Uncovering Emotional and Identity-Driven Dimensions of Entertainment Consumption in a Transitional Digital Culture

This study explores entertainment consumption patterns in Romania, a transitional digital culture characterized by high digital connectivity but underdeveloped physical infrastructure. Employing a dual qualitative coding methodology, this research combines inductive analysis of consumer focus groups with deductive analysis of expert interviews, enabling a multi-layered interpretation of both overt behaviors and latent emotional drivers. Seven key thematic dimensions, motivational depth, perceived barriers, emotional needs, clarity of preferences, future behavioral intentions, social connection, and identity construction, were analyzed and compared using a Likert-based scoring framework, supported by a radar chart and comparison matrix. Findings reveal both convergence and divergence between consumer and expert perspectives. While consumers emphasize immediate experiences and logistical constraints, experts uncover deeper emotional motivators such as validation, mentorship, and identity formation. This behavioral–emotional gap suggests that, although digital entertainment dominates due to accessibility, it often lacks the emotional richness associated with physical formats, which are preferred but less accessible. This study underscores the importance of triangulated qualitative inquiry in revealing not only stated preferences but also unconscious psychological needs. It offers actionable insights for designing emotionally intelligent and culturally responsive entertainment strategies in digitally saturated yet infrastructure-limited environments.