The IKEA effect is a cognitive bias in which consumers place a disproportionately high value on products they partially created.
The Ikea effect posits that we disproportionately value furniture we assemble.
I only find that loosely true in my experience. I don’t have a strong attachment to furniture I assemble. In fact, if the assembly is complex and the equipment is expensive, I prefer having an expert do it.
But, I nevertheless find myself assembling things/furniture from time to time. And, when I do, I inevitably cut or bruise myself.
Every time that happens during the assembly process, I find myself looking at the cut or bruise with a warmth that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. That warmth is a result of the halo effect that accompanies a DIY project.
A badge of honor, if you will.
Such events are a reminder of just how much our perspective shapes our life experience.
The Ikea effect – with a twist.
