The Mysterious Office Chair

The phenomenon behind this 'mysterious office chair' is more a result of the combined effects of psychological factors and objective issues, rather than any supernatural 'curse'.

The Origin of the Chair's 'Mysterious' Phenomenon

This chair was originally the exclusive seat of the leader, who exuded a powerful aura when sitting on it. After the leader left for another job, the chair was neglected. Later, some employees experienced discomfort such as back pain after sitting on it, leading the entire office to adopt the unwritten rule that 'the chair should not be sat on'. Various mysterious rumors then began to circulate, such as the chair having bad feng shui or harboring the 'ambitions' of the former leader.

Possible Reasons for Employees' Discomfort

• Psychological Factors: From a psychological perspective, this may be due to psychological projection. Once everyone assumes there is a 'problem' with the chair, those who sit on it unconsciously experience tension and anxiety. These negative emotions affect physical sensations, amplifying what might otherwise be minor discomfort, such as perceiving slight lower back fatigue as back pain. Moreover, when a person expects to feel uncomfortable sitting on the chair, their body reacts accordingly, akin to the opposite of the 'placebo effect' in psychology, known as the 'nocebo effect'.
• Objective Factors: The chair itself may have structural aging issues. After prolonged use, the chair's support structure may become loose, causing instability and slight wobbling when sitting on it. This affects sitting posture and increases the burden on the lower back, leading to discomfort such as back pain.

Reasons Why New Employees Experience No Discomfort

New employees are not influenced by the office's mysterious rumors about the chair and do not have preconceived negative expectations, so they are psychologically more relaxed. Additionally, if new employees have strong physical adaptability, they can better adjust their sitting posture to accommodate minor issues with the chair, such as slight wobbling, and thus do not experience significant discomfort.