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Monday, November 26, 2007

wbztv.com - Mind Games Played On Shoppers To Keep 'Em Shopping

In the past shoppers suspected that stores did this but the stores never admitted it. Now it's out in the open: Some stores are working at creating a physical environment that make you want to linger in their store, possible even spend money. It's called atmospherics.
"Most of it is about creating a kind of mood in the shopper that makes them stay in the store longer," said Boston College marketing professor Kathleen Seiders.

It's called atmospherics -- how lighting, colors, music and scents all can affect consumer spending. Research says it works and more companies are buying into it.
Could churches do this? Could we change the atmospherics in the church to help people pursue God? It seems like it could be unethical or at least unauthentic. Are there any possible positive uses for this in the church?

posted by theultrarev at 10:00 PM

Comments on "wbztv.com - Mind Games Played On Shoppers To Keep 'Em Shopping"

 

Blogger therealkimaliczi said ... (8:56 AM, November 27, 2007) : 

It seems like it could be unethical or at least unauthentic.

Ha! Ya think???? Good question, though. But I think we (the church) already manipulate congregants in all sorts of ways, although we don't call it that. Music underscoring a prayer, incense, mood lighting.

For some denominations, anything that is done to stir an emotional response is frowned upon, as if decisions for Christ that were made "emotionally" are less authentic than those made "intellectually."

Personally, I say do whatever is necessary (short of illegality) to get the job done! Too simplistic, perhaps?

 

Blogger Luke said ... (2:46 PM, November 27, 2007) : 

UltraRev:

Whether we want to admit it or not, everywhere we do church is a reflection of atmospherics... from ancient cathedrals with intricate carvings, candles, acoustics by design, stained glass, incense, etc. right down to the most antiseptic hard wooden pews, whitewash, and a lone, centered pulpit. I can't imagine a house church in which the hosts didn't do something as far as arranging furniture, using candles - even scented ones - and such, with a purpose in mind.

Does that make it unethical? I don't think so. Does it make it unauthentic? I can't agree with that, either. Should worship space always be bare-bones functional? I don't think it should be.

I call it configuring the portal through which we embrace the Divine. To me, that is what a worship service is. The portal can be configured to emphasize the engaging of the intellect in the centrality of the Word, or to emphasize the experiential, participatory, image-rich, connected experience...

 

Blogger theultrarev said ... (8:21 PM, November 27, 2007) : 

Luke, I guess you are right. Churches already do try to create an atmosphere. Stores try to do it to get people to act in a certain way -- spend money, linger in the store, etc. Churches I think primarily do it for decoration mostly. Perhaps not Catholic, Orthodox or certain Anglican groups. But I don't think the average Covenant or evangelical pastor out there thinks, "Hmmmm, how can we create an atmosphere that fosters ... love, or repentance, or conversion, or joy, or godly sorrow, or ... whatever"

Did Bethany think about the effect of color on the church when they painted that red wall (which I like very much by the way)? Does the average pastor think about how his/her church smells and the effect it would have on parishioners? I'm guessing not but then again, maybe I'm not in the loop with pastors.

But what if churches started to mess with atmospherics for evangelistic purposes?

Better yet, what are the best atmospherics for the pastor to get a raise at a congregational meeting? That is an important issue!

 

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