practical implications for lighting design in social spaces are discussed.
The second research project addressed the question of how light influences one’s judgment of others. Based on the notion of environmentally induced positive affect, the present study proposed that pleasant light induces satisfaction with light, which in turn leads to positive judgments of other persons. The results confirmed that satisfaction with light was higher in three pleasant lighting conditions than in an unpleasant one, which in turn positively influenced the judgments of competence and warmth. Moreover, the explorative analyses showed that the positive effect of pleasant light on satisfaction with light only emerged for male participants. Theoretical contributions to lighting psychology and to the previous inconsistent findings of the role of sex in the affective consequences of light, and practical implications concerning the design of settings involving the evaluation of other individuals are discussed.
The third research project aimed at clarifying the motivational consequences of artificial light and its effects on creative performance. Previous research indicated that individuals automatically evaluate the room’s atmosphere. These automatic appraisals evoke concomitant appetitive (e.g., promotion focus) or aversive (e.g., prevention focus) motivation and, in turn, may impact work performance. Based on this idea, we expected that red and blue (vs. white) accent lighting, which creates a pleasant and friendly room atmosphere, would elicit the strategic approach motivation and, in turn, promote creativity. The results of an experimental study confirmed our assumptions. Implications for future research on color and light, and practical implications are discussed.
Overall, these results provide insight into the effects of light on cognitive, affective, and motivational processes, and consequently, on work-related outcomes. The three research projects contribute to a deeper understanding of which psychological processes are activated in which situation, and what role is played by the individual differences. In addition to the theoretical contributions, the present findings show that optimal ambient conditions represent support for a set of competencies on the individual and organizational levels, such as promoting collaborative conflict styles or creativity.
K1 Kreativität
K1 Konfliktlösung
K1 Interpersonale Wahrnehmung
K1 Selbstrepräsentation
PP Hohenheim
PB Kommunikations-, Informations- und Medienzentrum der Universität Hohenheim
UL http://opus.uni-hohenheim.de/volltexte/2017/1305