Origami paper psychology

[Leeuummmm]

Now first of all let me start off by saying I haven't been folding long nor am I a psychologist, this is just something I've thought about and thought might be worth sharing, especially to see if anyone else agreed/had a point of view on it.

Until yesterday I'd only ever folded copy paper, sugar paper, tracing paper or coloured paper that I'd managed to pick up from the local 'Wilkinson's' so needless to say I had no experience with a good quality paper, however I recently bought some mulberry paper which was the best quality paper I had ever used and not only that but I used MC for the first time. To test this amazing new material I now had at my disposal I folded Satoshi Kamiya's pegasus. The paper was a bit small and it was the first time I'd ever folded it but it came out quite well (except the legs, but that's another story). My question is; did I fold that with more care and accuracy subconsciously due to the fact I knew I was folding a higher quality paper?

I had experiences of better quality tools/equipment/materials improving peoples performance before. I used to compete quite competitively in archery and worked in an archery shop and quite often people would come in having only ever shot bog standard equipment and as soon as you put a decent bow in their hand they improved dramatically. Although some of this was down to the fact that the bows were better, their actual technique changed slightly and they seemed more aware and I have experienced this when shooting before.

Sorry this post dragged on a bit, I was just wondering what people thought about quality paper having a psychological effect and making you take that extra bit of care without you realising.

[Flame_Kurosei]

Hm, it is possible for a person to consciously decide to fold more carefully to compensate for the more expensive paper as well. Subconsciously might also be a possibility, as a sort of placebo effect.
The quality of the fold comes from the folder, but also from the paper, as you said. If the paper is a poor choice for a model, problems might occur, such as paper splaying, even if the folder is being more attentive.
Interesting topic nevertheless--never fear that you're typing too much--the only two problems that spring from a large normal text post is tired fingers and eyes.

[Leeuummmm]

I definitely didn't feel like I was consciously paying more attention (foolishly I admit) but it did come out quite well, especially for a first attempt.
Definitely something I will think about next time I'm folding with something new or expensive!

[Baltorigamist]

It's possible. I would guess it's the same reason that optimists are generally happier about everything--if they think they need to be, they are.
Often when I get to a particuarly difficult step in a model I'm working on, I put it down and wait until I'm relaxed to do whetever step. It makes sense, though, since I can generally focus more when I'm relaxed.

There's also the question of whether folding tessellations works as a kind of meditative process. It works for me personally, but how about everyone else? Does it make you calm when folding them?

[Leeuummmm]

There's also the question of whether folding tessellations works as a kind of meditative process. It works for me personally, but how about everyone else? Does it make you calm when folding them?

I was having the same conversation with my Mum just yesterday! We both agreed that they probably would work as a meditation. I certainly agree that folding the grid is quite relaxing/calming due to how repetitive and simple it is (until you create a wonky fold that is ). I think the actual forming of the tessellations would be a bit different though. Whenever I've done any meditative exercises before they're all been simple enough to do so that you don't have to think about it, and techniques that aren't that simple at first become so through practise so for me the actual forming of the shapes is still requires a bit too much concentration to be able to do it almost without thinking.

[Baltorigamist]

Agreed, but it does help with patience a lot. Especially when folding with tracing paper--getting the creases on the grid takes extra time and attention to detail. It also inherently requires you to fold more slowly, giving you more time to find mistakes and correct them.

[Leeuummmm]

I've actually never folded tessellations with tracing paper before.... I will have to try it at some point!

[roodborst]

I must say that I actually make a couple of test folds (with tissue foil mostly) before I use my more expensive paper like elephanthide. Once I'm satisfied with my model I try it with Elephant hide, although my latest model got to thick to fininsh. So I consiously decide to use the more expensive paper and so I consiouly fold needer.

Wich gets to the next part: Is origami relaxing?
When I'm folding one of my own models I know by hart, I must say that folding gets me in relaxed but concentrated state of mind. It's just Pavlov (look him up, he did a lot of tests on animals to see how the mind works), you put some effort in making a model and when you are finished you are rewarded with a model you made yourself...

