The Four-Pleasure Framework
Four-Pleasure Framework
A model that encourages designers to create for pleasure and emotional impact. It identifies four types of pleasure: socio-pleasure, physio-pleasure, psycho-pleasure, ideo-pleasure.
- Physio-pleasure (body & senses)
- Socio-pleasure (social connection)
- Psycho-pleasure (mind & control)
- Ideo-pleasure (values & meaning)
Physio-Pleasure
Physio-pleasure
Pleasure from the body and senses -This includes touch, sight, sound, smell, or taste, and also the satisfaction of using something that performs smoothly.
Types of Physio-Pleasure
- Tactile – texture, grip, or resistance (e.g. soft rubber, clicky buttons)
- Auditory – sound-based feedback (e.g. snaps, clicks, zips)
- Thermal – temperature differences (e.g. cold metal, warm fabric)
- Visual – aesthetic appeal or visual clarity (e.g. clean lines, vibrant colours)
- Olfactory/Gustatory – smell or taste, more common in food, fragrance, or cosmetic products
Socio-Pleasure
Socio-pleasure
Pleasure from social connection or identity. Coming from how a product helps users interact, belong, or express status.
Wearing a Whoop band can signal that a user is serious about fitness and part of a high-performance community, creating a sense of identity and shared culture.
Do we buy things to express who we are, or who we want to be?
Psycho-Pleasure
Psycho-pleasure
Pleasure from mental satisfaction, ease of use, or a sense of control. This happens when a product is intuitive, efficient, or gives clear feedback. It can also come from solving problems or completing tasks.
