Short answer

In designing experiences intended to be deeply moving or insightful, consider how to facilitate emotional responses that might manifest as 'feeling like crying', as this indicates profound engagement.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Frontiers in Psychology (2015)
Method: Exploratory, survey-based studies
Sample: Not explicitly stated, but implied to be sufficient for cross-cultural comparison.
Evidence: Strong effect

The physiological response of 'feeling like crying' can serve as a reliable indicator of a deep, transformative aesthetic experience with art, suggesting a connection between emotional response and cognitive insight. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Frontiers in Psychology. Using Exploratory, survey-based studies with Not explicitly stated, but implied to be sufficient for cross-cultural comparison., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: In designing experiences intended to be deeply moving or insightful, consider how to facilitate emotional responses that might manifest as 'feeling like crying', as this indicates profound engagement.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Tears as a Biomarker for Profound Aesthetic Engagement with Art

Frontiers in Psychology · 2015

Key Findings

01A significant relationship was found between 'feeling like crying' and indicators of a full aesthetic experience.
02Feeling like crying correlated with positive assessments of artwork goodness, beauty, and understanding of meaning.
03The response showed cross-cultural consistency across UK, Japan, and US participants.
04Tearfulness was linked to self-reflection and epiphany.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When evaluating user responses to an experience, consider incorporating measures of emotional intensity and physiological indicators, such as self-reported 'feeling like crying', as a proxy for deep engagement.

Project actions

01When designing an experience, think about what emotional responses you want to evoke and how you might measure them.
02Consider using physiological or strong emotional self-reports as indicators of user engagement in your design project.

Method & Evidence

AimCan 'feeling like crying' serve as a cross-culturally consistent indicator of profound aesthetic experience and positive artwork assessment?

MethodExploratory, survey-based studies

ProcedureResearchers conducted surveys in museums across the UK, Japan, and the US, including a collection of abstract paintings known to evoke tears. Participants responded to questions designed to assess aesthetic experience, artwork evaluation, and self-reflection.

SampleNot explicitly stated, but implied to be sufficient for cross-cultural comparison.

ContextMuseum environments, art appreciation

Variables

IVExposure to art (specifically, tear-inducing abstract paintings)

DVFeeling like crying, assessment of artwork goodness/beauty/meaning, self-reflection/epiphany

CVCultural background (UK, Japan, US), museum context

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Cross-cultural comparison provides generalizability.
+Links physiological response to cognitive and evaluative outcomes.

Limitations

Self-reporting emotional states can be subjective. The specific context (e.g., museum) might influence responses.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is supported by cross-cultural consistency. Reliability is based on survey responses, which can be subject to individual interpretation.

Think critically

How might a designer intentionally create an experience that elicits a 'feeling like crying' without being manipulative or overly sentimental?

Design Principles

"Emotional physiological responses can be valid indicators of user experience depth and impact."

Understanding the physical manifestations of profound user experiences allows designers to better gauge the impact of their creations. This insight is particularly relevant for fields like museum exhibit design, interactive installations, or even product design where emotional resonance is a key objective.

What This Means for Your Design

Feeling like you might cry when experiencing something, like art, is a sign that you're having a really deep and meaningful experience, and it seems to be true for people all over the world.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the emotional impact of your design and how you measured user engagement, particularly if your design aims for profound aesthetic or emotional experiences.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research by Pelowski (2015) suggests that the physiological response of 'feeling like crying' can serve as a robust indicator of profound aesthetic engagement with art. Across cross-cultural studies, this emotional response was consistently linked to deeper understanding, appreciation of beauty, and significant personal reflection, highlighting the potential for emotional biomarkers in evaluating the impact of design experiences.

Source

Frontiers in Psychology

Tears and transformation: feeling like crying as an indicator of insightful or “aesthetic” experience with art

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about tears as a biomarker for profound aesthetic engagement with art?: In designing experiences intended to be deeply moving or insightful, consider how to facilitate emotional responses that might manifest as 'feeling like crying', as this indicates profound engagement. Evidence: Frontiers in Psychology (2015).
Why does "Tears as a Biomarker for Profound Aesthetic Engagement with Art" matter for design?: Understanding the physical manifestations of profound user experiences allows designers to better gauge the impact of their creations. This insight is particularly relevant for fields like museum exhibit design, interactive installations, or even product design where emotional resonance is a key objective.
How can designers apply this research?: In designing experiences intended to be deeply moving or insightful, consider how to facilitate emotional responses that might manifest as 'feeling like crying', as this indicates profound engagement.
What were the main findings?: A significant relationship was found between 'feeling like crying' and indicators of a full aesthetic experience.. Feeling like crying correlated with positive assessments of artwork goodness, beauty, and understanding of meaning.. The response showed cross-cultural consistency across UK, Japan, and US participants.. Tearfulness was linked to self-reflection and epiphany.
What research method was used?: Exploratory, survey-based studies with Not explicitly stated, but implied to be sufficient for cross-cultural comparison..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Frontiers in Psychology.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When evaluating user responses to an experience, consider incorporating measures of emotional intensity and physiological indicators, such as self-reported 'feeling like crying', as a proxy for deep engagement.
What are the limitations?: The study is exploratory and relies on self-reported feelings. The specific artworks used might have unique properties that influence the results.