Olfactory Effects on Human Behavior within a Simulation Experiment

In the study at hand, the authors pose the question how people are influenced by olfactory stimulation while solving an economic problem? The economic problem involves managing a strategic planning simulation experiment. To demonstrate the fundamental task of economic decisions, the authors run experiments in the laboratory. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between several economic parameters and a firm’s success within a simulation experiment. Teams of students are assigned the role of managers of a firm within a competitive market situation. Subjects had the task of managing the complex situation in which they act in a group as managers to increase the performance of a firm by setting specific parameters. The authors will demonstrate to what extent a strong peppermint scent is able to influence the decision-makers within such a reasonably complex situation when they are to manage a firm's product range and compete against other firms. The authors are able to show that the smell of peppermint improved the overall mood considerably and thus also the results of the given task.