A common phrase amongst work teams is to have a “roundtable discussion.” King Arthur of England and the Knights of the Roundtable became legendary in the Middle Ages. Around the table, decisions were made. Are roundtable discussions now just a phrase or is their something more to it.
Something
more, say Canadian researchers at the Alberta University and the University of
British Columbia (The Times, June 20, 2013). Researchers, documented in their study in
the Journal of Consumer Research, sat volunteers around different shaped
tables. Then they analysed their reactions to a variety of advertising.
Researchers
found that if people were seated in rows facing each other (at a rectangular table), they were more
likely to display an individual approach to advertising, instead of a team or
group approach. Angular tables, such as rectangular tables, resulted in people
identifying more with adverts portraying images of individuals or
mavericks.
Researchers
found that people seated in a circle or oval were more positive about adverts
that displayed images of groups (such as family groups or clusters of friends).
Round tables made people less argumentative and more cooperative, said the
researchers.
Researchers
maintain that, subconsciously, the seating arrangement seems to bring out
different attitudes and characteristics, from conflict to compliance. The
geometric shape seems to impact consumers on the need to be individual or the
need to be unique.
The psychology of seating arrangements may also be useful to know when
forming arrangements in waiting rooms, classrooms, restaurants, work
meetings, and even for wedding receptions.
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