Now I get to the part where origami can be extremely frustating.
I've had a bunch of models take flight to my room because I couldn't finish them. I made a coopers hawk by friedman where I tore the entire back open with only 10 steps to go. I've wasted my expensive paper on models that turned out to get to thick to complete. Just yesterday, I've spend two hours making Tissue foil, especially yellow to make the giraffe by komatsu. I folded it before with some normal paper, but sagged through its hind legs. But I couldn't fold it properly with tissue.
I think It's one of the most frustating things to spend two hours on model to find out you can't do it. Maybe it's because I don't have enough patience. That's the reason why I stay away from all those two hour precrease models that you have to collapse. Because they won't.... well not with me.

Now It seems that I hate origami, but because it can be so challenging the reward of being able to complete the model is even bigger. I did finish the cooper hawk with different paper! To stick with the psychology part of origami I think it's just that. You put effort in a model and are rewarded at the end. It's you basic behaviourism if I remember correct.

[Leeuummmm]

Now I get to the part where origami can be extremely frustating.
I've had a bunch of models take flight to my room because I couldn't finish them. I made a coopers hawk by friedman where I tore the entire back open with only 10 steps to go. I've wasted my expensive paper on models that turned out to get to thick to complete. Just yesterday, I've spend two hours making Tissue foil, especially yellow to make the giraffe by komatsu. I folded it before with some normal paper, but sagged through its hind legs. But I couldn't fold it properly with tissue.
I think It's one of the most frustating things to spend two hours on model to find out you can't do it. Maybe it's because I don't have enough patience. That's the reason why I stay away from all those two hour precrease models that you have to collapse. Because they won't.... well not with me.

I am starting to explore this kinda origami a lot more recently and I can totally agree with this. There have been a couple of occasions where I've made up and used a big piece of tissue foil or mulberry with MC on one occasion and then not been able to complete a model or accidentally messed it up and it is so frustrating. It took me 4 or maybe 5 attempts to do Tadashi Mori's scorpion (it was the first model I had ever done like that and tried it only a month or two after I really started origami. Bit off a bit more then I could chew at the time I think) and subsequently wasted a lot of tissue foil in the process. So in that sense I would agree that origami can be quite the opposite of relaxing!

However last night a folded a little 12 sonobe module ball and I've done that many, many times now and because of that it is quite an automatic process and that was very relaxing.

I'm still wanting to look into how different papers can effect how people fold subconsciously though, especially when unlike yourself they don't purposefully fold any neater/differently with more expensive paper. Also how professionals react to different papers because I'd imagine they swap and change papers quite regularly depending on what they folding and are probably using a lot more expensive paper. Although for them expensive paper may not be a new/exciting experience would they still fold differently depending on the paper? (apart from basic things you'd need to consider about using different papers)

[Baltorigamist]

The different folding techniques for different kinds of paper might have some effect on the "psychology" of folding different paper. For example, American foil is more expensive than copy paper, right? But I don't just fold foil more carefully because it's more expensive and "higher-quality"--foil simply requires more careful folding because it's easier to fudge creases and crumple flaps.

So now we come across a line where the paper's folding requirements meet the folder's mentality as s/he is making a particular model from a particular kind of paper.

[Leeuummmm]

Yes I hadn't really thought about it like that before. There's a lot more to this origami business then there seems!!

[Baltorigamist]

I've actually never folded tessellations with tracing paper before.... I will have to try it at some point!

That you will--it's actually pretty fun.

Yes I hadn't really thought about it like that before. There's a lot more to this origami business then there seems!!

So it seems. Who knew folding a sheet of paper could be so complex?

[Leeuummmm]

I think mum has a big A2 layout pad somewhere, I'll rob a sheet of that and do something

Aha exactly!! It is quite wonderful though

[Baltorigamist]

Let me know how it works out for you.

[Leeuummmm]

I will
I haven't done much tessellation stuff before though so I can't do anything thAt exciting aha