Photo-Taking Enjoyment Effect

Photo-Taking Enjoyment Effect

Reviewed by Faisal Zaidi

The finding that taking photos increased enjoyment of positive experiences in many contexts.

What it is

Across three field studies and six laboratory experiments, the authors propose that photo-taking directs more visual attention to the experience, and the effect weakens when the experience is already highly engaging or the photo interferes. It is drawn from work by Kristin Diehl, Gal Zauberman and Alixandra Barasch (2016).

In effect

In the article on photographing food, a camera helps when it makes a person look more closely.

What it does not say

The effect weakens when the experience is already highly engaging or when taking the photo interferes. It does not say that photos always raise enjoyment, and it does not cover photos taken to share.

Sources

  1. Diehl, K., Zauberman, G., & Barasch, A. (2016). How taking photos increases enjoyment of experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 111(2), 119-140.